More time-jumping. Also, this is probably the only chapter of Alchemy that *might* warrant a "T" rating, for a kind of explicit scene. I think that may be overkill, but I just wanted to let you know, anyway. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty: Sacrifices

We'd been here several weeks, already, and I was doing my best to keep the illness at bay, but, as I've said, some days were better than others.

This was a bad day.

"Are you okay?" Jonas' hand touched my shoulder, the brush of his fingers no harder than the press of a feather, but I flinched anyway, so he pulled his hand back. I nodded, but we both knew I was lying. It's hard to seem "okay" when one is curled in on oneself in the corner of a deserted temple, after all.

"Is there something I can do?"

His voice was kind, soft, warm. I wanted to lose myself in it, but I pulled my body closer together, rocking slightly and squeezing my eyes shut against the pain that ached deep within my marrow. "Just leave me alone. Please."

But he was a Jedi, and I should have known better. Jonas knelt beside me and – after a moment's hesitation that I noted in some shadowed corner of my mind as one eye opened – reached for my shoulder again. "Let me help you..."

His touch was even better than his voice; all at once, I felt the pain ebb, recede, and I understood that he was using the Force. My eyes closed. Even aboard the Chu'unthor no one had ever tried it, because of my pride. My idiotic pride. At some point I opened my eyes again and realized that he was looking at me like...like I had not seen anyone do in a long time.

When he was done the pain was still there, no doubt, but the brunt of its sting was gone and I was able to breathe again. We were both silent for a few minutes, then I looked at him; it felt as though there was a cord strung between us, taut with desire and fraying with frustration.

"Thank you, Jonas." There was no sarcasm in my voice, which I think was perhaps the greatest indication that my feelings for him had softened. Drawn to him, I shifted until I could feel his breath against my cheek and sighed when he didn't flinch. His eyes were so much bluer than I remembered.

But his smile was better. "You're quite welcome, Kamala."

Right after he said my name...that was the first time I kissed him.

Earlier...

Kalinda's arms reached for her husband, but she couldn't touch his skin. Her voice called to him, but it would not reach his ears. Her mind sought his, but it was as if there was a wall between them, or a river that she could not ford.

"We should bind her, just in case."

So Kali stood to one side and watched her husband bind her body's hands and feet with the efficiency of the soldier that he was; she saw his eyes harden and his gaze grow distant, and she knew that he was separating himself from the reality of what he was doing. She understood that it was necessary for him to do so, to preserve his sanity.

But that didn't make it any easier to witness. This will break him, she thought as she noted the faintest tremble in his hands when he tightened the cuffs. If we don't figure something out, he won't be able to survive this. She thought back to their past; he was strong, one of the most capable people she'd ever known, but when it came to her...

Mace would have said that I was his shatterpoint. It was not a comforting thought.

"There's nothing you can do." The voice came from beside her; turning, Kalinda saw her mother's form. Kamala still looked transparent but her image was a little sharper than it had been before.

Kali looked back at her husband, who was stepping out of the room with the others; she saw his gaze fall to the figure on the bed once before he slipped over the threshold. Moments later she heard the lock of the door and glanced at her mother again. "How do you know?"

Kamala shook her head. "Come. Let's leave this place for now."

"But..." Kali looked at the door. "We're locked inside." She frowned as her mother smiled at her, then took her hand. Suddenly they were at the grove where she'd run to only that morning. Night had painted everything a deep indigo, her mother's form glowed faintly silver in contrast. The moon was out, but could only be seen in broken shards through the canopy, and they were surrounded by singing cicadas.

Kalinda stared at her mother for several long moments before she was able to form the words that had been echoing in her mind since she'd learned the truth. When she found her voice at last, the speech came out halting and slow. "You...you gave up your body to that spirit so that I could survive?"

"Yes." Kamala's gaze grew distant and she seemed lost in memory as she continued. "It was the only way that I could see, Kali. What else was I supposed to do? My life was forfeit, it was done and over. There was nothing for me to look forward to, but if I could save you...well, it might make up for everything. The life of my child was more important than mine. It still is."

It was too much to take in. Even in this state of non-corporeality, Kali still felt the weight of the situation pressing down upon her, so she leaned her back against the nearest tree, staring at the whorls of bark that she could discern through her torso. When she looked back at her mother, Kamala was watching her carefully. She gave up everything for me. I must try to understand. Kali looked back at her mother at last, trying not to shake her head with disbelief. "But Jonas said you were a Corellian merchant's daughter. I met you when I was a child. I remember meeting you..."

Kamala tilted her head in thought. "I had a large family; several cousins looked similar to me. Perhaps he took you to one of them." Her gaze lowered and she was silent for a beat, as if considering something. "I asked him not to tell you the truth. I thought it would be...too much. You didn't need to know any of that, especially if you were going to be a Jedi."

"How did you know that I was Force-sensitive?"

"Kali, you are my child. I knew you from the moment I realized you were there. I never stopped thinking about you." Kamala looked as if she wanted to reach for her daughter, but Kali stood apart from her still, uncertain, so she held her place. "I did what I had to do to save you."

Nodding, Kalinda looked around at the grove, noting how everything looked silver and strange in the moonlight. "So when the spirit...took your body? What happened to her?"

At this, Kamala frowned and looked at her folded hands. "For the change to be permanent like she wanted, she had to inhabit a body that had a certain strength with the Force. However, I was not what she needed in a proper host, even though I think your presence fortified me, somewhat; but ultimately nothing was strong enough to stop the disease from claiming my body at last. From what I could tell...afterward...she was unable to retain a hold on my body once you were born. So when my body finally gave way, she was cast into the void and forced to return here, to her home, to wait for another chance at life." A small, bitter laugh escaped Kamala's throat. "Of course, I have not seen her in many long years."

Something flickered at the edge of Kali's brain. "How do you know all of this?"

Kamala shook her head. "Time, Kali. To reflect on my life and my errors. That's all I have now."

"So she – whoever or whatever she is – has my body now, and the Force, as she wanted," Kali said slowly, trying to process everything. "Because I am stronger with it than you were?" Her brow furrowed in thought. "Do you know how it can be reversed? You gave her permission to inhabit your body so, but I didn't. Do you think that might have something to do with..." She paused as her mother approached her. "What is it?"

"Kali...it's too late. She's won. There is nothing you can do from here; I've tried. Believe me, I've tried."

But Kali shook her head. "That's not true. You came to me in a dream. You spoke to me...I remember. There has to be a way for me to connect with the physical world, somehow, to...I don't know, kick her out of my body or something? There must be a way to bridge the gap and reverse whatever it is that she's trying to do."

"Our blood connection is strong. Perhaps that played a role in our ability to communicate..." Though she was looking at Kali when she said the words, Kamala's tone was vague, almost indifferent, and Kalinda bit back a flare of frustration at her mother's apparent lack of concern for the situation.

She's not really how I always pictured her, or even how her journal makes her out to be. Unsure of what to do with the thought, Kali pushed it aside for the time being to focus on the more pressing matter of re-inhabiting her own body.

"Perhaps that's the only reason you and I can communicate," Kalinda replied, shaking her head. "But perhaps not. There must be something I can do." She thought of Stonewall and their unborn child, and felt determination renewed again within her. "Come on," she said to her mother, who looked at her with uncertainty.

"Where?"

Kali smiled. "To find my husband."

Even if he had not come to the grove where she was as if on instinct, Kali thought that she could have found Stonewall anywhere in the galaxy, as she was so attuned to his solid presence. The hard part was realizing how stricken he was, how frightened, and Kali desperately wanted to touch him and ameliorate some of his pain. But she couldn't so she reached to him through the Force, which felt stronger when she was near him, as she'd often noticed. It was several minutes before she got him to hear her, and relief swept through her when she heard his voice in her mind, though she spoke her reply.

"I'm here. I'm okay...sort of." She tried to keep her voice light despite the fear within her and that which was written clearly on his face. "Stonewall...I don't have much time before she'll have my body forever."

His face set into that serious expression that she was familiar with. What can I do to prevent that? It was a fair question, but she didn't really have an answer, so she considered for a moment.

"Honestly? I'm not sure. My mother and I are trying to figure it out, but..." Kali paused. "I wanted you to know that I'm still here. I'm not gone, yet. But we have to find some way to get that...thing out of my body."

Would it help if I spoke to...her? She could tell that was the very last thing that he wanted to do, but it might very well be the only thing. Even so, she looked at her mother, who was regarding Stonewall with interest.

"What do you think?"

Kamala shook her head. "She won't help him. There is no point."

"But he should try, at least. It's not like we have a wealth of options."

Despite this, Kamala frowned. "No, Kali. It won't do any good."

Again, Kalinda felt a seethe of frustration within her. No. No. No...is that the only thing you can say? But she held the feeling back and looked at Stone, who seemed a bit anxious at the delay even as he was getting to his feet. "Yes."

Then I will. Can I...do you think we can contact each other again?

This was enough to make her smile. Before she replied, Kali looked around the forest, at her mother and thought of the stranger in her body, and she was filled with determination to set things right. "Nothing is going to keep me from you any longer, Stone. In this form or any other. I don't know about you, but I'm done playing around." She thought of their child and a shiver of energy slipped through her. "We have too much to lose."

Right. Stonewall's resolve lit a flame within her heart. We'll find a way, then.

Even as he spoke the words, Kali felt their connection fading, so she let it go for now and watched him slip off through the forest. When he was gone she looked back at her mother, hoping to glean some more information in the interim. "Tell me more about the shield around this planet."

Stonewall stared at the being who had inhabited his wife's body and tried to conceal his disdain for her while he gathered his thoughts and ignored the sultry tone to her voice, or the suggestive shifting of Kali's hips. Even bound as she was, he understood that she was attempting to appeal herself to him, and some testosterone-fueled part of his brain couldn't help but react with a flare of heated blood. No, he told himself, taking a deep breath. This is not Kali, though she wears her form. The Force confirmed what he knew and allowed his mind to clear as he ensured that the door was locked while being careful not to turn his back completely to her; again, his soldier training was serving him well.

"I am glad that you have returned to me. I was getting lonely," Not-Kali murmured.

The former captain took a breath and crossed his arms behind his back so that he was standing at parade-rest: informal but still separate. "Who are you?"

Light laughter that should have made him smile only caused him to cringe inwardly. "I am your wife. Come and keep me company."

"Not now. Who are you?" Despite his agitation, he worked to keep his tone calm.

Again she made some flippant reply and he thought of Kali's words. I'm done playing around as well. "Okay," he said with a shrug. Stonewall lifted his hand and nudged her with the Force, causing her sliding hips to still; the woman who wore Kali's face looked at him, bewildered and he nodded. "Now that I have your attention...you know my question, ma'am. It's very simple."

Her face darkened for a moment, then softened, and when she spoke, her voice was overly sweet. "I can see why she likes you so much...you're very strong. And you have the Force as well...such boundless possibilities." She beamed at him and licked her lips as she ran her eyes across his form.

She thinks to seduce me? At first the idea was repugnant until he considered the reaction his body had shown to her, moments ago. Maybe two can play the game...it might make her more willing to talk to me. The thought was beyond bizarre, but he could think of no quicker way to get information from her, so he bit back his anger and disdain for the situation and focused on his objective.

Since she'd expressed an appreciation of both his strength and his use of the Force, he sent another, different kind of energy towards her, causing Not-Kali's eyes to widen as he held her still without laying a hand upon her. After taking another breath, Stonewall approached her and knelt beside his wife's body, keeping his face a whisper away from hers and his tone gentle. "Perhaps I've been too hasty...what's your name?"

"I haven't had a name in eons," she replied in a breathless voice, eyes meandering from his shoulders to the planes of his face. "Does it matter, really? You should just call me your wife's name...it will make things easier, in the end. Kalinda, isn't it?"

To his credit, Stonewall's face showed no reaction when Not-Kali said the name of the woman whose form she'd usurped, instead he shifted closer; after a moment he laid a hand on her arm, noting how the hairs on her skin lifted at his touch. "Eons?" he asked, looking at her and fighting back his revulsion at the alien inflections that emanated from Kali's throat. "That's a long time to be without a name. Or a body." His fingertips grazed her skin with a feather-touch and he watched with satisfaction as her eyes closed.

The soldier within him tensed, preparing for the ambush.

Not-Kali made a soft noise that he recognized as desire but he felt no reaction as he watched her, which was a relief. Finally she looked back at him, her eyes wide and filled with naked desire. "It's been such a long time...all I wanted was to live forever, to carry on the spirit of my people. I don't think it's too much to have asked for."

What gives you the right to eternity, when the rest of us live on borrowed time? "Of course not," he replied, lifting his hand and running it along her knee, noting the prickles that appeared on her skin. "Life is something to be savored after all." She sighed at his touch and gazed at him; he noted that her pupils were dilated and her cheeks were flushed. Stonewall laid his other hand on her neck and felt her pulse leap at his touch, so he leaned forward and whispered to her. "How is it that you were able to achieve such a thing?"

"Uses of the Force...are limitless," she murmured, her throat moving as she spoke. "Shifting energy from one place to another is not so difficult, when one has gathered enough power. When one is determined not to fail...again."

This was nearing something useful, so he pressed his advantage and kept his touch light against her skin, nothing how she leaned into his palm. "You seem very powerful."

Her eyes had long since closed, but at his words they opened and fell on him while her body went still. "You think you can trick me?" Even as she spoke he felt her ire through the Force and prepared himself for an attack as he held his place beside her.

"I'm curious about you," he said, keeping his voice even.

But she laughed. There was a pull of Force-energy within the room and he realized that she was gathering her strength. "Fool. I had hoped to sway you to my cause, but I see now that you're weak, just like the pitiful one who gave me this body."

"Weakness is a state of mind," he replied, sitting back on his heels and trying to put distance between them without seeming to. "And I can tell you right now – who or whatever you are – you will not win this fight."

This time her laughter was high and shrill, and completely devoid of anything he thought of as Kali. "Platitudes and meaningless drivel. You have no idea what you are dealing with, do you? You think to bind me here until you find some magical solution, but there is nothing that can keep me restrained, and once I am whole again, no power in this or any other world will stop me."

Something in her words snapped within his mind. "Once you are whole again?"

But Not-Kali only laughed at him again, and made no response. Stonewall watched her tense and understood that something was coming, but there was no time to move away, so he braced himself through the Force; what he had not expected was an explosion of energy that sent his body through the air to slam against the wall of the room with enough force to stun him. By the time he was able to see clearly and get to his feet, the door that led to the outside had been shoved open, and she was gone.

It had been a long, long night. Traxis allowed himself to doze off a few times while he watched the comm, but Ares never seemed to grow tired. Eventually the Twi'lek had taken to fiddling with the wiring, hoping to boost the signal; as he worked he hummed to himself. Aside from their conversation when disassembling the camp that morning, neither one had spoken much to the other, and Traxis found that he was not uneasy with the realization that had infiltrated his brain, but rather his own inability to act on it. He tried – and failed – not to look at Ares, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was wrong.

No, he thought after a while. I'm not. But it doesn't matter how I feel about him; the bottom line is that I can't leave my brothers, and that's that. Finally even Ares' determination waned, so they slipped off the ship and made their way back to the settlement in silence, through the deep of the night.

Still awake, Weave and Crest met them on the porch of the main living quarters, their expressions anxious. "Stonewall's going to try and speak with...her," Weave said. "He thinks that it's safe enough, but I have my doubts."

Ares gestured to the direction of the ships. "I tried everything to boost the signal, but it didn't work. Looks like I'll be running an errand soon, then."

Weave glanced from Traxis to Ares but he spoke to the Twi'lek. "You're not going alone, right?"

"Am I?"

All eyes fixed on the scarred clone, who shrugged. "If you want company..."

"Can we come?" The three men turned to see Risky, Finn and Keo standing behind Weave, their expressions eager, and Trax wondered that they'd managed to sneak up on them without anyone's knowledge.

Forgetting their awkwardness for a moment, Traxis and Ares shared an amused look, but Weave shook his head, the movement exaggerated as he swatted away an insect. "Absolutely not. It's too-"

"Dangerous, yeah," Risky said, crossing his arms and scowling. "We know. But we're still soldiers, you know. We want to go."

"Besides, this place is...really weird," Keo added, his eyes falling on the dark jungle.

Can't argue with them, there. Traxis exchanged glances with his brothers. It might be better to get them off-planet for a little while, in case things get too interesting around here. He could see that his brothers were thinking the same thing, so finally they each nodded. Another look at Ares, whose expression seemed to say they're your brothers. Traxis sighed. "Fine." He tried not to laugh at the overwhelming relief on each of the boys' faces and sighed. "Just, stay out of trouble and do as you're told, okay?"

"What's going on?" Honi's voice broke in and everyone turned to see the Jedi standing in the doorway, her peering out at them from around the wall.

I don't think anyone's going to get much sleep, tonight.

Keo grinned at her. "Me, Finn, and Risky get to leave this rock and go with Ares and Trax when they bring Master Altis here."

"I take it that means you are still unable to contact Altis?" Honi asked.

Ares shook his head. "It's not looking that way. I'm afraid our options are limited at this point."

The Jedi seemed uncomfortable and Traxis noted how she and Weave did not appear to be looking at one another, and that it was pretty deliberate. Finally she sighed and nodded to the clones and Ares just before she turned back to the interior. "Good night...again."

Traxis glanced at the clone boys. "Good idea." With minimal fuss and more energy than he certainly felt he had, they slipped off as well.

No one spoke for a minute until Crest looked around at his brothers and the Twi'lek, before his eyes landed on Weave. "So...anything new to report?"

All eyes fell on the clone with the implant, whose ears grew bright red even as he looked away. "I don't know what you're..."

"Come on," Crest replied, leaning his back against the outside wall. "I got a glimpse, you know. And I'd rather gossip about you and Honi than think about what's happening elsewhere."

"I hardly think that my personal life makes an appropriate distraction for you, Crest."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Traxis cleared his throat. When his brothers looked at him he raised a brow at Crest. "He's right, vod, no one's business but his and Honi's."

"There's no business of any kind between us," Weave replied with a scowl. "And on that note, I'm going to bed."

The reference to Kali meeting her mother is my way of reconciling my fic, What Remains, with the events of this story. If you're curious, check out the end of chapter two of WR.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! I'll see you all on Friday! Hope everybody had a great holiday weekend! :D