Master Altis was the first person we told. His holoed face lit up, like I'd told him he was going to be a grandpa. "Ah, Callista, congratulations."
"Thank you, Master." I paused. "What happens now? Or, I mean, when I have the baby? Will I get to train her myself?"
"Most likely," he replied. "Under these circumstances, almost certainly." Then he changed the subject. "How is your mission? What have you found out?"
I twisted my hands around themselves. "Very well," I reported. "Our cover hasn't been blown, no one suspects us. We've been able to tell, that, well, on Ord Mantell, no one likes us much."
Master Altis nodded. "We suspected that that would be the case."
"What else do you want us to do? It seems to me that the mission has served its purpose."
"Not quite. Observe for a few months more, to see if the situation changes at all."
I sighed and nodded. "Yes, Master."
"May the Force be with you, Callista," he said, and signed off. I continued to stare at the holoproj unit for a few more heartbeats. I laid back on the bed and uncosciously touched my abdomen, and searched for the little life.
There. There was another mind inside my own, growing and gaining instinct that is the Force. The baby would live a long life, fight evil as a Jedi Knight. She would do remarkable things, started as a speck of tiny flesh inside me.
She.
My baby was going to be a girl, and I was going to be a mother, better than Anela, better than Mama.
"So what'd the old boy have to say this time?"
I turned around and faced Geith as he came into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. He pillowed his head in my lap, silently asking me to rub his head, something he loved for me to do. I obligingly ran my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. "He wants us to stay here for a few more months, just to see if the situation changes
Geith groaned. "They hate us. They want us dead. What more do they need to know?"
I shrugged. "Maybe things will change."
"And maybe the twin suns of Tatooine will plunge in to your very oceans!" Geith said with a snort of laughter.
I bent over and kissed his forehead. "Just a few months, love. Then we'll never come back here. I promise."
"All right, all right," he said with a sigh. He propped himself up on his elbow. Come here."
I laid down next to him. He leaned down and kissed my nose, and whispered in my ear. "Have I told you how happy I am?"
I smiled and kissed him back. "Are you scared?"
He shrugged. "Are you?"
"You're pregnant?" Sugar looked at me with a mixture of shock and excitement. The cantina was empty; the night crowd had yet to come in. Killian was setting out shot glasses, glancing over at us every once in a while.
"So wait, is that why you passed out the other night?"
I nodded. "Probably. I did a test when I got home, and-" I shrugged. "I'm pregnant."
Killian wiped out another glass, and set it down. "What does Evin think? Is he excited to be a dad?"
I smiled. "Yeah. I have never seen him so happy."
"Well, congratulations, Ellara," Sugar began, but anything else she said disappeared when four stormtroopers and one of the local officers come in. I tense. Stormtroopers came in all the time, but I never got used to it. I always thought they were coming for me.
Sugar leaned forward and slapped on her fake smile. "Evenin', gents, you're here early tonight. What can I get for you?"
One of the was looking at me, eyeing me warily. My breath shallowed. I turned away, trying to calm my anxiety as I busied myself consolidating Saintly Sin. My hands were shaking so badly I spilled the blue alcohol all over my hands. "Damn," I muttered, silently breathing a sigh of relief, because now I had an excuse to step out.
I walked to the back and washed my hands. Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe, and they'll be gone soon.
"Ell?" Killian came around the corner and leaned against the wall. "Hey, there you are."
"What's up, Killian?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Those troopers out there want to talk to you. Sugar sent me to get you."
My stomach chattered, taking my knees with it. How...
"Hey, are you okay? You're pale." He reached out and took my arm.
I took a deep breath. "Killian, listen to me. I'm telling you this because you're my friend and I can trust you, can't I?"
He nodded. "Sure."
I hesitated. If I told him, my cover was blown. He could betray me. No, not Killian. "My name is not Ellara. My name is Callista. Evin's name is Geith. Those men are Jedi Apprehension officers, and they're looking for us."
"You're Jedi?"
I nodded. "If they find us, they'll kill both-the three of us," I touched my stomach. "and they may kill both of you, for harboring us. Please, Killian, don't turn us in." I grabbed this hand. "Please?"
He looked at our hands. "Run," he said. "Don't come back. I'll stall." He looked up at me. "I always knew the Jedi were good."
I smiled. "Thank you. Tell Sugar I'm sorry."
He nodded. "I will," he said. "Now get out of here."
I said "Thank you" one last time as I rushed for the door, but I never saw either of them again.
I ran all the way back to our apartment. It was already dark out, but the lights weren't on when I got there. I waved my hand and opened the door with the Force.
"Geith!" I cried, bursting into the foyer. "Geith!"
"What? What?" Geith replied, emerging from the bedroom. I grabbed his hand. "Come on. We've got to get out of here."
"Why?" He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Our cover's been blown. Troopers-" I paused to catch my breath. "Troopers coming." I was interrupted by a pounding on our door.
"Open up! In the name of the Emperor!"
Geith gripped my arm. "Out the back. Come on." He grabbed his coat and threw it over my shoulders.
"Evin Filipiak! Ellara Li! Open this door! You are surrounded!"
Geith grabbed his blaster off the dresser and followed me into the kitchen. From the next room, I heard the troopers break the window. A shattering of transparisteel filled the air. I cried out and reached for my lightsaber. We ran through the apartment to the inner hallway. Geith kept a tight hold on my hand, pulling me along with him as I tried to keep up with his longer stride. Other doors flashed past us as we ran, doors that began opening when the troopers burst into the hall and began firing on us. "Come on!" Geith shouted.
I called upon the Force to spread a shield across our backs. Ignoring the curious and surprised faces of our neighbors, we made it to the streets, where there were troopers waiting for us. They started firing on us immediately. We dove behind the stone gate of the building. "Stay down," Geith commanded, pulling out his blaster. He poked his head over the wall and fired on the fifteen troopers on the other side.
"We can't stay here forever!" I cried. "Let's make a run for it."
"You're crazy! Under this fire?"
"We can do it!" I paused, ducking as blaster fire sent shrapnel flying. "We'll put up a shield. Just give me a minute." I closed my eyes and concentrated, gathering power within myself. I spread a skin of power over me and Geith like a veil, like I'd done in the hall. It was harder, this time, because I was shaking with fear and windedness. When I had a confident hold on it, I cried, "Go! Run!"
Geith jumped up and pulled me to my feet, bolting for the tangled canals of the streets. The troopers followed us, seeping into the cracks among the buildings like weeds.
When I dropped our shields, Geith pulled me into a shallow alcove. "Split up. We'll be harder to find."
I shook my head. "No, Geith, we can't-"
"Yes, we can," he kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. "We both know what we're doing. Link to my mind, so we'll be together that way."
"I took a deep breath. "Okay," I said, then stronger. "Okay. I love you."
"I love you, too." He kissed me briefly. "Go."
I checked the streets and then ran into the shadows, not looking over my shoulder to see where Geith went. Moments later, I was being tailed by five troopers, firing their blasters all around me. I threw my hands over my head as if mere human flesh could repel the searing laser bolts. Trying to lose them, I made a series of blind, rapid turns, until not even I knew where I was. The shouts of the stormtroopers were far off, though, which eased my anxiety. I slowed to a jog in a dark courtyard, and stopped to catch my breath. I leaned against a wall and took several deep lungfuls of air.
Then the wall grabbed me, covering my mouth so I couldn't scream. "Jedi Knight, listen carefully." Her voice was hushed and strong against my ear. I tried to get a t my lightsaber, but her strong fingers were already there, holding the weapon in place. "Listen well. Let them catch you. I will help you if you get them all in one place. Tell your mate."
Silently through the Force, she sent one more command to my mind. Trust me. Then I was released. I whirled around, but she was gone.
"H-hello?"
"Callie!" Geith was running towards me, the entire squad on his tail. "Run!"
I spun on my heel and bolted, momentarily forgetting the mysterious woman's admonition.
"Look out!" Geith shouted. Something whirled closer and closer, growing louder until a pair of stone bolos wrapped around my feet. The stones smashed with shattering force around my ankles and I collapsed to the gravel. The rough ground skinned my hands and arms to my elbows.
"Callie!" Then, "Let go of me! Get off! Get off!"
I turned and looked at Geith. They had him by his arms, but his legs were free and kicking like a spooked animal at anyone who came near. "Get off of me!"
One of the troopers strode over and yanked me up by my hair. He pulled my head back so I looked up into his face. I cried out in pain, then gasped. He wore no helmet. It was the man from the cantina, the one I'd foolishly attempted a mind trick on.
"Jedi," he growled. "You should have known that I, an Imperial officer, couldn't be swayed by such parlor tricks?" He shook my hair violently, sending trembles through my entire body. I gripped my scalp trying to keep him from pulling out my hair entirely. "You've been difficult to track down, Callista. But it's safe to say that your cover's been blown." He leaned closer. "Do you remember what I ordered?"
I shuddered, remembering his crude pickup lines. Please don't-
He threw me back to the pavement and stood over me. "I expect to get my order before we kill you," he said with a sneer, reaching for his belt. "After all, the customer is always right."
"No! Callie! No!"
"Shut him up," he said, exasperated. I heard the sound of a fist connecting with jaw, and a pained grunt from Geith. I closed my eyes and winced. I didn't open my eyes again, but I wished I could close my ears, numb my skin. I'd heard the rumors, how Jedi women were beaten and raped before they were murdered...
Not my baby...
Calm...a Jedi is calm...
He was down on his knees, straddling my waist. I kicked, twisted and writhed, trying to wriggle free. He held my hands over my head so I couldn't fight.
There was a loud noise, shouts, and my attacker's heavy body flopping on top of me. I screamed. This was it, I thought.
But he didn't move. He didn't breathe.
My shock paralyzed me as more blaster bolts filled the air, each on punctuated by a heavy thud. When everything was quiet, I shook myself and heaved his body off me. "Geith," I called. "Geith, are you all right?"
"Callie!" Geith replied. He ran to help me to my feet. I hugged him tightly.
"We haven't much time!" said a new voice. Geith and I turned it its direction and saw a young woman walking towards us, holstering a blaster at her thigh, beside a lightsaber. She wore short, deep blue robes and black boots. Her blond hair was pulled to the back of her head. Shards of glass were tattooed on her face, over an eye and inlaid with subcutaneous crystals.
Geith reached for his blaster, and the girl raised her hands. "I am not here to harm you."
"What do you want?" Geith demanded.
"Geith, put your blaster away, I said, gently pushing his arm down. "She just saved our lives."
"Anyone will spare their enemy as long as it benefits them."
"This is true, Geith Jiséo," the woman said. "My name is Katrinna Ghalas. My master sent me to collect the two of you. We need your help."
"Help with what?" I asked.
"You are experienced in Jedi smuggling, are you not?"
"Who is your Master?" Geith asked, still warily mistrusting.
"Geith, it's all right," I said. "Reach out with your feelings. "She's one of us." I turned back to Ghalas. "Yes, we smuggled Jedi."
She nodded. "The masters have elected a new planet as a Jedi hideout. Belsavis isn't on any charts, which makes it perfect."
"Belsavis," I muttered.
Ghalas nodded. "Master Kenobi referred you to us. He said you were two of the best. Anyway, this hideout is designed specifically for the children of the Jedi, by my Master, the Ho'Din Plett. Even if all of us are wiped out, then the next generation will survive and reawaken the order." She looked at both of us, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer. "Will you help us?"
I looked at Geith. "We should speak with Master Altis," he said.
"We cannot continue our mission here, either way. We might as well go," I argued, then abruptly spoke to Ghalas. "We'll go."
Ghalas smiled and bowed in the formal Jedi fashion. "Excellent," she gestured for the gate. "We must leave immediately. Do you have any belongings left at your apartment?"
I shook my head. "No doubt they've already torched the place." I took Geith's hand, and looked into his eyes. "Come on."
"I have a bad feeling about this, Callie," he said.
"So do I, but I have an even worse feeling about staying here. I'm not going to be pregnant on this hellhole."
Geith sighed. "Okay, okay."
"So why didn't this Master Plett come to us himself?" Geith asked. We were en route to Belsavis on Ghalas' shuttle. The three of us sat in the cockpit, watching the crystalline vortex of hyperspace.
"Master Plett hasn't been off of Belsavis for almost a hundred years," Ghalas said, turning to look at Geith.
"So...why isn't Belsavis on any charts?" I asked.
"Master Plett says that the Jedi discovered it just over a century ago. They kept it secret, not reporting its discovery to anyone. It's the safest place for the Jedi. Only Jedi know where it is."
"Then, Lady Skywalker is the first non-Jedi to visit it."
Ghalas nodded. "As far as we know."
"How many masters are there?" Geith asked.
"Not many, right now. More will come as the shelters fill."
Geith nodded. "The shelter's been built?"
"The shelter is in the bowls of a retired volcano. All the tunnels, everything is natural." Ghalas shut off the approaching alarms and pulled out of hyperspace. The landing is going to be a little rocky. The valley's surrounded by plains of ice. The winds are incredibly high. I suggest you web up."
We descended through the buffeting ice and wind. The ship rocked from one side to the other. Ghalas handled the shuttle expertly, smoothly. She was seemingly unconcerned with the bucking and pitching shuttle. When we were finally on the ground, Ghalas powered down the shuttle and stood up. "Quickly. We have a fair distance to walk."
"In that?" Geith asked incredulously, gesturing to the frigid wasteland outside.
"Appearances are deceiving, Jiséo," Ghalas said, keying open the hatch. The wind outside invaded the ship, swirling around us and jabbing at is with icy fingers. "Come on," Ghalas said, and walked out into the storm.
Geith wrapped us arms around my shoulder and we followed Ghalas out into the snow. Our "fair distance" was only a few feet-Ghalas had stopped just outside the ship.
"What is it?" I shouted over the howling wind.
Ghalas dropped to her knees and waved her hands over the snow. She used the Force to clear the snow out of her path. Underneath the snow was a trap door, which she waved her hand over again and it opened. As she swung her legs over, she gestured to us. "This way!" Then she dropped through the door. Geith and I jumped through after her.
The tunnel we landed in was warm, lined with black, shining stone.
"Whoa," Geith marveled.
"This is one of the volcanic vents I told you about," Ghalas said.
"You're absolutely sure this volcano is retired?" I asked.
"If it's not, I promise you'll be the first to know," Ghalas turned around and eyed me, amused by her own joke. I didn't say anything, but rested a hand on my stomach and continued to follow her. We walked through the vent; the only noises were our footsteps harmonizing with dripping steam. Geith held my hand tightly, taking in everything around us. He didn't like any of this, I could tell that much.
After walking through the snakelike vent for almost an hour, the tunnel opened up into a wide, tropical valley. I lacked the voice to convey my awe, so all I could do was gasp.
The valley was vast, reaching miles to the other side. Tall, unspoiled trees rose almost the strange, almost-dome structure covering the valley. It was warm, and reminded me of the humid air of my homeworld.
Finally, I thought. A place for the Jedi, unknown, beautiful, safe. This place felt safe. We could be happy here, Geith and I, and our baby.
"Come," Ghalas said. "My Master is waiting for us."
Master Plett's dwelling was built in an area of lower ground, deep in the jungle of foliage. The ceiling was high-vault to accommodate a Ho'Din's lofty height. The walls were draped in creeping green vines. Ghalas tapped the door and pushed it open quietly and slowly. "Master Plett?" she called.
A lilting, willowy voice emanated from the back: "You may enter, my student."
Ghalas turned to us and gestured for us to follow her.
Inside was warm, humid. Vines crept up the walls and over the vault beams to form the ceiling. A jungle of plants grew all throughout the building, and small creatures scurried around the floor, chittering and yipping.
A tall figure moved among the plants, looking like a plant himself. He straightened as we came in, and the four of us bowed formally.
"Master Plett," Ghalas said. "This is Jedi Knight Callista Nogati, and student Gieth Jiséo."
Plett smiled faintly. "It has been many years since I left Belsavis, but I am certain that the dress code has not changed."
I looked down at my cantinagirl outfit and smiled sheepishly. I was filthy, and my clothes were ripped almost to shreds from the struggle on Ord Mantell. "Forgive us, Master," Geith said. "Our other belongings were destroyed when our mission was compromised."
Plett nodded, amused. "We will see to it that you receive clean clothing." He spread his hands, and his snakelike tresses stirred. "Please, sit down. We have much to talk about."
And so, after having left the profession only a month before, Geith and I once again became the salvation of Jedi. This time around, though, there were chillingly fewer Jedi to smuggle, and all of them-all of them!-were children. True, there was the occasional Knight accompanying the younger ones, but with the surviving Jedi so thinly spread, we smugglers were left to our own devices.
This made Geith all the more nervous about my involvement. As the months passed and my baby grew, he insisted that we stay together on every mission, "just in case," he said. Oddly enough, very little happened, at least as far as our missions were concerned. But during those months, I experienced more sickness than I had in my entire life. I was sick every morning, and dizzy and sore the rest of the time. I became very good at using the Force to sill pain. In our rare private moments, Geith and I fantasized about our imaginary normal life, living on a planet far away from this conflict. We randomly tossed around baby names, dismissing them as quickly as they came to us. Geith was so excited to be a father. I'd never seen him so exited and alive. Lying in bed at night, he'd rest his head next to my slowly expanding stomach, talking to the baby and making me laugh. He was always there to give me support, telling me I was not fat, despite the fact that I felt bigger than a tsaelke.
About seven months into my pregnancy, we were called on our largest mission yet. The number of knighted Jedi numbered less than fifty, with fewer students than that, but there had been almost a hundred children saved. It was a grim statistic, but, all things considered, miraculous.
This time we were going to transfer sixteen young children from Alderaan to Belsavis. Bail Organa, the Prince of Alderaan's House Organa, had been harboring young Jedi for a year, but now it was too dangerous for his people. The mission was going to be dangerous-we had to get the sixteen children past the Imperial garrison.
We landed on Alderaan without incident, and Organa's private aide was there to meet us.
"Welcome, my friends," he said. He gathered his long robes around himself and stretched out a hand to shake with us. We, dressed in our civilian clothes, responded in like civilian manner. "The Prince of Alderaan expressed his apologies for not meeting with you personally. He was called into an urgent meeting last minute. I will talk you to pick up your cargo."
Geith nodded. "Thank you-"
"-Vico."
"Vico. Thank you, Vico."
The children were living in a tunnel of secret rooms in the bowels of the Palace Aldera. Sixteen little ones, all under the age of ten.
"Is there a master with them?" I asked as the children congregated around us.
"That would be me."
I turned around to face the new voice, and found myself staring into unusual violet eyes. I froze. "Soonta?"
"Callista?" Soonta replied, just as shocked as I was. He laughed and threw his arms around me. "I don't believe it!"
I hugged him tightly. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you since Corellia!" I stepped back and looked at him carefully. "How are you?"
Soonta nodded. "I'm good. I've been better, recently. I mena, it's been a year since..." he trailed off, and looked around for something the change the subject. "What is this?" he asked suddenly, looking in disbelief at my stomach and gently reaching out to rest his hand on it. I smiled.
"My effort in the cause," I said, taking Geith's hand.
"Boy or girl?"
"A girl."
Soonta and Geith gripped hands emphatically. "Congratulations, man." He turned and faced the children. "All right, kids. We're going on a little trip. My friends Geith and Callie are taking us to a new place to live. You'll all be very safe there."
"Will you be there?" asked a little Sullustan child, his voice high and squeaky.
Soonta smiled and rested a hand on the child's head. "Yes, I will, Loen. I will be there to protect you."
"Will there be bad mens there?" another human boy asked, tugging at my pants leg. Carefully, I knelt beside him and put my hands on his shoulders. "What's your name?"
"Nichos," he said, rubbing his nose with a fist.
"Nichos, I promise they won't hurt you. Where we're going, there are any people but Jedi, like you." I touched his chin and lifted it so he was eye to eye with me. "Okay?"
He sniffed and nodded. "Okay."
I looked up at Soonta, Geith and Vico. "Let's get going," I said. "Before they get curious about the ship."
Geith helped me stand and we each gathered four of the children around us. Nichos clung to my side, holding my pant leg with one hand and chewing a finger of the other. Geith hoisted a little girl into his arms. We trekked back to the ship.
We had just stepped back onto the landing platform when a stormtrooper came running towards us. Instantly, my senses were aware, ready to draw my lightsaber at any moment. Every so often the trooper doubled over, stumbling as if he was injured. Soonta stepped in front of all of us and reached for his lightsaber beneath his nondescript coat.
The stormtrooper tripped and fell. Soonta knelt and caught him. The stormtrooper ripped off his helmet, squinting in the sudden light. His skin was pasty and white, stained only by a trickle of blood leaking form his mouth. He gasped and wheezed, straining. "Belsavis," he managed, and se all tensed. "Moonflower..." then his labored breath eased, then stopped altogether. The silence afterward was terrible, heavy with realization.
"We've got to go, I said. "Now. Right now. Come on!"
"The body-" Vico began.
"Take care of it," Soonta said, gathering the children. "Run, kids!"
The children bolted, trailing along and stretching along the platform. Geith sprinted to the head of the line and opened the ship so they could board.
As he closed up to ready for lift off, he glanced at me. "What are you thinking?" He powered up the ship in staccato, rapid movements.
"They know the Jedi are on Belsavis," I said. "They need to be warned. Force only knows what would happen if they got there and found this nest of Jedi."
Geith nodded, squeezing my hand as we lifted off.
How could they know that we've nested there?" Soonta asked from the door. He moved to sit down as I looked at him. "No one knows we're there," he said.
"Only the people who are there already," Geith suggested.
"You don't honestly think..." I said doubtfully.
"I wouldn't rule it out," Geith said.
I felt a sudden sharp pain in my stomach. Grimacing, I touched my abdomen. "Ouch."
"What?" Geith asked, suddenly changing focus and becoming a worrisome father-to-be.
I breathed, and shook my head. "Nothing," I looked at him and smiled. "I'm all right."
"Soonta, take the children and get them settled. Geith and I have to talk to Master Plett." I reached up and helped a little girl down from the top bunk.
"Where do we go?" Soonta sked.
"There'll be a guide outside to take you."
"Okay," he said. "I'll see you soon, then."
I nodded. "Bye,"
"Bye, Callie," Nichos said, latching on to Soonta's coat. I smile and waved at him.
"Bye-bye."
Geith came up behind me and took my hand. "You think that's the last of them?"
I sighed. "I hope not. Come on. We've got to find Padmé."
Geith and I walked down the ramp behind the children hand in hand. Suddenly, I felt something inside me move, like a tiny bubble popping. I froze. Geith walked to arm's length before realizing I had stopped. He looked at me, but all the questions died on his lips when he saw my expression.
"Now?" he asked. "But...it's too early. You still have two months."
I shook my head. "No, Geith. This is it. The baby's coming tonight."
"Thank you, Master." I paused. "What happens now? Or, I mean, when I have the baby? Will I get to train her myself?"
"Most likely," he replied. "Under these circumstances, almost certainly." Then he changed the subject. "How is your mission? What have you found out?"
I twisted my hands around themselves. "Very well," I reported. "Our cover hasn't been blown, no one suspects us. We've been able to tell, that, well, on Ord Mantell, no one likes us much."
Master Altis nodded. "We suspected that that would be the case."
"What else do you want us to do? It seems to me that the mission has served its purpose."
"Not quite. Observe for a few months more, to see if the situation changes at all."
I sighed and nodded. "Yes, Master."
"May the Force be with you, Callista," he said, and signed off. I continued to stare at the holoproj unit for a few more heartbeats. I laid back on the bed and uncosciously touched my abdomen, and searched for the little life.
There. There was another mind inside my own, growing and gaining instinct that is the Force. The baby would live a long life, fight evil as a Jedi Knight. She would do remarkable things, started as a speck of tiny flesh inside me.
She.
My baby was going to be a girl, and I was going to be a mother, better than Anela, better than Mama.
"So what'd the old boy have to say this time?"
I turned around and faced Geith as he came into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. He pillowed his head in my lap, silently asking me to rub his head, something he loved for me to do. I obligingly ran my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. "He wants us to stay here for a few more months, just to see if the situation changes
Geith groaned. "They hate us. They want us dead. What more do they need to know?"
I shrugged. "Maybe things will change."
"And maybe the twin suns of Tatooine will plunge in to your very oceans!" Geith said with a snort of laughter.
I bent over and kissed his forehead. "Just a few months, love. Then we'll never come back here. I promise."
"All right, all right," he said with a sigh. He propped himself up on his elbow. Come here."
I laid down next to him. He leaned down and kissed my nose, and whispered in my ear. "Have I told you how happy I am?"
I smiled and kissed him back. "Are you scared?"
He shrugged. "Are you?"
"You're pregnant?" Sugar looked at me with a mixture of shock and excitement. The cantina was empty; the night crowd had yet to come in. Killian was setting out shot glasses, glancing over at us every once in a while.
"So wait, is that why you passed out the other night?"
I nodded. "Probably. I did a test when I got home, and-" I shrugged. "I'm pregnant."
Killian wiped out another glass, and set it down. "What does Evin think? Is he excited to be a dad?"
I smiled. "Yeah. I have never seen him so happy."
"Well, congratulations, Ellara," Sugar began, but anything else she said disappeared when four stormtroopers and one of the local officers come in. I tense. Stormtroopers came in all the time, but I never got used to it. I always thought they were coming for me.
Sugar leaned forward and slapped on her fake smile. "Evenin', gents, you're here early tonight. What can I get for you?"
One of the was looking at me, eyeing me warily. My breath shallowed. I turned away, trying to calm my anxiety as I busied myself consolidating Saintly Sin. My hands were shaking so badly I spilled the blue alcohol all over my hands. "Damn," I muttered, silently breathing a sigh of relief, because now I had an excuse to step out.
I walked to the back and washed my hands. Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe, and they'll be gone soon.
"Ell?" Killian came around the corner and leaned against the wall. "Hey, there you are."
"What's up, Killian?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Those troopers out there want to talk to you. Sugar sent me to get you."
My stomach chattered, taking my knees with it. How...
"Hey, are you okay? You're pale." He reached out and took my arm.
I took a deep breath. "Killian, listen to me. I'm telling you this because you're my friend and I can trust you, can't I?"
He nodded. "Sure."
I hesitated. If I told him, my cover was blown. He could betray me. No, not Killian. "My name is not Ellara. My name is Callista. Evin's name is Geith. Those men are Jedi Apprehension officers, and they're looking for us."
"You're Jedi?"
I nodded. "If they find us, they'll kill both-the three of us," I touched my stomach. "and they may kill both of you, for harboring us. Please, Killian, don't turn us in." I grabbed this hand. "Please?"
He looked at our hands. "Run," he said. "Don't come back. I'll stall." He looked up at me. "I always knew the Jedi were good."
I smiled. "Thank you. Tell Sugar I'm sorry."
He nodded. "I will," he said. "Now get out of here."
I said "Thank you" one last time as I rushed for the door, but I never saw either of them again.
I ran all the way back to our apartment. It was already dark out, but the lights weren't on when I got there. I waved my hand and opened the door with the Force.
"Geith!" I cried, bursting into the foyer. "Geith!"
"What? What?" Geith replied, emerging from the bedroom. I grabbed his hand. "Come on. We've got to get out of here."
"Why?" He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Our cover's been blown. Troopers-" I paused to catch my breath. "Troopers coming." I was interrupted by a pounding on our door.
"Open up! In the name of the Emperor!"
Geith gripped my arm. "Out the back. Come on." He grabbed his coat and threw it over my shoulders.
"Evin Filipiak! Ellara Li! Open this door! You are surrounded!"
Geith grabbed his blaster off the dresser and followed me into the kitchen. From the next room, I heard the troopers break the window. A shattering of transparisteel filled the air. I cried out and reached for my lightsaber. We ran through the apartment to the inner hallway. Geith kept a tight hold on my hand, pulling me along with him as I tried to keep up with his longer stride. Other doors flashed past us as we ran, doors that began opening when the troopers burst into the hall and began firing on us. "Come on!" Geith shouted.
I called upon the Force to spread a shield across our backs. Ignoring the curious and surprised faces of our neighbors, we made it to the streets, where there were troopers waiting for us. They started firing on us immediately. We dove behind the stone gate of the building. "Stay down," Geith commanded, pulling out his blaster. He poked his head over the wall and fired on the fifteen troopers on the other side.
"We can't stay here forever!" I cried. "Let's make a run for it."
"You're crazy! Under this fire?"
"We can do it!" I paused, ducking as blaster fire sent shrapnel flying. "We'll put up a shield. Just give me a minute." I closed my eyes and concentrated, gathering power within myself. I spread a skin of power over me and Geith like a veil, like I'd done in the hall. It was harder, this time, because I was shaking with fear and windedness. When I had a confident hold on it, I cried, "Go! Run!"
Geith jumped up and pulled me to my feet, bolting for the tangled canals of the streets. The troopers followed us, seeping into the cracks among the buildings like weeds.
When I dropped our shields, Geith pulled me into a shallow alcove. "Split up. We'll be harder to find."
I shook my head. "No, Geith, we can't-"
"Yes, we can," he kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly. "We both know what we're doing. Link to my mind, so we'll be together that way."
"I took a deep breath. "Okay," I said, then stronger. "Okay. I love you."
"I love you, too." He kissed me briefly. "Go."
I checked the streets and then ran into the shadows, not looking over my shoulder to see where Geith went. Moments later, I was being tailed by five troopers, firing their blasters all around me. I threw my hands over my head as if mere human flesh could repel the searing laser bolts. Trying to lose them, I made a series of blind, rapid turns, until not even I knew where I was. The shouts of the stormtroopers were far off, though, which eased my anxiety. I slowed to a jog in a dark courtyard, and stopped to catch my breath. I leaned against a wall and took several deep lungfuls of air.
Then the wall grabbed me, covering my mouth so I couldn't scream. "Jedi Knight, listen carefully." Her voice was hushed and strong against my ear. I tried to get a t my lightsaber, but her strong fingers were already there, holding the weapon in place. "Listen well. Let them catch you. I will help you if you get them all in one place. Tell your mate."
Silently through the Force, she sent one more command to my mind. Trust me. Then I was released. I whirled around, but she was gone.
"H-hello?"
"Callie!" Geith was running towards me, the entire squad on his tail. "Run!"
I spun on my heel and bolted, momentarily forgetting the mysterious woman's admonition.
"Look out!" Geith shouted. Something whirled closer and closer, growing louder until a pair of stone bolos wrapped around my feet. The stones smashed with shattering force around my ankles and I collapsed to the gravel. The rough ground skinned my hands and arms to my elbows.
"Callie!" Then, "Let go of me! Get off! Get off!"
I turned and looked at Geith. They had him by his arms, but his legs were free and kicking like a spooked animal at anyone who came near. "Get off of me!"
One of the troopers strode over and yanked me up by my hair. He pulled my head back so I looked up into his face. I cried out in pain, then gasped. He wore no helmet. It was the man from the cantina, the one I'd foolishly attempted a mind trick on.
"Jedi," he growled. "You should have known that I, an Imperial officer, couldn't be swayed by such parlor tricks?" He shook my hair violently, sending trembles through my entire body. I gripped my scalp trying to keep him from pulling out my hair entirely. "You've been difficult to track down, Callista. But it's safe to say that your cover's been blown." He leaned closer. "Do you remember what I ordered?"
I shuddered, remembering his crude pickup lines. Please don't-
He threw me back to the pavement and stood over me. "I expect to get my order before we kill you," he said with a sneer, reaching for his belt. "After all, the customer is always right."
"No! Callie! No!"
"Shut him up," he said, exasperated. I heard the sound of a fist connecting with jaw, and a pained grunt from Geith. I closed my eyes and winced. I didn't open my eyes again, but I wished I could close my ears, numb my skin. I'd heard the rumors, how Jedi women were beaten and raped before they were murdered...
Not my baby...
Calm...a Jedi is calm...
He was down on his knees, straddling my waist. I kicked, twisted and writhed, trying to wriggle free. He held my hands over my head so I couldn't fight.
There was a loud noise, shouts, and my attacker's heavy body flopping on top of me. I screamed. This was it, I thought.
But he didn't move. He didn't breathe.
My shock paralyzed me as more blaster bolts filled the air, each on punctuated by a heavy thud. When everything was quiet, I shook myself and heaved his body off me. "Geith," I called. "Geith, are you all right?"
"Callie!" Geith replied. He ran to help me to my feet. I hugged him tightly.
"We haven't much time!" said a new voice. Geith and I turned it its direction and saw a young woman walking towards us, holstering a blaster at her thigh, beside a lightsaber. She wore short, deep blue robes and black boots. Her blond hair was pulled to the back of her head. Shards of glass were tattooed on her face, over an eye and inlaid with subcutaneous crystals.
Geith reached for his blaster, and the girl raised her hands. "I am not here to harm you."
"What do you want?" Geith demanded.
"Geith, put your blaster away, I said, gently pushing his arm down. "She just saved our lives."
"Anyone will spare their enemy as long as it benefits them."
"This is true, Geith Jiséo," the woman said. "My name is Katrinna Ghalas. My master sent me to collect the two of you. We need your help."
"Help with what?" I asked.
"You are experienced in Jedi smuggling, are you not?"
"Who is your Master?" Geith asked, still warily mistrusting.
"Geith, it's all right," I said. "Reach out with your feelings. "She's one of us." I turned back to Ghalas. "Yes, we smuggled Jedi."
She nodded. "The masters have elected a new planet as a Jedi hideout. Belsavis isn't on any charts, which makes it perfect."
"Belsavis," I muttered.
Ghalas nodded. "Master Kenobi referred you to us. He said you were two of the best. Anyway, this hideout is designed specifically for the children of the Jedi, by my Master, the Ho'Din Plett. Even if all of us are wiped out, then the next generation will survive and reawaken the order." She looked at both of us, her gaze lingering on me a moment longer. "Will you help us?"
I looked at Geith. "We should speak with Master Altis," he said.
"We cannot continue our mission here, either way. We might as well go," I argued, then abruptly spoke to Ghalas. "We'll go."
Ghalas smiled and bowed in the formal Jedi fashion. "Excellent," she gestured for the gate. "We must leave immediately. Do you have any belongings left at your apartment?"
I shook my head. "No doubt they've already torched the place." I took Geith's hand, and looked into his eyes. "Come on."
"I have a bad feeling about this, Callie," he said.
"So do I, but I have an even worse feeling about staying here. I'm not going to be pregnant on this hellhole."
Geith sighed. "Okay, okay."
"So why didn't this Master Plett come to us himself?" Geith asked. We were en route to Belsavis on Ghalas' shuttle. The three of us sat in the cockpit, watching the crystalline vortex of hyperspace.
"Master Plett hasn't been off of Belsavis for almost a hundred years," Ghalas said, turning to look at Geith.
"So...why isn't Belsavis on any charts?" I asked.
"Master Plett says that the Jedi discovered it just over a century ago. They kept it secret, not reporting its discovery to anyone. It's the safest place for the Jedi. Only Jedi know where it is."
"Then, Lady Skywalker is the first non-Jedi to visit it."
Ghalas nodded. "As far as we know."
"How many masters are there?" Geith asked.
"Not many, right now. More will come as the shelters fill."
Geith nodded. "The shelter's been built?"
"The shelter is in the bowls of a retired volcano. All the tunnels, everything is natural." Ghalas shut off the approaching alarms and pulled out of hyperspace. The landing is going to be a little rocky. The valley's surrounded by plains of ice. The winds are incredibly high. I suggest you web up."
We descended through the buffeting ice and wind. The ship rocked from one side to the other. Ghalas handled the shuttle expertly, smoothly. She was seemingly unconcerned with the bucking and pitching shuttle. When we were finally on the ground, Ghalas powered down the shuttle and stood up. "Quickly. We have a fair distance to walk."
"In that?" Geith asked incredulously, gesturing to the frigid wasteland outside.
"Appearances are deceiving, Jiséo," Ghalas said, keying open the hatch. The wind outside invaded the ship, swirling around us and jabbing at is with icy fingers. "Come on," Ghalas said, and walked out into the storm.
Geith wrapped us arms around my shoulder and we followed Ghalas out into the snow. Our "fair distance" was only a few feet-Ghalas had stopped just outside the ship.
"What is it?" I shouted over the howling wind.
Ghalas dropped to her knees and waved her hands over the snow. She used the Force to clear the snow out of her path. Underneath the snow was a trap door, which she waved her hand over again and it opened. As she swung her legs over, she gestured to us. "This way!" Then she dropped through the door. Geith and I jumped through after her.
The tunnel we landed in was warm, lined with black, shining stone.
"Whoa," Geith marveled.
"This is one of the volcanic vents I told you about," Ghalas said.
"You're absolutely sure this volcano is retired?" I asked.
"If it's not, I promise you'll be the first to know," Ghalas turned around and eyed me, amused by her own joke. I didn't say anything, but rested a hand on my stomach and continued to follow her. We walked through the vent; the only noises were our footsteps harmonizing with dripping steam. Geith held my hand tightly, taking in everything around us. He didn't like any of this, I could tell that much.
After walking through the snakelike vent for almost an hour, the tunnel opened up into a wide, tropical valley. I lacked the voice to convey my awe, so all I could do was gasp.
The valley was vast, reaching miles to the other side. Tall, unspoiled trees rose almost the strange, almost-dome structure covering the valley. It was warm, and reminded me of the humid air of my homeworld.
Finally, I thought. A place for the Jedi, unknown, beautiful, safe. This place felt safe. We could be happy here, Geith and I, and our baby.
"Come," Ghalas said. "My Master is waiting for us."
Master Plett's dwelling was built in an area of lower ground, deep in the jungle of foliage. The ceiling was high-vault to accommodate a Ho'Din's lofty height. The walls were draped in creeping green vines. Ghalas tapped the door and pushed it open quietly and slowly. "Master Plett?" she called.
A lilting, willowy voice emanated from the back: "You may enter, my student."
Ghalas turned to us and gestured for us to follow her.
Inside was warm, humid. Vines crept up the walls and over the vault beams to form the ceiling. A jungle of plants grew all throughout the building, and small creatures scurried around the floor, chittering and yipping.
A tall figure moved among the plants, looking like a plant himself. He straightened as we came in, and the four of us bowed formally.
"Master Plett," Ghalas said. "This is Jedi Knight Callista Nogati, and student Gieth Jiséo."
Plett smiled faintly. "It has been many years since I left Belsavis, but I am certain that the dress code has not changed."
I looked down at my cantinagirl outfit and smiled sheepishly. I was filthy, and my clothes were ripped almost to shreds from the struggle on Ord Mantell. "Forgive us, Master," Geith said. "Our other belongings were destroyed when our mission was compromised."
Plett nodded, amused. "We will see to it that you receive clean clothing." He spread his hands, and his snakelike tresses stirred. "Please, sit down. We have much to talk about."
And so, after having left the profession only a month before, Geith and I once again became the salvation of Jedi. This time around, though, there were chillingly fewer Jedi to smuggle, and all of them-all of them!-were children. True, there was the occasional Knight accompanying the younger ones, but with the surviving Jedi so thinly spread, we smugglers were left to our own devices.
This made Geith all the more nervous about my involvement. As the months passed and my baby grew, he insisted that we stay together on every mission, "just in case," he said. Oddly enough, very little happened, at least as far as our missions were concerned. But during those months, I experienced more sickness than I had in my entire life. I was sick every morning, and dizzy and sore the rest of the time. I became very good at using the Force to sill pain. In our rare private moments, Geith and I fantasized about our imaginary normal life, living on a planet far away from this conflict. We randomly tossed around baby names, dismissing them as quickly as they came to us. Geith was so excited to be a father. I'd never seen him so exited and alive. Lying in bed at night, he'd rest his head next to my slowly expanding stomach, talking to the baby and making me laugh. He was always there to give me support, telling me I was not fat, despite the fact that I felt bigger than a tsaelke.
About seven months into my pregnancy, we were called on our largest mission yet. The number of knighted Jedi numbered less than fifty, with fewer students than that, but there had been almost a hundred children saved. It was a grim statistic, but, all things considered, miraculous.
This time we were going to transfer sixteen young children from Alderaan to Belsavis. Bail Organa, the Prince of Alderaan's House Organa, had been harboring young Jedi for a year, but now it was too dangerous for his people. The mission was going to be dangerous-we had to get the sixteen children past the Imperial garrison.
We landed on Alderaan without incident, and Organa's private aide was there to meet us.
"Welcome, my friends," he said. He gathered his long robes around himself and stretched out a hand to shake with us. We, dressed in our civilian clothes, responded in like civilian manner. "The Prince of Alderaan expressed his apologies for not meeting with you personally. He was called into an urgent meeting last minute. I will talk you to pick up your cargo."
Geith nodded. "Thank you-"
"-Vico."
"Vico. Thank you, Vico."
The children were living in a tunnel of secret rooms in the bowels of the Palace Aldera. Sixteen little ones, all under the age of ten.
"Is there a master with them?" I asked as the children congregated around us.
"That would be me."
I turned around to face the new voice, and found myself staring into unusual violet eyes. I froze. "Soonta?"
"Callista?" Soonta replied, just as shocked as I was. He laughed and threw his arms around me. "I don't believe it!"
I hugged him tightly. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you since Corellia!" I stepped back and looked at him carefully. "How are you?"
Soonta nodded. "I'm good. I've been better, recently. I mena, it's been a year since..." he trailed off, and looked around for something the change the subject. "What is this?" he asked suddenly, looking in disbelief at my stomach and gently reaching out to rest his hand on it. I smiled.
"My effort in the cause," I said, taking Geith's hand.
"Boy or girl?"
"A girl."
Soonta and Geith gripped hands emphatically. "Congratulations, man." He turned and faced the children. "All right, kids. We're going on a little trip. My friends Geith and Callie are taking us to a new place to live. You'll all be very safe there."
"Will you be there?" asked a little Sullustan child, his voice high and squeaky.
Soonta smiled and rested a hand on the child's head. "Yes, I will, Loen. I will be there to protect you."
"Will there be bad mens there?" another human boy asked, tugging at my pants leg. Carefully, I knelt beside him and put my hands on his shoulders. "What's your name?"
"Nichos," he said, rubbing his nose with a fist.
"Nichos, I promise they won't hurt you. Where we're going, there are any people but Jedi, like you." I touched his chin and lifted it so he was eye to eye with me. "Okay?"
He sniffed and nodded. "Okay."
I looked up at Soonta, Geith and Vico. "Let's get going," I said. "Before they get curious about the ship."
Geith helped me stand and we each gathered four of the children around us. Nichos clung to my side, holding my pant leg with one hand and chewing a finger of the other. Geith hoisted a little girl into his arms. We trekked back to the ship.
We had just stepped back onto the landing platform when a stormtrooper came running towards us. Instantly, my senses were aware, ready to draw my lightsaber at any moment. Every so often the trooper doubled over, stumbling as if he was injured. Soonta stepped in front of all of us and reached for his lightsaber beneath his nondescript coat.
The stormtrooper tripped and fell. Soonta knelt and caught him. The stormtrooper ripped off his helmet, squinting in the sudden light. His skin was pasty and white, stained only by a trickle of blood leaking form his mouth. He gasped and wheezed, straining. "Belsavis," he managed, and se all tensed. "Moonflower..." then his labored breath eased, then stopped altogether. The silence afterward was terrible, heavy with realization.
"We've got to go, I said. "Now. Right now. Come on!"
"The body-" Vico began.
"Take care of it," Soonta said, gathering the children. "Run, kids!"
The children bolted, trailing along and stretching along the platform. Geith sprinted to the head of the line and opened the ship so they could board.
As he closed up to ready for lift off, he glanced at me. "What are you thinking?" He powered up the ship in staccato, rapid movements.
"They know the Jedi are on Belsavis," I said. "They need to be warned. Force only knows what would happen if they got there and found this nest of Jedi."
Geith nodded, squeezing my hand as we lifted off.
How could they know that we've nested there?" Soonta asked from the door. He moved to sit down as I looked at him. "No one knows we're there," he said.
"Only the people who are there already," Geith suggested.
"You don't honestly think..." I said doubtfully.
"I wouldn't rule it out," Geith said.
I felt a sudden sharp pain in my stomach. Grimacing, I touched my abdomen. "Ouch."
"What?" Geith asked, suddenly changing focus and becoming a worrisome father-to-be.
I breathed, and shook my head. "Nothing," I looked at him and smiled. "I'm all right."
"Soonta, take the children and get them settled. Geith and I have to talk to Master Plett." I reached up and helped a little girl down from the top bunk.
"Where do we go?" Soonta sked.
"There'll be a guide outside to take you."
"Okay," he said. "I'll see you soon, then."
I nodded. "Bye,"
"Bye, Callie," Nichos said, latching on to Soonta's coat. I smile and waved at him.
"Bye-bye."
Geith came up behind me and took my hand. "You think that's the last of them?"
I sighed. "I hope not. Come on. We've got to find Padmé."
Geith and I walked down the ramp behind the children hand in hand. Suddenly, I felt something inside me move, like a tiny bubble popping. I froze. Geith walked to arm's length before realizing I had stopped. He looked at me, but all the questions died on his lips when he saw my expression.
"Now?" he asked. "But...it's too early. You still have two months."
I shook my head. "No, Geith. This is it. The baby's coming tonight."