Maternal Instincts

by Ambassador Cara Jade

The sequel to Forever Home. Luke, Callie et al go up against the Nightsisters, who want Callie's baby (in true villain fashion). But it seems that a larger war is on the horizon...

2. We Will Be Together

Part 2

Kirana Ti came out of hyperspace into the Quelii Sector. Formerly an interdicted system, Quelii now was under New Republic control. Kirana Ti had been told that King Isolder and his wife, Teneniel Djo, had installed a full landing system on Dathomir. Never again would Teneniel or other members of the Singing Mountain Clan be helpless against an Imperial invasion.
"This is Dathomir control. Do you have a landing clearance?" A woman's voice came in over the X-wing's sub radio. The voice was rough- sounding and authoritative.
"Yes. This is Kirana Ti of the Jedi Academy. Augwynne cleared me a couple of days ago."
"You have your clearance. Do not deviate from your present course or you will be shot down. This is a secured area."
Kirana Ti landed her fighter on Landing Pad #23-A and opened the canopy. She couldn't believe her eyes. Dathomir had once been a barren planet with only primitive armaments. Ever since the New Republic had taken over, things had changed--watchtowers, huge cannons, and a stone fortress had sprung up amongst the trees and hills.
Augwynne Djo was waiting to greet her. Also with her was a young child, a few years younger than Arian. She wore reptile hides, typical clothing for Dathomirian women who often ran through Dathomir's jungles. Kirana Ti recognized her as Teneniel's daughter--and Augwynne's granddaughter--Tenel Ka.
Tenel Ka bore a striking resemblance to her mother, but her eyes were dark gray, not brownish-orange. As Luke had predicted so long ago, Tenel Ka was strong in the Force. And when she was old enough, she would be sent to Yavin 4 to be trained as a Jedi Knight.
"Welcome back to Dathomir, Kirana Ti," said Augwynne.
"Thank you, Augwynne, Kirana Ti returned. But with all respect, I have no time for formalities," Kirana Ti said hastily. "Where is my daughter?"
"Arian" Augwynne hesitated, and Kirana Ti tensed, fearing the worst. "Kirana Ti...the Nightsisters have risen again."
The woman's eyes widened in shock. "You mean--"
The old woman nodded. "A few days ago, your village was attacked by the Nightsisters. They killed almost every there--including your husband and mother."
Kirana felt like collapsing at that moment. She felt so incredibly weak. Still, she managed to regain her composure, despite the tears that threatened to fall down her face. "And Arian?"
Augwynne looked away from the warrior woman. After an eternity of waiting, she finally answered. "Arian has been captured by the Nightsisters."

Arian stood in the midst of the carnage, open-mouthed in horror, as she surveyed the once-proud village of Chursa Orna.
This time, the Nightsisters didn't even bother to collect slaves. They merely slaughtered everyone. Not a living thing remained. Bodies were strewn all over the ground, many of them burned by the fire. She watched as several Nightsisters picked at the bodies, looking for money, jewels, anything that might be valuable to them.
The girl's lips curled downward in a disgusted snarl.
She heard the squal of an approaching sopfha from behind, and she turned to see Gabriela head down the hill. Within seconds, she arrived at the ruins of the village. Rather than angry, the Nightsister looked quite pleased.
Anya went over to address her leader. "Welcome to Chursa Orna, my Queen," she said.
"Looks like you had some fun without me," Gabriela noted, sliding off her sopfha. Her eyes locked on Arian. "Well, well, well. Look who we have here."
Arian glared at the woman. "You bitch! How could you do this?"
Gabriela sneered. "I see you made Arian watch the battle. Very wise." She went over to the girl and cupped her chin with one clawed hand. "Tell me, my dear, did the villagers' screams remind you of when I tore your family apart?"
Arian snapped back, her eyes frenzied with fury. "Don't you dare speak of my father and grandmother that way. Ever!"
Gabriela smiled. "We're making good progress. Your anger keeps growing and growing. Keep it up, my child, and you will soon be one of us."
Arian prepared to say something else, but she reconsidered. Finally giving up, she sank to the ground, sobbing.
Gabriela snorted and walked over to Anya. "It's working," she whispered. "It's only a matter of time now."
Anya nodded. "What do we do now?"
"Return to the camp," Gabriela ordered. "I have something I need to do alone."

Kirana Ti accompanied Augwynne to what remained of the village that had been her daughter's home. As they approached the charred wreckage, she turned away, physically ill. "It's--" she found no words suitable to the scene. She forced herself to continue into the village, pick her way amongst the corpses of the people who had been dear friends. She fell to her knees. "Oh, mother..." she gathered the body into her arms, and pressed her lips to the wrinkled forehead. "Mother, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't here to..." she broke down in unspeakable tears. Augwynne knelt beside her and wrapped her thin arms around the younger woman.
"There's nothing we can do to bring her back. But we can bring justice to those that took her."
Kirana Ti sat back and wiped her eyes and nose. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes. Justice must be served. And I will be the one to serve it. Not just as a sister, but as a Jedi Knight."

Callista gazed up at the starlit sky, a cool wind brushing at her face. Her hands were at her belly, feeling the gentle movements of her unborn child.
It was such a beautiful night. Ever since she had been on Yavin 4, Callista had been awestruck by the natural beauty of the jungles. That beauty had almost been shattered when Admiral Daala's Imperial fleet had attacked the Jedi Academy. Callista herself had almost been killed in battle...
Luckily, the Force had been with them, and the Jedi Knights emerged the victors. Now Daala was dead, Callista was married to Luke, and they would soon become parents.
It was an exhilirating feeling, something she hadn't felt for quite a long time. A new baby... A contented smile spread across her face. She could hardly wait for it to be born.
"Nice feeling, isn't it?"
Callista whirled around, instantly recognizing the voice. When she saw who had spoken, her fears were confirmed. "Don't be afraid," Kara said, walking up to stand beside her mother. "I mean you no harm."
Callista looked at her surroundings, the once-familiar jungle suddenly seeming foreign to her. "This is a dream," she said.
Kara nodded. "A nightmare, to be more precise." She looked down at Callista's belly. "You've gained some weight the last time we met." She put a hand up to her mother's stomach, and sighed. "Awwww. My baby sister. She will be a beautiful, healthy girl with her mother's hair and her father's eyes. She will be strong in the Force and will grow up to become a very powerful woman." Callista shuddered at her daughter's ability to see into the future. "What will we name her? she asked.
Kara looked up at her, a wicked sneer painted across her face. "Neither of you will name her."
She waved her arm before Callista's face, and the world around her disappeared, replaced by a mountainous terrain. Snow fell all around her, collecting on her skin, and a freezing wind rippled at her clothes. Callista shivered at the sheer cold. She turned and saw that Kara had disappeared.
Callista looked around and saw women covered in reptilian hides, lying on the snow-covered ground. Callista went over to one and saw with horror that someone had nailed her to the ground. A large wooden stake had been plunged deep into her wrist, pinning her to the earth, preventing her from getting up. Callista looked around and saw the same had been peformed with the other warrior--fifty of them in all.
Several cloaked figures walked among the dying women, taunting them and spitting in their faces. Callista stumbled forth, her arms, face, and legs growing numb. She tripped and fell on top of one of the bodies. It was then that she got a good look at the woman's face.
She was staring at herself.
Callista gasped and recoiled, her eyes disbelieving. Was she--? What in the name of the Force--?
She turned and saw another familiar face.
"Luke?" she whispered, reaching over to touch her husband.
Luke didn't even acknowledge her as she stroked his bloodied face.
What had happened? Where were they? What was going on?
The dream Callista looked over weakly at Luke, her hand reaching out to grasp his. "Luke," she whispered. "I love you, and I always will. We will be together, for all eternity. Forever."
Luke looked over at her, smiling weakly. "Forever," he said back.
At that moment, one of the cloaked women bent down on one knee next to the dream Callista, a wooden stake in one hand, and a mallet in the other. Callista looked on, horror-stricken, as the woman placed the stake a few inches over Dream Callista's wrist and brought the mallet down upon it...
The future was none too bright, Callista realized as she watched the dream play out half wishing she would awaken from the whole thing in Luke's arms.
"Poor Mama dies with her ill-gotten lover Lukie..." Callista turned to face Kara.
"You know, Kara, if your ghost is going to cause me this kind of trouble, I guess I need to reconsider allowing you to exist."
With that the whole nightmare suddenly changed shape. Callista found herself gazing at her bed. She and Luke were wrapped in a passionate embrace, lovemaking as though no one was watching. Callista sat up, straddling Luke's hips, as Luke drew a deep breath and caressed his hand down the length of her torso. She turned around to look at Callista--
--and it was Kara, not herself.
I'm not going to rest until your life is such a shattered wasteland as you made mine, Mother. And trust me-- she latched her claws into Luke's chest, and he grunted in pain. --there's a lot that I can do to make it that way. For the first time, she actually looked at the man lying beneath her, and wiped the corner of her mouth. Too bad, really, she murmured, looking back at Callista with a dark sparkle in her eye. He's cute.
Callista began, If you only knew what happened that day you disappeared, and how we searched for you after--
Don't give me that tired story, Mother, Kara snapped, suddenly standing in front of her; Luke and the bed gone from their sight. I was right there all along. If you'd been looking for me, you would have found me.
I don't want to have to hurt you, child, Callista replied, her calm voice trembling just a little.
Oh, don't worry, you won't. Kara smiled, and slowly she began to disappear before Callista's eyes.
It's my turn, she continued. I'll be the one to do the hurting this time.

Kirana Ti and Augwynne met up with a dozen other Sisters of the Singing Mountain Clan. Together, they began forumlating a plan to track down the Nightsisters.
"My spies have reported that the Nightsisters have attacked another village," Augwynne began. "Chursa Orna, our most vital source of food for our clan. From the looks of it, it's in even worse shape than Kirana Ti's village. The docks have been destroyed, the entire town burned to the ground No one survived the attack."
The Sisters remained silent for a long time, mourning those who had died because of the Nightsisters' cruelty.
Augwynne continued. "So far, the Nightsisters have managed to thwart even our most efficient warriors. Their leader is cunning and intelligent-- a lesser woman would have been captured by now." She sighed. "So we must use the most of our powers to find them.
"We shall split into several groups. Two warriors for each group. One rancor each. You will be assigned a certain area of the forest to search. Hopefully this way, we will find the Nightsisters much sooner."
The old woman met each and every warrior's stony gaze, including Kirana Ti's. "Does everyone understand? Then let us return to Singing Mountain to get our supplies."
The women began chattering amongst themselves as they walked over to their waiting rancors.
"So, my dear," Augwynne said to Kirana Ti, "how is Jedi Master Skywalker these days?"
"He is doing well," Kirana Ti replied. "He is married to a wonderful Jedi Knight, and she is now with child. A girl. Hopefully, she will grow up to become as brave and noble as her parents." Her voice was filled with pain as she spoke, her memories replaying what she had seen in her village. The corpses of her mother and husband, lying side by side together...
Arian...
Augwynne nodded. She placed a withered hand on the warrior's shoulder. "Do not worry, my child. We will find your daughter and avenge the deaths of your family."
Kirana Ti shook her head. "Revenge is not the way of the Jedi. As much as I wish for the Nightsisters to pay for their crimes, it is not the will of the Force. The Book of Laws states to never concede to evil. And I will abide by that."
"Spoken like a true warrior," Augwynne said proudly. "I have trained you well."
Kirana Ti managed to smile, her spirits somewhat lifted. She continued to converse with Augwynne and her fellow Sisters as they began mounting their rancors.

Gabriela watched, hidden by the bushes, as the Sisters began heading back to Singing Mountain. She had used the Force to cloak her presence, and it had worked. I always felt that the Singing Mountain warriors were overrated, she thought.
Her lips curved upward in an evil smile. The words of Kirana Ti echoed in her mind. So, the mighty Skywalker was now having a baby. A baby that would be strong in the Force, no doubt.
Gabriela considered the possibilites: imagine a member of the Skywalker family turning to the dark side once again...
Once the rancors were out of her sight, Gabriela headed back to the Nightsister camp. She had a new assignment for Anya.

The balmy, humid breezes tugged at Callista's thick curls as she stared out into the breathtaking Yavin sunrise. As the orange flames emblazoned the vast sky, she let out a contented sigh and her hand went to her belly on instinct, rubbing it gently.
"Someday," she murmured to the tiny being that stirred inside of her, as if already aware of her voice, "you'll realize how precious life is. Someday you'll know what beauty is."
"Her daddy sure does."
Callista smiled upon hearing her husband's voice caress her ears, and she felt him slide his arms around her full belly. She intertwined her fingers with his and tugged gently on his arms to tighten his hold around her.
"I don't have to look very far to see beauty," he said.
She blushed and turned to kiss him, giggling softly into his open mouth. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she said, nuzzling herself close to him- -as close as she could, given her growing size. She sighed, then let out an exhasperated laugh. "I keep forgetting that I'm about the size of a bantha now."
Luke chuckled and pulled her close to him. "No, you're not," he told her. You're gorgeous. He smiled mischievously and patted her stomach, then bent down close to it. "Isn't that right, little one?"
The tiny flutter of kicking tickled Callista and she laughed out loud again. "I think she's signaling a yes," she said
He straightened again and gave her a kiss--a long, lazy summer kiss, and when they eased apart he cupped her face in his hands. "How are you doing with..."
She cocked her eyebrow. "Everything?" she said.
He nodded.
"I'm... not really sure, Luke," she said. She shook her head and sighed. "These dreams are becoming a nightly ritual. I thought they'd go away eventually, but..."
"Cal," he said, "maybe... Maybe there's a reason these dreams aren't going away. It's trying to tell you something. We've got to figure out what that something is."
She shut her eyes and rested her forehead on his shoulder, letting his hands stroke her hair. "I don't know if I want to know what it is," she said softly, and her hand slid down to her belly once more to feel her daughter's gentle kicking. "Luke, if this is about the baby, I..."
He brought her face back up to meet his gaze. "Don't talk like that," he said. "Whatever happens we won't let anything happen to our daughter. But I hope for your sake we find out what this is soon."
Her lips curved into a smile, and he looked at her with curious amusement.
"What?" he said.
"Hope," she said, taking his hand and placing it on her stomach. "That's it... That's the perfect name for her..."
He returned her smile and nodded. "Hope," he said back, as if marveling at the sound of the name. "I can't think of anything more appropriate for her. Or for us."

Gabriela rode back into the Nightsister camp, where she was greeted by Anya. "My Queen," she said. "What have you found out?"
"More than I expected," Gabriela said as she leaped off her sopfha and left two Nightsisters to tend to it. "Anya, have you ever heard of Luke Skywalker?"
Anya's eyes widened. "The Jedi Master? The one who defeated the original Nightsisters?"
Gabriela nodded. "Yes."
Anya nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"Skywalker is married--to another Jedi Knight. And she is with child."
"A child?" Realization spread across Anya's face. "So what you are implying is..."
"Just imagine. The Skywalker lineage has always been strong in the Force. Skywalker's own father was a Dark Lord of the Sith. If we can get our hands on that child...imagine the possibilities. Together, with the child of Skywalker and the daughter of Kirana Ti..."
"The Nightsisters will be unstoppable," Anya growled, greed in her violet eyes.
"I have a new mission for you," Gabriela said. Anya looked up. "Take my personal ship, and go to Yavin 4. Bring the woman back to Dathomir. And do not kill her, you understand? That child will belong to me."
Anya nodded and headed off to the main landing pad. Gabriela smiled.
Arian was thrown into a dark room, and the door was locked shut. "You murderers!" she yelled. "How could you do this?" Then the lights came on, and an all-too-familiar figure emerged from the shadows.
"It's quite simple, honey," Gabriela said. "The Singing Mountain Clan is the only thing that stands between me and controlling the entire clan. Once I'm finished with them, no one will be able to raise a hand against me. And you will rule by my side, one with the dark side. I intend to make sure of that."
"You monster, I will not join your filth."
"Trust me, you will. You will."
Not if I can help it, thought Arian. "You won't get away with this! My mother will kill you next."
Gabriela laughed with contempt. "She couldn't kill the engines of a shuttle if she tried. No, she won't die yet. I have some plans for her. She bound Arian's wrists, and then gagged her.

Kirana Ti rode through the forest with her assigned partner, Catalina.
When they had arrived at Singing Mountain, the two women were given a choice of either riding a rancor or two sopfhas. Kirana Ti had chosen sopfhas, for they would cause less distraction and, in their own ways, were as deadly as a rancor. Kirana Ti had hugged Augwynne and her fellow Sisters goodbye, wished them luck, and had headed off into Nightsister territory. As her sopfha slowly trudged through the underbrush, Kirana Ti closed her eyes and reached out with the Force. So far, she had detected nothing, no dark presence, no feelings of pain or fear from Arian.
Just emptiness.
Arian! Arian!
Silence.
Kirana Ti sighed, desperation overwhelming her heart. Arian...I will find you. No matter what...
Catalina must have sensed her conflicting emotions, for she reached over and laid her hand on the older woman's shoulder. "We will find your daughter, Kirana Ti," she assured her.
Kirana Ti nodded. "I hope so, Catalina."
"These Nightsisters are more clever than we had thought," Catalina said, her eyes drinking in their dark surroundings. It was early morning, but the tall trees blocked out most of the sunlight, making it seem like dusk. "They are able to block their presence from even our most powerful warriors."
"Not for long, though," Kirana Ti muttered, contempt in her voice.
Catalina turned to her in concern. "Do not give in to your anger, Kirana Ti. You will become one of them."
"Do you not think I know that?" Kirana Ti snapped, startling her friend. "My own daughter--my flesh and blood--has been taken away from me. I will do whatever is necessary to get her back."
"I understand your pain," Catalina said softly. "But to give in to anger and hate will only make matters worse. Never concede to evil. That is our most sacred law."
"A law that the Nightsisters gleefully break," Kirana Ti said, ducking below a tree branch as her sofpha passed under it. "Gabriela is behind this. I know she is."
"Yes, the woman who abandoned us after her mother died," Catalina said, sadness tingeing at the edge of her voice. "The poor child. We cannot really blame her for what she has become."
"Yes, we can," Kirana Ti grumbled. Images of her daughter flashed before her eyes, and her anger resurfaced.
"It is never too late to save someone from evil," Catalina said, her grip on Kirana Ti's shoulder tightening. "Never too late." She let go, and her sopfha began moving faster. "Let us head for the Spring Valley, shall we?"
Kirana Ti nodded, and the two warriors galloped off.

Anya brought the Dark Child out of hyperspace just beyond Yavin 4. She watched the glowing green-blue ball for a moment, almost feeling a sentimental stirring inside her. She pushed it away angrily. To feel such emotions would make her weak.
And she could not afford to be weak.
She brought Gabriela's ship into orbit around the moon, passing the gaseous leviathan of the planet Yavin.
Anya's lips curled into a hard, demonic smile. This was going to be fun.

"I'm not sure, Luke." Callista said worriedly. "I think I'd feel better if Hope stayed on Yavin with us. There's no place safer than a planet full of Jedi."
"Or more widely known." Luke countered mildly. "Callie, you saw the barrage of attacks we had last year. The last thing I want is for Hope to get hurt."
"Exactly. And that's why I want her to stay. So you and I can protect her. As it is, we can't guarantee that she'll be safe on a secluded planet. Anakin certainly wasn't. Furgan came for him and tried to make him another Palpatine."
Luke gripped her hand and turned to stand in front of her. "This is about Kara, isn't it?"
Callista sighed and made a helpless gesture with her hand. "I don't know, Luke. I mean, I suppose it contributes...I just don't want anything to happen."
Luke touched her hair and ran his hand down to the back of her neck. Pulling her close, he kissed her forehead. "Nothing will happen. I promise you." She hugged him as close as she could.
"Thank you." She pulled away and smiled. "Did I ever tell you you're the best?"
Luke shrugged. "It's all you, love. Now," he continued. "I am exhausted. What's say we head up to bed?"
Callista touched his cheek. "You go on ahead. I'll be up in a few minutes. I'm just going to take a quick walk.
"Okay, then," Luke said. "Don't expect me to be awake when you come in. Good night, Callie."
"Good night."
They exchanged a gentle kiss, and Luke went inside.
Left alone, Callista looked up at the stars. She absentmindedly rubbed her round belly as she contemplated the diamond pinpoints, felt their surging power in the Force. What a world you're coming into, Hope... she thought to her baby. The child kicked gently in response, as if she couldn't wait to come into the world her mother praised. Callista smiled as the developing toes tickled her insides.
A rustle in the bushes startled her, and she turned sharply. She scanned the bushes, and was tempted to dismiss the sound as a woolamander.
But what would a woolamander be doing so close to the temple?
With a glance over her shoulder, Callista stepped closer to the dark foliage, squinting to see what was sheathed in the leaves. "Hello?" she called out. "Who's there?"
Another rustle, farther away. Callista turned in that direction. Something tugged at her mind. Something was not right.
Then that something leapt out from the bushes behind her. Callista turned with a short scream, and saw a cloaked woman standing before her. Finding her voice, Callista whispered. "Who are you?
The figure didn't move at first, then sprang upon Callista like a wildcat.
Pushing her face close to hers, Anya whispered an answer, low and ominous:
"Your doom."

LUKE!!!
Luke sat bolt upright in bed, gasping as Callista's terrified voice echoed away in his mind. He looked around him for his wife, but saw no sign that she had even returned from her late-night sojourn.
Luke reached out with the Force, trying to find her presence...
Nothing.
Dread grew in Luke's stomach, threatening to tear him apart from the inside out. Something had happened to her...
"Master Skywalker!"
Kyp Durron skidded to a halt outside Luke's bedroom door, barefoot and dressed in only a pair of fatigue pants. "Master Skywalker-- Callista's been kidnapped!"
"What?" Luke leapt to his feet and stood before Kyp. The boy caught his breath, and proceeded to explain.
"I was out on the balcony, watching you two. After you left, Callista was ambushed by someone--and it wasn't a student. Whoever it was, she was evil, so evil. I could feel it radiating from her like nothing I'd ever felt. She took Callista!"
Luke ran past Kyp to the hangar bay. As he powered up his X-wing, Kyp caught up to him. "Master, you don't know where she went! How will you find them?"
"I'll lock on to Callie's presence. The Force will guide me."
"But the attacker did something. She's masking their presence. We have no way of knowing where they are."
Despair settled over Luke. "Then we have to find some other way."
Or Callista--and Hope--may die...


Kirana Ti and Catalina, still riding their respective sopfhas, stood on a hill that overlooked Spring Valley. It was indeed a gorgeous sight. None of the massive forest trees blemished the sea-green grass; in their place, blue, red, and purple foosa tulips sprouted colorfully from the ground. A crystal-blue river flowed through the valley, plentiful in fish and birds. Kirana Ti saw a pair of kirche swans floating together, cooing gently at each other, as if they shared a mental bond that no other creature could discern.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Catalina said, her eyes drinking in the sight. "I have always wanted to live in Spring Valley since I was a child."
"As have I." As Kirana Ti spoke, something caught the corner of her eye. She turned, and the sight that greeted her staggered her.
A small band of Nightsisters--five of them in all--was busy raiding a small farmhouse, picking through the corpses of an old man and his wife, looking for anything that might suit their purposes. One of the Nightsisters was slaughtering the farm animals to use as food, while her companions, stripped the dead woman of her bracelets and jewelry. They cackled as they stepped over the corpses, taunting them and spitting down upon them.
Kirana Ti's lips curved downward in a snarl of disgust. "We have trouble," she said, tapping Catalina on the shoulder. "Nightsisters." Catalina's eyes widened when she laid her eyes upon the evil women. "Have they noticed us?" she asked.
Kirana Ti reared her sopfha. "They will soon enough," she said, switching on her lightsaber.
Then, with a Dathomirian war cry, she galloped at full speed toward the Nightsisters.
Catalina withdrew her own weapon--a primitive, but nonetheless powerful, club--and rode after her friend, hollering at the top of her lungs that she startled a pack of wolf-birds.
The Nightsisters looked up in surprise, then quickly prepared themselves for battle. Kirana Ti gave them no chance, and as her sopfha leaped over the fence that surrounded the cottage, her lightsaber swept out, decapitating the closest Nightsister. The headless body tumbled to the ground and hit a lizard-pig trough.
Kirana Ti jumped off her mount, and she now faced three Nightsisters. Without a single word, she attacked
One Nightsister lunged forth, a large hook in her hands. Kirana Ti wasted no time and slashed her saber into the Nightsister's ribs, slicing the woman into two pieces. She now faced two Nightsisters.
Catalina followed in hot pursuit, determined to help the warrior Jedi. But the third Nightsister was waiting for her. As soon as she had leaped over the fence, the woman jumped up and slammed full force into Catalina, knocking the young warrior off her sopfha, sending them both through the wall of the cottage.
Kirana Ti moved forth and swung with her weapon. The two Nightsisters responded in kind, hammering at Kirana Ti with clubs and knives. The warrior Jedi had fought in combat many times before, and she was clearly a better fighter than the two women combined. She dodged each and every one of their attacks, blocking the blows with either her arms or the hilt of her lightsaber.
Not far away, Catalina had recovered from the tackle. She turned and faced her opponent, holding her club in a defensive position. Seconds later, Sister and Nightsister clashed, their clubs smacking into each other.
Kirana Ti leaped over a blow to the kneecaps, and dodged a slash to the ear. Her arm came up, blocking a third blow, and she sent a kick into one Nightsister's gut. The woman stumbled, the breath knocked out of her, and Kirana Ti plunged her saber deep into the warrior's chest, sizzling through ribs and heart. The evil woman fell back.
Leaving only one left.
Catalina was slowly gaining the upper hand against her own enemy. They continued trading blows, their clubs continuously smashing powerfully against each other, producing a loud ring in Catalina's ears. Ignoring it, she ducked beneath a swift blow that would have caved in her skull. Her elbow then struck the Nightsister in the chest. Ribs cracked as the blow connected. Catalina spun and elbowed her again, this time aiming for the midsection, and connected cleanly. An uppercut to the jaw spun the woman around, and Catalina knocked her down with a kick to the back.
Kirana Ti quickly finished off the last Nightsister with her lightsaber, then ran over to Catalina. The remaining dark warrior struggled to get up, then felt the tip of Catalina's club against her jaw.
"You move again, and say goodbye to your teeth,"; Catalina threatened, venom thick in her voice.
The Nightsister prepared to say something, then reconsidered. She fell back, surrendering.
"Good." Kirana Ti bent over, her face inches away from the Nightsisters. "Now tell us where Gabriela is."

"Wake up, pretty girl."
Callista's eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring up at the black-cloaked woman. "Who are you?" she demanded instantly, starting to stand up, then fell back. She looked around and saw that she was tightly strapped to a cot, preventing her from moving. She glared at the woman. "Why did you kidnap me?" The woman smiled, one clawed finger lightly stroking Callista's face.
"You have something I want."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
The woman stepped back and introduced herself. "My name is Anya. You must be Callista, the wife of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker." Her eyes slowly traced Callista's body. Her stomach was unusually large, a sure sign that she was pregnant. "He has excellent tastes in women," Anya said.
Callista didn't know how to reply to that. "You want my baby, don't you?"
Anya nodded.
Callista's teeth bared in an animal snarl. "I'll die before I give my child over to you."
Anya chuckled. "I admire your courage, but I question your judgment. No matter, though. Soon, we will be on Dathomir, and from there we will begin the purification."
Dathomir...
Suddenly, the pieces began to fall into place. Images of that terrifying nightmare came back to haunt her. The women had been wearing reptile hides.
The typical clothing of a warrior from Dathomir.
Images of her and Luke laying in the snow, arms and legs outstretched, gazing helplessly at each other as the women began nailing their wrists into the ground.
Luke, I love you, and I always will. We will be together, for all eternity. Forever.
Forever...

Arian watched as Shaiya came in. She grabbed her hair and pulled her head back.
Her dagger was drawn. "You're coming with me. She began to pull the girl up.
What she didn't see until it was too late was Arian's free arms. She threw the Nightsister down and stabbed her in the back with her own dagger. Her body exploded in a hail of blue fire. "I'm going, but not with you," she spat on the Nightsister's charred remains. "Now, Gabriela is going to die." Arian ran for it. She had nothing to lose.

*

Gabriela heard a woman screaming.
Tara, a fellow Nightsister heard it, too. "What was that?"
"Shaiya is dead," replied another, her eyes closed, her voice far away.
Gabriela screamed in frustration. She grew livid when she realized who had killed her.
Arian sprinted out of the tent and hid behind another as she saw a pair of Nightsisters head in her direction. Oblivious to her presence, they walked right past her, chattering about the next assault Gabriela was planning.

Arian thought quickly. She knew that the Singing Mountain Clan had to be notified of the Nightsisters and their location. So far, not even Augwynne's best warriors had been able to capture the evil women. Perhaps if Arian was able to escape, things might start to change...
Checking to see if the coast was clear, Arian began heading out. Every now and then she was spot a Nightsister or two and would safely duck behind a tent or scaffolding to mask her presence. Her heart always jumped in her throat as she waited for the Nightsisters to pass, dreading that at any moment one of them would see her, and would kill her.
After ten minutes of doing that, a thought occurred to Arian. She recalled that many people in her village had been captured and taken to the Nightsister camp. If she was able to escape, the other villagers should too.
The question was, where did the Nightsisters keep their prisoners?
Arian leaned back against a tent and thought long and hard. She called upon her untapped powers and began searching through the camp.
Eventually, she would find her people.

"That little wretch!" Gabriela shrieked, throwing a knife against the wall. Tara shrank back in fear. "How dare she go up against me?
"Shall I call the other Nightsisters?" Tara stammered, tempted to run out for fear of suffering her leader's wrath.
Gabriela nodded, her anger barely in check. "Do so. If I know this girl, she won't leave before freeing those pathetic people from her village. I have a pretty good idea where she is now." Slowly but surely, her anger dissipated. "Tara, sound the alarm."
Tara nodded and dashed out.
Gabriela went to her weapons shelf and unhooked her lightsaber. "You picked the wrong people to mess with, Arian," she growled. "You'll never escape this camp alive. I can guarantee that."

Arian heard the Nightsisters coming long before she saw them. And, judging by their bloodcurdling screams, they knew that she had escaped. Silently cursing to herself, Arian stood up, exposing herself to the black- cloaked women.
Their eyes locked on her seconds later, and they rushed to attack.
Arian moved fast, and she rolled to one side, dodging a blow to the head from a mace. She stood up and knocked the Nightsister down with a kick to the back. As the woman fell, Arian reached forth and grabbed the woman's weapon.
The second Nightsister bore down on her, swinging an iron sword. Arian crossed her own weapon with the woman's, and she cried out when the club was knocked out of her hands.
She was unprepared for the blow she was receive to the face. The Nightsister smacked her with the hilt of her sword, and Arian nearly collapsed. A third woman came, and her fist hit Arian's jaw. The young girl fell to her knees, blacking out for a split second.
When she looked up, four Nightsisters had snatched her from all sides, holding her immobile, preventing her from escaping.
Someone clapped from behind, and Arian craned her neck to see Gabriela, amused by the brief skirmish. "Interesting," the woman said as she stopped applauding.
"Even after all I've done for you, you still resist me. And now you try to escape. I'm very disappointed in you, my child."
"Done for me?" Arian could hardly believe what she was hearing. "You killed my father, my grandmother, destroyed my village, and now trying to tempt me to the dark side. And you expect me to be grateful?"
Gabriela snarled and snatched Arian by the chin. "I could've ordered you to be killed with your pathetic family," she growled, her breath hot and sour on Arian's face. "But I chose to spare your life. Better to be a Nightsister than to die, right?"
"Wrong," Arian said. "Death sounds a lot better."
Gabriela released her. She looked up at the Nightsisters holding her. "Take her to the Gerian Caves, where the rest of the villagers are. We'll keep her there until I can figure out a way to deal with her."
The Nightsisters dragged Arian away. The girl flashed Gabriela a glare before disappearing into the forest.
As Gabriela headed back to her tent, Tara ran over to her, an excited expression on her face. "My Queen. Great news."
"What is it?" Gabriela demanded impatiently, wondering how the previous incident could be considered "good" news.
"Anya has captured Skywalker's wife."
Gabriela's head snapped up. Now that was good news. "Tell me more."
"They are on their way to Dathomir even as we speak," Tara said breathlessly. "It turns out that Kirana Ti was correct. This Callista is with child. A child strong in the Force. A child that can easily be swayed to the dark side."
Gabriela nodded, a surge of triumph swelling in her chest. "Good. If we fail to turn Arian...this unborn child shall be simple to sway." She turned to Tara. "Good work, Tara. Gather the Nightsisters. I have an announcement to make to everyone."

Anya's ship, the Dark Child, dropped out of hyperspace a short distance from Dathomir. She smiled as she saw the planet directly ahead. The woman Callista had been less trouble than she anticipated. A dark side trance had been used to keep her unconscious during the journey back from Yavin. She had sensed that Skywalker and the Jedi were pursuing her but it did not concern her. Soon Gabriela would attack and destroy the Singing Mountain Clan. Once that was done, Dathomir would belong to the Nightsisters and the Jedi would not dare attack. That would give them enough time to turn Skywalker's as yet unborn child to the Dark Side.
The ship dropped through the atmosphere and down towards the Nightsisters main camp. As it approached, she could see small figures standing as they waited for it to touch down. She knew that one of them would be Gabriela. She would be pleased at Anya's success at capturing Skywalker's woman.

Callista's eyes flickered open and she instinctively reached out for Luke. To her confusion though, she realised he wasn't there. A second later, she realised why.
She came bolt upright, glaring at the Nightsister who stood in the doorway staring at her. The woman looked horrific. Purple streaky blotches covered her face, and Callista remembered Kirana Ti's stories of how the Nightsisters were marred in this way by their use of the Dark Side. She reached automatically for her lightsaber, but it was gone.
Gabriela laughed, apparently amused by Callista's anger. "Looking for this?" she asked mockingly, holding up Callista's lightsabre. She ran her fingers over the rim, where Callista had engraved a row of the Chad sea creatures, tsaelke. "Do you have a fondness for these creatures? Would it be amusing for me to kill them?"
Callista ignored her and focused on the lightsaber, stretching out with the Force as she tried to call it to her. Gabriela smiled as she used her own powers to hold onto the lightsaber, seeing the beads of sweat appear on Callista's forehead. A maniacal giggle escaped her lips.
She tired of the game after a minute and gestured idly. Callista was slammed back onto the cot she was sitting on and found herself unable to move,
"Stay there," Gabriela said mockingly. "We wouldn't want you to tire yourself and risk harming the baby now, would we? We have much to do with her. In the meantime though, we have one of your friends, Kirana Ti, on her way here. We have to prepare a special greeting for her."

Night had fallen over Dathomir.
It was, Kirana Ti, reflected, excellent cover. The moon was only casting a dim light, making it very difficult to see anything, as she and Catalina crept silently into the Nightsister camp. She had done this several times before during the war against Gethzerion's Nightsisters, and she was now well experienced at it. Her senses were on full alert, using the Force to search for any sign of Arian.
Catalina touched her arm lightly and gestured to the right. Kirana nodded briefly and the two of them split up, Catalina moving off in that direction.
Kirana Ti continued moving towards the centre of the camp. That was probably where Gabriela would be. She pulled her lightsabre from her belt as she saw a tent larger than the others in the very middle of the camp, and headed straight for it.
There was no sign of her approach as she reached the tent. Moving cautiously, she slipped round to the front and ducked quickly inside, igniting her lightsabre in one smooth motion and hoping the snap-hiss would be muffled by the tent.
It proved unnecessary though. There was no one inside the tent.
Kirana Ti hissed and turned to creep back out of the tent. And at that moment the whole thing came down around her, engulfing her. She muttered an ancient Dathmomirian curse, then used her lightsabre to slice through the fabric.
She scrambled out of the ruined tent and looked around. She was no longer alone.
A loose circle of Nightsisters was standing around the tent, all of them staring impassively at her. They made no move towards her though, and the reason why soon became clear. Two of the Nightsisters pushed through the ring. Between them they carried the bruised and bleeding form of the unconscious Catalina. Gabriela followed them in, dragging Arian roughly by an arm.
Kirana Ti hissed in anger as she saw her daughter and brought her lightsaber up in an attack position.
Gabriela let go of Arian and shoved her towards one of the Nightsisters and ignited her own red/orange lightsabre, then beckoned to Kirana Ti. "Come on, fool," she said. "Test your strength against mine if you wish. If you win, you may take your daughter." She grinned. "If you fail, though, you may regret ever being born."
Kirana Ti advanced slowly, her lightsabre held ready. Gabriela stepped forwards as well, and the two of them circled each other slowly, their eyes fixed on each other.
Gabriela hummed tauntingly as they circled, goading Kirana Ti with her insouciance. Still humming, she feinted at Kirana Ti, who dodged aside and lunged forwards. With a speed that amazed even her, Gabriela twisted and blocked the blow. She swept a leg out, dumping Kirana Ti onto her back.
She rolled aside as the lightsaber blade came down and lashed out to kick Gabriela hard in the stomach. The Nightsister staggered back, winded for a few moments, as Kirana Ti scrambled to her feet.
Angered, Gabriela made a vicious horizontal sweep with her lightsabre. Kirana Ti ducked under the blade and lunged at Gabriela. The lightsabre caught the Nightsister a glancing blow to the side, and she hissed briefly in pain and stepped back half a pace.
The she came on with renewed energy and Kirana Ti found herself unable to do more than desperately parry the blows. She fell back until she was right against the wall of Nightsisters. A final blow from Gabriela drove her to her knees and two of the Nightsisters grabbed her arms, leaving her helpless.
Gabriela stepped right up to Kirana Ti, who stared back at her defiantly. "I'd kill you now without a thought," she said exultantly. "On the other hand, I think that perhaps it'd be more satisfying to wait until your pathetic Singing Mountain Clan has been destroyed and your daughter has been turned to the Dark Side."
In one move, she reversed her lightsabre and brought it down on Kirana Ti's skull, knocking the Jedi woman out.

Luke's X-wing, the shuttle carrying Kyp and Kam Solusar, and Rogue Squadron reverted from hyperspace over Dathomir
"Can you sense anything, Luke?" Wedge asked over the comm.
Luke stretched out towards Dathomir with the Force but he could find no trace of Callista, Kirana Ti, or any Nightsisters. "Nothing," he said grimly.
"Looks like we'll have to do it the hard way then," Kyp observed.
"May the Force be with you," Wedge said.
Luke nodded. "Thanks Wedge. We'll contact you if we need you. Ready, Corran?"
"Ready," the Jedi member of Rogue Squadron confirmed. "We'll cover you, Kyp and Kam." His and Luke's X-wings broke away from the other Rogues and dropped towards the surface of Dathomir, followed closely by the shuttle.

"Mother!"Arian watched, horrified, as Gabriela knocked her mother out, the hilt of the Nightsister's lightsaber smashing into Kirana Ti's head. The Jedi woman groaned in pain and fell to the ground, unconscious.
Shaking herself loose of the woman holding her, Arian ran over to her downed mother. "Mother, are you all right?"
Gabriela's hand came out of nowhere, snatching Arian by the scruff of the neck. "You're not going anywhere, my pretty," she hissed as she prepared to slap the girl.
"No!"
The two turned to see a brown-haired woman push herself past the crowd of Nightsisters and run toward Gabriela. She grabbed Arian by the arm and pulled her away, protectively holding the young girl.
The circle of Nightsisters hissed and closed in on the two, wielding their weapons.
Gabriela stepped forth, glaring at the woman. "Callista! How did you escape?"
The strange woman, Callista, gave the Nightsister a confident grin. "I persuaded Anya to release me. Don't worry; I didn't kill her. Just roughed her up a bit." She drew away from the Nightsisters, using her body to shield Arian. "If any of you want to hurt this child, you will have to come through me."
Gabriela gasped in mock-terror. "Oh, no. Everyone, step back. She's mad now." The cloaked women burst into laughter, and advanced slowly toward Callista.
But Callista was not deterred. "I won't let you kill this girl. Or Kirana Ti." She gave the Nightsisters a furious glare to let them know that she was serious as hell.
One Nightsister crept over to Kirana Ti, holding a spiked club. Callista turned to face the woman and stopped her with the Force. "You touch that woman, you die next."
"What do their lives matter to you?" Gabriela said. "They are strangers."
"Not Kirana Ti," Callista snapped. "And this is her daughter. Which makes her my friend. And anyone who tries to harm them is my enemy now. Understood?"
Gabriela stepped back, contemplating the matter. Moments later, she smiled. "There is so much anger in you, Callista," she said. "Anger waiting to be unleashed. I will look forward to turning you to our side."
Callista grinned back. "In your dreams."
Gabriela shrugged. "Fine." She gestured to three of her warriors. "Take them to the caves with the villagers and lock them up. Do not harm them, unless they try to escape." She turned back to Callista. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Callista Skywalker."
Callista spat at the woman as two of the Nightsisters led her and Arian away, while the third dragged a limp Kirana Ti with her. "As they left the Nightsister camp, Callista couldn't help but notice the mountains far off to the east. "The mountains of her dream.
That horrible vision of her and Luke dying alongside hundreds of other warriors, the black-cloaked women leering down at them as they pinned their wrists to the snow-covered ground, Kara's chilling propechy...
Luke...we will be together, for all eternity. Forever.
Forever...
When the group reached the cave, the Nightsisters shoved Callista and Arian through the gaping entrance, then dragged Kirana Ti along with them, remaining silent throughout the process.
It was nearly pitch-black, the moonlight piercing through the entrance being the only light to guide them. Callista felt her stomach wrench painfully, and she put her hands to it, suppressing a groan.
The baby could sense her fear.
Calm down, my child, she whispered soothingly in her mind, quelling the unborn's thoughts, calming it down again. Everything will be all right... She was probably lying, but she remained hopeful that they might be rescued.
Luke...
She stretched out with the Force, trying to send a message to her husband, but something--or someone--was blocking her senses, like a transmission being jammed. .
They finally reached a metal-laced cage, and Callista could barely make out at least two dozen people writhing inside, their faces dirty and full of pain and sorrow. Mostly women and children, but a few men also who had been spared during the village battle. All of them were pale and abnormally thin, as if the Nightsisters were starving them.
Callista did not doubt that.
One of the cloaked women rushed forth and unlocked the barred door. Callista cried out as another shoved her from behind, and she fell through the open door. Arian soon followed, and the Nightsisters dumped Kirana Ti's limp body unceremoniously to the ground.
"Enjoy your stay," the leader of the women said, cackling as they turned and headed back out into the forest.
"Arian!"
Callista turned to see the villagers gather around them, embracing and kissing the girl she had earlier saved. They had been worried about Arian, afraid that she had died with her father and grandmother. They were glad to see that she had survived.
"My mother is injured," Arian quickly said. "Kenya, can you help her?"
An old woman--Kenya, Callista presumed--stepped out of the crowd. She was an old woman, perhaps fifty or sixty, with graying hair, gentle brown eyes, wrinkled skin, and a kind face. Kenya was probably the shamaness of the village, the source of their medicine. Though unlike many other tribes in the galaxy, Kenya's powers were real. She was a Sister of the Singing Mountain Clan.
"How bad is her condition?"
Kenya asked
"Gabriela knocked her out in a lightsaber battle," Arian explained, rushing to her mother. "She's bleeding badly in the head. She may be in a coma. I'm begging you to help her."
Kenya kneeled beside the girl and cupped her chin in her old hands. "There is no need to beg, my child." She calmly placed her hands inches above Kirana Ti's wound and began chanting in the ancient Dathomirian language.
As Callista watched the weak villagers greet Arian with relief and Kenya heal Kirana Ti, she felt awful for them. These people had done nothing to deserve Gabriela's wrath. They were innocent, and now their village was destroyed. Their families were dead. Their mothers, fathers, siblings, wives, husbands, children--they had all died at the hands of these evil women. Their lives were ruined, had changed forever. Tears unknowingly came to Callista's eyes as she sank to the ground.
She would not let Gabriela get away with this. The Nightsisters would not go unpunished for such atrocities. Callista knew that revenge led to the dark side, but a part of her told her over and over that these people didn't deserve to be hurt. Gabriela was evil, plain and simple. She deserved to die, as do all her followers.
The emotions in her were so strong that it terrified her.
The dark side...
Kara's voice mixed in with Luke's, one beckoning her, the other warning her away. Callista knew what she had to do. No matter the cost, she would live to see these villagers avenged.
I swear on my mother's grave, she spoke silently to herself, I will not let this happen again.

Augwynne listened to Catalina in horror as the Sister gave her report. "Kirana Ti was captured?" she said, her eyes widening in shock. "How did this happen?"
"It was Gabriela," Catalina said gravely, lightly touching her injury to the head. "She attacked Kirana Ti and knocked her out. I tried to help, but I was hit in the head. The next thing I knew, I was lying alone in the forest. The Nightsisters were gone. So was Kirana Ti." Augwynne wringed her hands together, trying to control her anxiety. First Arian, and now Kirana Ti. And Gabriela was involved?
Gabriela...
Augwynne knew that it would be inevitable. Gabriela had vowed to avenge her mother's death before abandoning the Singing Mountain Clan. That had been years ago. But now...it seemed that Gabriela would true to her word.
And she was winning.
"Forgive me, Mother Augwynne," Catalina said, dropping to one knee. "I...I tried to save her. I did everything I could..."
"My child." Augwynne brought her to her feet and kissed her forehead. "There is no need to apologize. There was nothing you could do to prevent this from happening. You did everything possible to save her. You are a true warrior, Catalina."
Catalina nodded, but she didn't look entirely convinced. "What should we do now?" she asked.
"Call the Council of Sisters for a meeting," Augwynne told the young warrior. "We must settle this once and for all. Gabriela must be stopped."

Tara entered Gabriela's tent, a worried expression on her face. "My Queen," she said, waiting for Gabriela to turn and face her. "We have another problem."
Gabriela sighed. "What now?" she demanded.
"My scouts have reported seeing a group of strangers in the forest. A group of...men." Tara spat out the word with contempt.
Gabriela's head snapped up. What would men be doing on Dathomir? "Have you identified any of them?" she asked.
Tara nodded. "All of them radiate with the Force. Which means that they must be Jedi Knights." She hesitated for a moment, afraid to go on. Gabriela nodded, encouraging for the Nightsister to continue. "My Queen, Master Skywalker is with them."
Gabriela smiled. Skywalker, the Jedi Master...
"He must be looking for his wife and child," she hissed, pondering this new revelation. "Very good, Tara. I have a new mission for you."
"Anything, my Queen," Tara bowed.
"Take two dozen Nightsisters with you, and go find those Jedi. Find them...and kill them. All but Skywalker. I want him brought here alive. Wound him if you must, but do not kill him, do you understand?"
Tara nodded. "Yes, Gabriela." She left.
Gabriela stood up and walked out of the tent. Arian, Kirana Ti, Callista, and now Skywalker...things were starting to get more interesting.

Luke, Corran, Kam, and Kyp walked together through the thick jungle, using their lightsabers to chop through the foliage. "Can any of you sense Callista?" Luke asked, slicing through several large branches that scratched at his face.
"I sense nothing," Kam said gravely. "It's as if Callista isn't even on Dathomir."
"How will we find her in all this forest?" Corran asked.
"I think we're gonna need some help," Luke said as he took the lead. "Let's head for the Singing Mountain Clan. Augwynne will be able to help us."
"Master Skywalker," Kyp said, grabbing Luke by the arm.
Luke turned to face his student. "Yes?
"Who do you think kidnapped Callista?"
Luke focused his eyes into the distance. He didn't want to believe it, but he had one theory. One that he didn't like one bit...
"I have a pretty good idea," was all he said before he started walking again.
As the foursome headed for Singing Mountain, Luke stretched out with the Force, combing the entire planet for his wife.
Callista...Callista...