CHAPTER 19
HIDING
Lando sat in the living area with Luke as he explained to his wives what had been decided during the staff meeting. The two women looked at each other, back at Luke and then over at Lando. Lando watched in amazement as the two women moved almost as one.
"Callista, I know you were embodied in the computer during the rebellion so you'll have no way of knowing what to expect. And, Amethyst, I know that most of what you know of the rebellion is as a prisoner. Lando's going to help us. Amethyst, you go with Lando. He'll help you pack what we're going to need and he'll see that you get to the shelter safely."
"No," Callista interrupted. "She'll have no way of communicating with him. I'll go with Lando. You take Amethyst."
Luke hesitated. Amethyst looked at him with a questioning expression.
"I'm concerned that if I stay with you, your feelings will keep me from feeling everything I should through the Force," he explained to her.
She nodded slowly and signed that she understood and would go with Lando.
Callista took hold of her hand. "Are you sure?"
Amethyst nodded and stood up. She held a hand out to Lando.
"Lando, you and Amethyst pack some clothes for the girls and me. Callista and I will get whatever equipment I think we'll need from my office. We'll meet in the conference room in one hour."
"Are we ready?" Luke inquired.
Both women and Lando nodded an affirmative.
Both men knew that Han had divided his family into three groups, each group with one child. The twins had been furious at being separated but when they had learned that the reason for the separation was so they could be secreted into a cave where they would be living for several days, their anger had turned to excitement and they had been eager to help with the expedition. Luke and Lando had no idea if any or all of Han's family had made it to the cave.
They did know that Wedge and Ralph Brenner had already left for the hideout. C3PO and R2D2 had been sent on their way, on a very circular path. The two men decided it was time to take their chances and head for the cave.
Forquet had gone to work immediately after Luke's staff meeting. Slowly the recruits and low ranking officers had disappeared from the palace area. It was assumed that he had taken the men under his command away from where Luke was taking his family.
Lando and Luke hurried the women through a densely wooded section of the wilderness training area. They had no idea how any of the rest of the group that would live in the cave had made their way to their destination. They figured the best way for each group to have their best chance to make it to the cave safely was to go in an indirect method without anyone knowing the route any other group was going to use.
Lando stopped the group and looked out of the undergrowth that hid him from the extremely narrow footpath that led directly to the cave.
"It looks clear," he whispered to Luke, "but ..."
"I know ... I feel it, too. But ..." Luke replied.
"Yeah – me, too," Lando nodded.
"Take Amethyst and go first. I'll be right behind you with Cal."
Lando took hold of Amethyst's hand and broke through the undergrowth. They jogged toward the cave. They were still a few feet from the cave entrance when Wedge and Han appeared with blasters.
"Come on," Han encouraged them to hurry into the safety of the cave.
Lando and Amethyst had just stepped into the coolness of the dark cave when Amethyst stopped and pulled her hand out of Lando's. Without warning, she took the few steps necessary to return her to the harsh daylight she had just left.
Han ran after her. He was right behind her when they saw Luke and Callista exit the undergrowth at the exact spot Lando had used. Even as they ran toward the cave, there was a strange metallic noise and an odd shaped droid rose from the opposite side of the path. It swung a short arm around and pointed at Luke.
Han ran forward to help his friend.
"Luke! Behind you!"
The voice from his dreams caused Luke to stop in his tracks. He stared at Amethyst. Callista, however, spun around to see what had caused Amethyst to cry out her warning.
Luke realized that in his surprise at hearing Amethyst's voice he had missed an important warning. Then he saw Han raise his blaster to attack something to Luke's back, felt a powerful punch in the small of his back that knocked him to the ground and simultaneously heard a strange sound that seemed a cross between a blaster and a rocket launcher. He was still trying to decide what the weight was that was holding him on the ground when he saw Han, a stricken look in his eyes, blast whatever had made the noise.
"No!"
Amethyst's heart wrenching scream caused Luke to suddenly be frightened by what he would see when he turned around.
"I've got her!" Han exclaimed.
He had run to where his friend lay in the narrow pathway and was bending over Luke's prostrate body.
"Get Amethyst back in the cave," Han ordered. "There may be more."
The weight lifted off Luke. He surged to his feet and ran toward the cave. He was still in a state of shock as hands reached out and pulled him into the cave, through the blackness just inside the entrance and into the lighted cavern where Leia and the children were already in hiding.
He took hold of Amethyst's shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"You spoke!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Luke," she spoke his name softly and sadly. She then laid her hand along side of his face and gently turned his head in Han's direction. She added mildly, "Callista."
"No!"
Luke now understood what had caused Amethyst's previous outcry. As he grabbed Callista's broken body out of Han's arms, he realized she had used her body to shield him from the assassin droid. Slowly he sank to his knees, cradling Cal.
"No, please," he pleaded to no one in particular.
Ralph Brenner hurried to where Luke knelt beside Callista. Amethyst came to stand behind Luke, her hands on his shoulders. He reached one hand up to hold one of her hands as they watched Ralph examine Callista.
The doctor looked up at the anxious couple and shook his head. "I don't know what I can do. If I had a bacta tank ..." his voice drifted off.
"Can we take her back?" Luke questioned.
The doctor shook his head sadly. "When Han told me we were moving here, I ordered maintenance on the tanks. They won't be usable for at least two days."
"What if I put her into a healing trance?" Luke asked him.
Ralph nodded. "I'd never doubt the ability of a Jedi to perform things an ordinary man can't. Perhaps with a bacta pack on the wound and a trance to stop her losing any more of her life force."
Luke searched the group that had gathered around them. He looked for and found Leia.
"I need a quiet place to put her," he said evenly, holding his voice in careful control. "Somewhere where she won't accidentally be disturbed."
"We've set up a sleeping area in the back of the cave, on the edge of the light. We'll fix a spot further back in the shadows."
Luke looked up at Amethyst. "Stay with her until I'm ready. Hold her hand. Direct your life Force to her, just as you did with me."
Amethyst replied with a somber bow of her head and then sank to her knees in the spot Luke had vacated.
A few moments later, Luke returned and scooped Callista up in his arms. Without a word, Amethyst followed as he carried the limp body into the deep shadows of the cave. The group that remained in the lighted area was quiet as they watched the trio disappear into the darkness.
Luke lit a dim light so he and Amethyst could see to get Callista settled as comfortably as possible. Ralph followed them after a few moments. He and Luke quickly field dressed Callista's wound.
"That's all I can do. I'm sorry, Luke, Amethyst. I hope it's enough – I truly do. But it's now in the power of your Force whether she lives or dies."
Ralph withdrew. Luke and Amethyst knelt on either side of Callista's body. They looked across at each other and reached out to hold hands over their wounded companion.
"I know you've not been completely trained in the Force," Luke told her. "I'll place her in a healing trance. But I must be available to help defend this area. It'll be up to you to stay with her, to strengthen her, to keep the trance in place. Can you do it?"
"I do not know if I can do it," she responded, "but I do know I can try."
He smiled at her. "I've heard your voice before."
"When? When you heard it in the Medi-Area?"
"Before that. Shortly before I found you. I dreamt we were in the garden and you spoke to me."
She looked surprised. "That is why it seemed so real. I, too, had that dream – it was a Force vision."
"That's why it was true," he acknowledged with a nod.
"We must now work to save Callista."
The two of them worked over the body of Luke's other wife. Evidently he left Amethyst sitting beside Callista, holding her hand. He returned to the lighted area of the cave.
"How is she?" Han asked as he and Leia crossed to Luke's side.
Luke shook his head. "Her life Force is so weak. Amethyst isn't truly Force trained. I don't know if she can maintain the healing trance enough to make a difference." He turned and looked toward the back of the cave and then added softly, "I should be with them."
Leia laid a comforting hand on his arm. "If we can't make the base safe from the assassins, you won't have a chance to save either one of them."
"I know," he affirmed as he turned to Han. "I'd like to meet with the staff. What plans do we have?"
Luke met with all of his staff except Forquet to evaluate the situation in which they found themselves. After assessing their supplies, support and tactical position, the group broke into work details to prepare for defense of the cave. Luke was left standing alone with Han and Leia.
Han laid a hand on Luke's shoulder. "Just like old times, hey, buddy."
Luke nodded quietly. "Except this time," he said softly, "my wife is dying."
Han's hand fell from Luke and he turned to look at his wife, trying to imagine if he would be able to carry on with his duties the way Luke was doing if Leia was laying in the back of a cave possibly dying.
Leia, who was holding one of Han's hands, reached out her free hand to take Luke's hand. The group that was working around the cave felt a sense of power as they saw these three heroes of the Rebellion forming a small circle of strength beside the central light of the cave.
The trio saw Winter hurrying from the back of the cave at the same time they heard Amethyst call for Luke. Leia stayed to talk to Winter about why she had left the children as Luke and Han ran towards Amethyst.
When the two men reached the dimly lighted area where Callista lay, at first Amethyst was not visible. Han's three children were sitting around the mattress, all three had both hands touching different areas of Callista's body.
"Amethyst?" Luke asked anxiously.
There was a shimmering movement in the darkness beyond the small pocket of light. Hesitantly Amethyst moved into the light, staying just inside the light but as far away from the children as possible, she moved to Luke's side. She put her arms around Luke's waist and buried her face against his chest.
"They came out of nowhere. They insisted on touching Cal. They wouldn't leave. They wanted me to hold hands with them." Her words were too soft for Han to hear and came out in quick, breathless gasps.
Luke held her close to him, kissed the top of her head. "Shh, it's okay. I'm here now. Everything's all right."
Luke looked over at Han who had knelt beside Callista and was quietly talking to the children. Anakin stood up and walked closer to Luke.
"The beautiful lady wasn't doing it right," he told his Uncle. "Jana said Aunt Cal was going to die."
Struggling to hold back the tears that burned his eyes, Luke nodded in understanding.
"Go help your brother and sister," he said gently.
He looked over as Leia came to join her family.
"Winter told me," she said as she approached Luke.
She stroked Amethyst's back trying to comfort the sobbing woman.
Anakin returned to Callista's side and again laid hands on Callista's body. Han rose and came over to the adults.
"They say they just came over to help and that Amethyst became too frightened to listen to them," Han stated.
Luke nodded in understanding. "I know."
"Luke, we have to do something," Leia told him.
"I know," he whispered again, tightening his hold on Amethyst. "But not now."
His voice was soft but the tone was the plea of a man who could not take any more pain or hurt. Leia nodded and leaned against Han who slid his arms around her to console her. The two men who had become like brothers even before Han's marriage to Luke's sister looked at each other. Luke looked once at the children sitting around his wounded wife. Winter had followed Leia over to the area and Luke looked at the children's nanny.
"Let them stay. If they want me, come and get me at once," Luke instructed.
"Yes, Master Luke," the white haired lady said with great dignity.
The two men lead their wives from the area.
As Luke performed his duties, Amethyst stayed close to him, just behind him, always on his left side. It was late at night before he was ready to try to get some sleep.
He looked over at where his senior ensign sat.
"Hodges, is there anything else that anyone's come to discuss?" Luke asked wearily.
"No, sir. We've handled everything that's come up since our relocation."
"Good. Now in the morning ..."
"If I may, sir," Hodges interrupted.
The ensign motioned to Luke's left.
Luke turned his head. Amethyst sat on the floor of the cave, just behind him and to his left. Her head had fallen against her left shoulder. She was sound asleep.
Luke turned back to Hodges and, with a smile, nodded.
"I think she's right. You must be exhausted, too. Get some sleep, Hodges. We'll get started again in the morning."
Hodges gave a brief salute, rose and left Luke sitting with Amethyst. Luke turned so he could take Amethyst in his arms. She gave a slight start as she woke. When she realized what had awakened her, she smiled at him.
"I'm sorry, darling," Luke told her. "I didn't realized it was so late."
She looked around.
"Are we the only ones awake?" she asked.
He nodded. "Just us and the perimeter guards. I've just sent Hodges to bed. Come on," he added as he stood up, holding her arm to help her to her feet.
Their arms around each other's waist, they quietly moved back to where Callista slept in her healing trance. Luke had ordered another mattress moved beside hers. When they reached the area, Leia was asleep beside Callista.
Luke knelt and woke her gently. Blinking sleepily, she sat up rubbing her eyes.
"Go on over to Han and the kids," he whispered. "I'll stay the rest of the night."
She nodded, gave Amethyst a weak smile and moved away. Luke and Amethyst settled down to try and get some sleep.
"Where are the children?" she asked long after Luke had thought she was asleep.
"Leia had Winter put them to bed several hours ago. She's been sitting with Cal until I was finished."
"Are they ..."
Luke waited a moment to see if she would finish her question and when she didn't, he responded, "Yes, they'll sit with Callista tomorrow."
She made no verbal reply but he could feel her shiver.
"Amethyst, we have to talk about this," he told her.
"I am extremely tired, Luke. Can we talk about this some other time?"
He sat up. "No, we can't. I want it settled now."
She looked up at him a moment and then slowly sat up beside him. She sat quietly with her eyes lowered.
"Amethyst," he started gently, "I understand what Vader did to you – how he destroy your life and your family."
"What your father did," she corrected softly.
He stopped abruptly and sat up, a hard knot in the pit of his stomach.
"My father," he agreed, his tone extremely flat. "You're right. He was my father. And I have paid the price for that!"
She looked up at the bitter tone she heard in his voice. Almost imperceptibly she pulled away from him but the movement was enough for Luke to be aware of it. He was quiet a moment, the pulse of his jaw visible as he sat with clinched teeth. He turned hard grey eyes toward her.
"And I will not continue to pay to one of my wives for something I have no control over."
She lowered her eyes again. "Yes, Lord," she whispered so softly he knew more than heard the words.
"Stay here with Callista," he told her rising to his feet. "I'm going to check on my family," he told her as he walked off in the direction Leia had taken.
As he moved away from his wives, the sound of Amethyst's sobbing followed him.
TBC
A/N: I'm not asking for any kind of compliments, but I do need to know if there is anyone reading this who is interested if I post more chapters. Feedback – or lack thereof – would indicate there is no appeal in the community for continued posting. I am willing to make more chapters available if there is anyone still reading. But I am also prepared to stop at this point if there is no interest.