Ben lay there on the bed in the cabin, his mind calm, but filled with many thoughts. He was thinking about his sudden departure from his only home, Coruscant. He had lived there-more specifically the Jedi Temple-as far back as he could remember. Just like that, he was gone, after a sudden attack on the Temple. Furthermore, he was traveling with a girl he barely knew, one who was a Padawan like himself. She had been hovering over him the day after that sad night, when so many lives were lost. Last of all, the thing he didn?t expect to be on his mind, was that girl. Alice Senttin. What had made them meet? Fate? Luck? The Force? He didn't know, but he felt something inside him that he had never felt before, and he couldn?t figure out what it was, or how it got there. Ben hoped he could find out what it was soon, and at least make it stop nagging at him. Then he jumped up as he heard an eager voice calling to him.

"Ben, get up you sleepy head! We're here!" Came Alice's voice.

Ben jumped up, jerked from his thoughts. He began to walk back towards the front of the ship, and called back, "On my way!"

He sat down next to Alice, sitting in the pilot's seat again. The ship had just exited hyperspace, and they were looking at the green outer surface of Dantooine. Ben took the controls, using the Force to make up for his lack of piloting skills as he guided the ship down towards the surface.

As the YT descended, he asked Alice, "Where exactly is this friend of yours at here?"

Still looking out the viewport, Alice answered, "The Khoonda Plains, I think."

Ben nodded as the ship broke through the atmosphere, bringing up a map of the surface in front of him. "Ah, the Khoonda Plains, there they are."

As the two Padawans sat there in the stolen YT, seemingly thinking everything was alright, it was not. A lone snub fighter had been following them the whole time, but never too far, never too close.

Unaware of the ship following them, Ben and Alice brought the ship down to the surface, landing on an open stretch of plain, but beneath one of the few trees. The pair hopped out from their seats, and exited the freighter via the ramp.

Ben turned to Alice as they stood on the open plain and asked, "Ok, we made it here, I hope you know where this friend is?"

"She told me meet her at the Enclave...the Jedi Enclave here, I believe." She said with a slight smirk.

Ben darted his gaze around the area, spotting a lone building on the wide expanse of plain. "There it is, let's head that way." He said, with a gesture with a hand to follow him.

"On my way, Commander," Alice muttered under her breath, suppressing a slight chuckle.

Ben turned around and looked at her, smirking. "What was that again?"

She blushed a little, and replied, "Nothing, nothing at all."

He raised an eyebrow, and grinned, then turned around and began walking again.

Without a word, she followed him.

After another ten minutes of walking, the pair reach the main entrance to the Enclave. Alice looks at Ben and smiles, and he smiles back.

"Well, let?s go on-" He is cut off as a woman dressed in plain brown Jedi robes is walking briskly toward the pair, grinning.

"Alice? Alice Senttin, is that you?"

Alice whipps around to look at the woman, and a wide grin comes across her face.


"Kari? Is that really you?" The two embraced briefly, then Alice pulled away and smiled at Ben. "Ben, I'd like to meet Kari Cerulian."

Ben smiled and walked up to the two of them, and held out his hand to shake. "Nice to meet you Kari, you are a Jedi here at the Enclave?"

Kari shook his hand firmly, and nodded. "Yes, I am a Jedi Knight. I am actually the granddaughter of Thame Cerulian, a Jedi Master almost 80 standard years ago..."

Ben nodded in return. "Ah, so you have Jedi in your family too. My sister was a Jedi Knight, but she was...killed in Order 66." He kept his head up, but sighed a little.

"Oh, I?m sorry for your loss, but remember, she is one with the Force now. What was her name by chance?" Kari asked.

"Serra Keto, I'm Ben, her younger brother." Ben answered.

She shook her head. "Serra...I don't recognize the name. It's still a pleasure to meet you Ben; I hope you two enjoy being here at the Enclave."

"We're thinking of this as a new start, to put the previous few days' events behind us," Alice said.

"That's good, now let's go inside the Enclave, and get you two settled." She smiled, and beckoned with her hand for the two Padawans to follow her.

Ben and Alice smiled at each other, and followed her. Ben leaned over and said quietly to Alice, "She seems like a nice person. How long have you known her?"

Alice blushed a little as Ben leaned close, and said back, "I haven't known her for long, but I think my parents knew her when I was very young."


Ben nodded, and noticed her red cheeks. He asked curiously, "Why are you blushing? It's just me."

She turned her head away, and muttered something inaudible. She just kept walking, leaving Ben only to shake his head. The three entered the Enclave, and Kari gave them a short look around. Including the dorms, the Council Chambers, and the courtyard outside that led to the plains. By the time the tour was done, it was almost nightfall, and Kari showed the two Padawans to their quarters. Kari bowed to them both, and walked off. They both returned the bow, then stood outside their rooms, both with their heads tilted slightly, avoiding the other's gaze. It was silent for a few moments, before Ben said,

"Well, we made it, and we can pick up on our training again, which is good."

Alice looked up at him. "Yes, that is good, but I just don't think it'll be the same without Master Vorok," She said with a sigh.

Ben nodded. "I feel the same way, but we can't remain too attached to the past, now is the time to move on. I'll miss Master Barrun too, but not enough to distract me from training."

"You're right, we both still have a ways to go before we can finish our apprenticeships. Let's make a promise, ok?"

Ben looked at her. "Sure, what is it?"

"It is that we both promise to work as hard as we can, and always remain friends, no matter what," She said with a slight smile.

Ben smiled too. "I can definitely promise you that, my friend." He bowed.

"As can I." She said with a smile and a bow in return. "I'm turning in for the night, so goodnight, Ben." She stood there a moment, but then went into her quarters.

Ben stood there, wondering why she stood there a little longer than normal. Still thinking, he went into his quarters for the night as well.

As both young Padawans slept, a silhouetted figure emerged from the lone snub fighter that had been following them to Dantooine. The figure appeared to be carrying something small, tucked beneath his cloak the dark figure made its way across the plain, and up to the Enclave. Making its way along the outer walls, it stopped at a spot, which just happened to be the outside of the wall of Ben and Alice's quarters. The small object was removed from the cloak, and placed on the wall with care. The figure then quickly and stealthily made its way back to the fighter.

"Those two are sure in for a surprise in the morning." He thought to himself with an evil grin upon his face.


Ben and Alice may appear safe, but in the morning, they are in for a rude awakening...