Almost two weeks later, I'm lounging on the veranda of Padmé's apartment watching the sunset with Kaleena in my arms. She's incredibly small in my arms, but she makes up for it with spirit. Her wide brown eyes remind me of Padmé's, always looking around in wonder, but the difference with baby Kaleena is that she can't focus on anything quite yet. Her rosey cheeks puff out more when she isn't making noise. Which currently is not at that moment. She hasn't progressed beyond crying and silence yet, but one of the medical droids at the hospital had given me the lowdown on what to expect.
She'll cry if she makes noise at all for a while. She'll start laughing at around three or four months. She'll respond to movement within the first week, but she won't see color for about three months. She'll start making sounds, like 'ooh's' and 'ahhh's' after about a month and start babbling soon after that. I can expect her first words as early as six months. The human doctor had told me to talk to her as much as I can since babies learn to talk by copying adults. She'll be abe to pick her head up after about a month and hold it in place when sitting around four months.
Look at me, already thinking of the milestones that aren't even close yet. It is intriguing, really, holding something that I created, something that formed in my body. I only wish Obi-Wan could be here to share the experience. Even being a Jedi, he would have been a fantastic father. Kaleena's little fingers hold onto one of my own as she stares up at me. I smile down at her before looking to the horizon, slowly rocking back and forth.
The Coruscant sky is covered in pinks, purples, and oranges as the sun casts its rays across the sparse clouds. It's like the sky is celebrating. Whether it's celebrating new life or the foiled plot on kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine, I don't know. Padmé had returned this morning from attending the Festival of Light on Naboo where Palpatine had been attacked not once but twice and it was stopped by the Jedi, as always. I have no doubt Anakin was involved since he specializes in heroics. I wanted to go, but knew I shouldn't with my new youngling.
Youngling. Every time I look away from little Kaleena, she grabs ahold of the necklace Obi-Wan had given me. Whether it is on purpose or accident, I'm unsure, but she does it without fail, like she can sense its presence. I know with every fiber of my being that she's Force-sensitive, and that's what scares me the most.
The Jedi are always actively searching for Force-sensitive children. They are common on Coruscant because of the higher population. I don't know how they know where to find Force-sensitive children, but they do. If the council comes for Kaleena, I can't do anything about it. And I don't know how long I have with her. They could come for her tomorrow, in a year, or not at all, and I'll be living in fear until that day.
Being a Jedi is a great honor, but Kaleena is my child. I can't bare to see her go in anyone's arms who isn't close to me.
Practically sensing my increasingly worried state, Kaleena starts to cry. Her hands ball into fists and her face scrunches as she cries out. I bounce her in my arms and speak slowly and calmly, "Hey, it's okay. It's okay." Her hand grips my finger as I continue speaking to her and rocking back and forth.
Kaleena quiets down the more I talk to her, but not completely. "Do you want to hear a song?" I ask her, not expecting a response. "My mom used to sing to me when I was young. Whenever I cried, she sang me to sleep." I take a deep breath and start singing.
"In the morning when you rise/I bless the sun, I bless the skies/I bless your lips, I bless your eyes/My blessing goes with you/In the night time when you sleep/Oh, I bless you while a watch I keep/As you lie in slumber deep/My blessing goes with you." Kaleena's eyes droop as I continue. "This is my prayer for you/There for you, ever true/Each every day for you/In everything you do/And when you come to me/And hold me close to you/I bless you/And you bless me too."
Her eyes close fully as she drifts into a deep slumber. My smile rests easy on my face as I watch her, just as the song says. It's quiet as the sun dips below the horizon and I bask in the last of the sunlight.
"You have a lovely voice," I hear a deep familiar voice say behind me. I turn slowly to not disturb the baby. My breath catches in my throat as my eyes widen. It can't be.
"Obi-Wan?" My voice is shaky and tears develop. The Jedi stands before me without hair or a beard, but I can tell it's him. It's Obi-Wan Kenobi. Dimpled chin, mole on his forehead, beautiful blue eyes. I have to choke on a sob as he walks closer. His whole expression seems apologetic. "What-how-"
"I'll explain everything," he assures before looking down at the baby in my arms. Obi beams with pride at the sight of her. He rests his hand gently on her small head.
I watch him watch her sleep. He seems truly at peace and content. Now he just needs a name. "Her name is Kaleena."
"Kaleena," he tries out softly. "It's beautiful. She's beautiful." He raises his eyes to mine. "You're beautiful." I blush at the words. "I'm sorry." His eyes are filled with sadness. "I should have been there, not playing dead."
My memory flashes back to the last few days. "I'm assuming you were part of the plan to stop the Chancellor from being kidnapped?" He nods. "It's alright. You were doing your job."
His head tilts. "I don't know if that's a good enough reason for missing the birth of my daughter."
"Would you have been able to be there even if you weren't on a mission?" I ask, full well knowing the answer. It wasn't possible. There would be too many suspicions. Even one is too much. Obi-Wan doesn't answer. "Exactly. I'm not mad that you weren't there. I'm disappointed that I didn't know what was going on, but I understand that I can't know everything about the Jedi Order and mission details."
Obi-Wan pulls me and Kaleena into his arms, holding us close. "I love you."
My head rests on his chest as I reply, "I love you, too." It's silent for a few minutes as he just holds us. It's nice. It's soothing. It fills me with bliss. He's not dead. He's not rotting in a coffin. He's here holding me and our daughter. That's all I can ever ask for. "Would you like to hold her?"
Obi-Wan chuckles and lets me go. "Of course."
He holds out his arms and I place our little girl in them, knowing she's fully safe and protected in the strong arms of her father. The Jedi Master stands tall, as usual, but his shoulders are relaxed. All tension can practically be seen leaving him. It's a sight to see, like the view of the gorgeous lakes on Naboo at sunset and sunrise. It's a sight that makes you believe all is right in the world. But it isn't. Not as long as the war continues.
The war grows harder as months pass. No side seems to make headway. There is loss all around, permeating the air. Everyone is affected in some way. Even the children. Even the infants.
Death is the only thing that lasts forever. No one truly learns that until it is too late. Over time, children grow and grow. They go through pain and loss and happiness and anger and fear. Then they die. They die early in their lives or late, either experience very little or so much. Sometimes death comes out of nowhere. It's unexpected and takes without any regard. Those are the deaths that hurt the most. Especially when they've already sacrificed so much.
Blood flows, effortlessly soaking through a shirt matching the grain fields of Naboo. A blaster falls to the ground with a light thud. Pale hands touch the wound, turning red. But there is no regret to be found. The blood soaks through the tan pants and stains the leather jacket. I was ready for a fight, and I'm going to continue standing until I no longer can. My strength doesn't last long.
A blur runs passed my eyes, already in pursuit of the assailant who tried to kill my oldest friend. She always got her self in to trouble, even when she didn't want to. But I've always been honored to help pull her out of the fire.
I crumple to my knees, still holding my stomach. I hear her call out my name as she rushes to my side, putting her own hands on the wound, but it doesn't seem to help. The blood still flows, just slower. Her voice calls out for help, but I can barely hear her. I resolve to staring at her face instead. Her eyes meet mine and I can see her ask why.
"I'd do anything for you," I choke out. "You should know that by now." Her wide eyes are pleading, screaming. Nothing can make her smile, no matter how much I want to see her smile one last time. Her smile is second to none.
Black spots dance across my vision as I fall backward. Milady's arms wrap around me and hold me close. The last thing I hear is her cry.
Medics rush to Senator Amidala's side, immediately helping her fallen friend. They stop the bleeding as the group is rushed to the nearest hospital. The medics can't figure out why she is dying. That is until they see that she wasn't hit with a blaster bolt. She was hit by an actual bullet. A doctor pulls two bullets out of the unconscious woman's stomach. No vital organs were hit, nor major arteries, but the doctor does everything he can to patch her up.
Once patched up, the woman remains unconscious. And her ongoing depleting vitals worry people. Padmé Amidala waits in the waiting room with one of her handmaidens and Captain Typho. She waits as the doctors rush to do tests on her dying friend. They find out why she's dying shortly after two Jedi arrive to touch base with the worried senator.
"Is Cattleya alright?" Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi asks hurriedly. "Have you hear anything?"
Padmé shakes her head sadly at him, knowing their close bond and how in depth they care for each other. Obi-Wan's former padawan, Anakin Skywalker, is more worried about Padmé than the handmaiden he barely knew, but even he can't deny how much the older woman had grown on him, much like an older sister.
"How are you doing, Padmé?" Anakin asks the senator. She simply shakes her head again. The last time Padmé had been saved by her longest trusted friend, she knew what was going on. She had been kept in the loop as much as possible from the moment they were met by medics. But she didn't know this time. Maybe Cattleya's luck had finally run out and the doctors were too busy trying to stop it over the few hours she had been sitting on the uncomfortable waiting room chairs with Dormé and Typho.
Captain Typho clears his throat. "Did you happen to catch who did this, Master Kenobi?" he asks, recalling Obi-Wan chase after the shooter.
"Yes, a bounty hunter called Vianna D'Pow," Obi-Wan explains, jaw clenching, trying not to show just how affected he is by these turn of events. "We've had run ins with her before, but this is the first attempt at murder we've heard of from her. She's currently being interrogated to find out who hired her."
"Hopefully she'll reveal her employer," Typho says. Half-hearted nods are seen all around as a medical droid enters the waiting room.
Padmé stands quickly. "Is she okay?" she questions, partly shouting the inquiry.
"Miss Aput is dying," the droid begins.
"What? How?" Padmé presses. "The medics stopped the bleeding. How can she be dying?"
The droid pauses for a moment before answering. "Blood results came back positive for toxins. A high amount of a rare poison called X-1 was found in her system. It's fatal in high doses. It seems the bullets were filled with it. We are sorry, but there is no cure for X-1 at this high of a dosage. She has an estimated four hours to live. Only two visiters are allowed in a room at a time if you would like to see her."
The entire group stands speechless at the droid's explanation of what Cattleya is going through and how she is going to die. Padmé hiccups, trying to not sob in public. She looks at the Jedi Master, seeing the hurt and pain in his expression. She brings a hand up to his shoulder, gaining his attention. "Would you like to join me?" she asks quietly.
Obi-Wan nods. Anakin, Dormé, and Typho watch the Jedi Master and Senator follow the droid to Cattleya's hospital room. The door closes behind the two, leaving them alone with the dying woman. Neither can take the sight of Cattleya's pale body lying limp on the hospital bed, hooked up to machines that wouldn't help save her. Obi-Wan shakes his head fervently as he scurries closer to his love. "No," he mumbles. "You can't-" He falls to his knees next to her bed. His hands grip her hand tight, but the lack of warmth and a pulse pull Obi-Wan deeper into despair.
Padmé doesn't fair much better. Tears fall silently down her cheeks as she stands as far away as she can. Her best friend is lying cold and almost dead in a hospital room, and she can't do anything to fix it. She never got to say how much she cared about her. She never got to say how glad she was that she had her by her side. She never got to say goodbye.
Now all that's left of her is her daughter. Obi-Wan and Padmé would be damned to let the same thing happen to the baby.
At least Cattleya could no longer suffer. She is finally at peace.
