Part 4

Corran looked up suddenly. "I sense...something."
"Something bad?" Kyp asked.
Corran shook his head, his eyes far away, "No...something...new life. Something...powerful."
It wasn't really much of a question as to what that was and both the Jedi knew it. But there was not time for them to revel in this new feeling for the howls started again. "I don't think those are the rancors this time." Kyp frowned.
Corran nodded, "I'm beginning to think your right." It was then that a sleek black creature crept through the bushes. Corran sneered at it, "I know about you, you're Katharss. The singing mountain clan told us all about you."
The crearture just looked at them with large sad eyes and shook its head, "No, I am Helesssss. And I have come to enlisssst your aid."
"Why should we trust you?" Corran growled.
"Why sssshould I trusssssst you?" Heless countered vehemently, as if it hurt its pride to be questioned in that manner. "Wass it not your wreched speciess that sspawned the Emperor and his minionss? Wass it not the humanss who time after time in hissstory passsed plaugued this galaxy with Sssith. Ssso tell me do I have anymore reassson to trusst you?"
Kyp looked at Corran, "I don't think he's deceving us." Kyp admitted.
"I am SsHE." Heless hissed in correction.
Kyp put his hands up, "Okay, I was only saying that you seem to be telling the truth.
Heless nodded, "Very well."
"How can we help?" Corran asked, still not wholly trusting her.
The howls started again and Heless looked around anxiously, "First we should move on. The pack isss closssing in. They will dessstroy me and you if they find usss."
"What is this pack?" Corran asked.
"They are like me but not like me." Heless explained cryptically. "We must be going...Now!"

Callista felt a moment of fear. Despite everything that was going on, she wasn't sure whether she was ready to take this step just yet. Becoming a parent was such a big responsibilty, and with all the dangers in the universe..
And that was the main point, wasn't it. Looking deep inside herself, Callista knew that it wasn't the parenting she was truly worried about, it was the safety of her child.
She and Luke had been through so much in the short time they had been together. And she also knew that this wouldn't be the last time they were in danger. This wouldn't be the last time her child would be in danger.
She had seen what happened with Jaina and Jacen. Everyone wanted to use the children for their own purposes whether it be political or otherwise. Who was to say that the same thing wouldn't happen with her child?
What am I doing? she asked herself. This is insane. As if we don't have enough things to worry about, without bringing an innocent child into this? What on Chad possessed me to do this? She looked up at her husband and she had her answer.
Luke. She was doing this for Luke. The man she had loved since the moment she saw him. The man she had given up so much to be with. It was him she did this for. In that instant all her worries melted away. He looked down at her, reading her mind as he always did.
"Don't worry, my love. Just keep looking at me, and I'm sure everything will be fine." She nodded, trusting him as she always did. And in the middle of all the pain and destruction going on around them, Callista felt a moment of true happiness and contentment.
"Just look at me, Callie, and everything will be fine."
Callista took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. She could handle this. She was a Jedi, she had been through much worse...Pain wracked through her and she screamed. "Luke Skywalker, this is all your fault. I'm gonna kill you for this!" She took a swipe at her husband, and glared at him when he ducked.
She let out a deep breath as the contraction ended, laying her head on the ground, suddenly feeling faint. "Luke." She whispered. "Please." Luke darted to her side, pulling her head into his lap.
"Please what, Callie?" He closed his eyes, blocking the tears, as he heard how weak his wife's voice sounded. "What do you want?"
"I want you to promise me something." Callista paused, as it was taking most of her strength to talk. "I need you to promise me that if-" She cried out again, her back arching.
"Callista!" Luke put his hand up, blocking the rest of Kirana Ti's terrified cry. "What is it, honey?"
"I need you to promise me that is I don't survive this you'll make sure Hope is safe." Luke smiled softly, stroking his wife's hair.
"I promise, my love, but it won't come to that, I promise. After all, if the Force put so much effort into bringing us together, why would it take you away from me now?" Callista nodded.
"Thank you."
Kirana Ti's eyes filled with tears at the touching scene before her. She started to weep, quietly, as she realised that as Master Skywalker and his wife were blessed with their daughter, hers might be taken away.
Luke was getting edgy. It was taking too long. He knew that in the long run an eighteen hour birth was reasonably slow, but there was something wrong here. A voice inside him told him that it should have been over a long time ago.
And then there was Callista. Childbirth was supposed to be painful, obviously, but what Callista was going through was far more than that. He was beginning to worry that perhaps she was right. Perhaps she wouldn't make it through this.
He was distracted from these thoughts as his wife cried out again. He leant down to kiss the beautiful head that was still in his lap, and looked to Kirana Ti for confirmation. Having gone through this before, he knew the warrior woman would have some idea of how things were supposed to go. The terror in here eyes told him everything he needed to know, and he uncoinsciosly tightened his grip on his wife.
"I can't, Luke, I can't do it..." Callista was crying, completely out of strength. "I can't go through with this."
"You can, Callie, you can."
"I can't...It's too hard." She graoaned as she said this, the pain getting the better of her.
"Callie, I swear,"
"Master Skywalker?" He lowered his wife's head carefully onto the ground, being as gentle as he knew how. He and Kirana Ti walked a few metres away, speaking in soft voices, trying not to worry Callista.
"What is it, Kirana Ti?"
"The baby. It's in trouble." He started, looking at her in horror.
"What do you mean by that?"
"There's something wrong with the baby. We have to get her out now, or both she and Callista will die." Luke nodded, going immediately to his wife's side.
"What's going on, Luke?" He smiled at her.
"Nothing, Callie. Can you do something for me?"
"Anything." She whispered. "Anything for you, Luke."
"I'm going to help you go into a Jedi trance. I need you to calm down and let me lead you into it."
"OK. I can do that."
After he had quickly led his wife into the trance, he turned to Kirana Ti.
"Now what?"
"In the last few hours, the baby has turned into a breach position. We're going to have to use the Force to turn her."
"Is that possible?"
"Try it. Its their only chance."
Luke placed his hands on his wife's stomach, reaching inside her. He quickly found the problem, and easiily turned the baby. He went to retreat back outside when he felt Hope reach for him. Stunned, he reached back, getting a vision of his unborn daughter. He smiled, softly, feeling her fragile spirit smile back.
Even though he knew he should get back to Calista soon, he could not help but be enchanted by the child. This was a being created by the love that he and Callista shared, and as such was the most beautiful person in the galaxy to him. Well, besides her mother, but it was a close call...
He jumped as he felt Callista's body cramp up as another contraction siezed it. Come on, little one, he thought, knowing his daughter would be able to hear him. 'It's time for you to come out, my sweet.' He felt warmth in reply, knowing somehow that the tiny child understood him.
He smiled once more, and left her, turning his attention back to her mother.
"Well?" He asked Kirana Ti.
"Five minutes." She said. "The baby is halfway out."
"Really?" Callista's thin voice appeared, startling Luke.
He turned. "Callie, you're supposed to be asleep!"
"I just woke up."
Luke frowned, protectiveness washing through him. "Callie, you're weak, you shouldn't..."
She cut him off, and he could sense the stubborness coming from her.
"I am not going to miss this for the world."
Kirana Ti interupted them.
"Callie, its time. Push." Smiling at her friend, Callista did as she asked. Pushing her hardest, she gritted her teeth, trying not to let her pain show to her companions. It was so hard, she was pushing, and pushing...
"There!" Kirana Ti said. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" Callista looked up to her husband and saw him crying openly. He took the baby from Kirana Ti and handed her to his wife.
"Look Callie, we have a daughter. Isn't she beautiful?" Callista looked tiredly down at her child, a happy light shining in her eyes.
"Hello, Hope."

Augwynne was completely unprepared for what her Sister spy had to tell her. "What?"
"It's true; the Nighsisters have arrived at Singing Mountain Prison," the spy answered.
Augwynne could feel the dark malevolence emanating from the mountains. The Nightsisters were indeed there. The Sisters had been expecting a large-scale assault on Singing Mountain itself. Instead, Gabriela had deceived them. The prison was swarming with Gethezerion's old followers, waiting for the opportunity to get their revenge. And now it looked like they would get it.
Unless the Sisters stopped them.
The Sister seemed ready to explode with adrenaline. She was scared. She was only a child and had never witnessed a Nightsister in action before. This news must have terrified her. "I'll inform the others, and we'll send everything we've got to the prison," she said with a concerned expression.
Augwynne nodded and headed into the armory. "In that case, I will accompany you. Send everything we have: warriors, rancors, every single woman we have at our disposal. Gabriela is already too powerful. But if she manages to free those Nightsisters--she may be too powerful to stop."

Gabriela's army arrived at the foothills of the Singing Mountain prison, hidden behind the shadows of the towering trees. The prison was four stories high and built of rock; it stood wedged in the crevice of the top of one mountain. Gabriela could literally feel the dark forces from the prison crawling over her skin.
Her eyes scanned the area. She saw two, maybe three Singing Mountain warriors, clad in fur--since the mountains were covered in snow, being that this was nearing winter--standing on perches atop the prison. Nothing much else. Once they got past the guards, freeing the Nightsisters would be easy.
As Gabriela past several of her comrades, she wondered what had happened to Katharss. He should have been here by now, with Skywalker's woman in tow.
No matter. That was secondary compared to this mission. If something had gone wrong, then Katharss would pay dearly. Later.
Gabriela switched on her lightsaber, the red blade standing out among the shadows. It was almost dawn now; time for the attack.
"Let us move out," she said. "Kill anyone who stands in our way. They will never know what hit them."

Luke looked down at his wife, a slight smile on his face. He could not remember a time when he felt so content, so at peace. A voice in the back of his mind kept telling him that he had something else he needed to do, somewhere else he needed to be, but he pushed it as far back as he could. This moment was about he and his wife.
Correction, he thought to himself. This moment is about you, your wife, and your newborn daughter.
His gaze shifted lower, to where his daughter was cradled in his wifes arms. He had tried to take the baby from Callista, to allow his wife a few moments rest, but she had refused him.
"No. I need her."
He stoked a strand of hair out of her face, kissing the spot he had moved it from. "You need to rest."
Callista was already shaking her head. "I understand that, Luke, and I fully intend to rest. But I want to have my daughter with me. I need to hold her."
Luke sighed, nodding reluctantly.
"As you wish, my love." Luke shook his head. If there was one thing Callista was, it was stubborn. When she got an idea in her head, she never wanted to consider another plan.
Hope shifted in her mother's arms, letting out a sigh and going straight back into the deep sleep she had been in. He still felt a lump in his throat when he thought of her. His daughter...something he had wanted for so many years.
He remembered mentioning it to Leia, years ago now, not long after they had found out she was having twins. He still recalled the way she laughed.
She'll be Daddy's little girl, that one. It was strange. Now that he had the girl he's craved for so long, he suddenly wanted a boy.
Callista shifted in her sleep with a moan, and he jumped, startled.
Somehow, I don't think this would be the best time to mention that her. He still remembered some of the names she had called him when the pain had gotten worse...That and the fact that she had informed him he would be sleeping on the couch for the next twenty years...
He reached a hand out to touch Hope's. He almost cried with joy as all of the tiny child's fingers curled around one of his own. Now he understood why even Han had warmed to the idea of having children. It was such a wonderful experience.
As he looked down at his new daughter, he knew that he would never again see such perfection. It wasn't possible. How could anything in the universe be as flawless as the tiny being that was in the arms of the woman he adored so.
'Created of our perfect love...
 She already had a reasonable amount of hair on her head. His heart warmed as he saw her hair mixed with Callista's as it fell in dissary of his wife's head. In some places he couldn't tell which belonged to who, the color was so identical. Her eyes, though, were his. He remembered his wife's joyful tears when she noticed this, and what she had said.
"Of all of the parts of you she could inherit, I'm glad it was your beautiful blue eyes."
"Aah, bah." Luke looked up, startled quickly out of his reverie to notice that his daughter had woken up and was observing him quietly, her little fist still clenching his finger.
"Ah, so my little sleepy-head has woken up." His eyes widened as the little girl smiled back at him.
"Mah-bah." He stared down at her, enchanted. Reaching up with his free hand, he kissed a finger, then placed it on his daughter's lips.
"Awaa. Phlbbtt."
He laughed. "My smart little girl can blow rasberries, now can she?"
"Gah!" He leant down to rest his forehead against hers.
"We truly did name you the right thing, my angel, because you've managed to bring hope back to my heart."

As the Nightsisters advanced upon the Singing Mountain prison, Gabriela and several others began chanting, her hums echoing in the sky. Within seconds, dark storm clouds loomed over the prison. Blue-white lightning flashed from the sky, followed by a deafening roar of thunder. Black mist swirled around the prison, blinding the two Sister guards standing at the front gate.
As the Force storm raged on, the Nightsisters attacked the two guards. They didn't even stand a chance, since the storm clouded their vision, as the evil women fell upon them, tearing them apart. Gabriela fished the bodies for a key and found it. She stood before her gathered army and used the key to unlock the gate.
In moments, more Singing Mountain warriors came out of the gate and engaged the Nightsisters. Gabriela and several others got through them and left their companions to battle the enemy.
In the meantime, time to free the prisoners.
As the Nightsister's ferociously faught the Singing Mountain Warriors, their numbers grew weaker. They had started the battle with many in their ranks, but the mountain warriors were strong. Few of them had fallen, and they were holding their ground.
The prison was deserted of Mountain warriors except for one. Gabriela approched the warrior from behind with her saber drawn, as she was about to strike the warrior turned and dodged the attack. The warrior glared at Gabriela as was knocked from Gabriela's grip and she was slow to move out of the way of an incomming staff blow. As she was hit, she fell to the floor, clutching at her side. The staff's blade had sliced her deeply, and as she grabbed her left side the snow below turned a deep red color. The other Nightsisters attacked the warrior in a rage and tore her to pieces...the warrior's only identifiable remains was her fur cap. The rest of her was scattered acrossed pink ice and snow. The Nightsisters triedd to help up Gabriela, but she refused. "Go on and open the cell doors!" she cried as she struggled to her feet.
Gabriela stood and yelled, "TO VICTORY MY SISTERS!!!!"
The hordes of Nightsisters poured out of the cells, weakend, but renewed by their sisters. They partook in the battle below, overwhelming the small group of gaurds. Soon, nothing more than bodies were left. Bodies by the dozens, as the sisters reconsiliated their losses Gabriela looked from the mountain top to the horizon.
"VICTORY FOR THE NIGHTSISTERS!!" She yelled in a cry of pain.
She suddenly fell to the floor. Injured in the battle, she was very weak, and slowly dying. Her followers surrounded her, and she looked up to the crowd.
With tears in her eyes and death upon her breath, she uttered her last dying words:
"Let none oppose us...the Jedi..the Jedi..will fall..."

Meanwhile, in the distance, Luke was leaning over his new born baby daughter with joy in his heart...but then the disturbance in the Force hit him. He looksed up.
"Luke...what's wrong?" Callista whispered, now very weak in voice.
"Nothing my love, sleep, rest."
Luke then engaged Kyp and the rest of the group telepathically. Where are you guys? I fear trouble from the prision...
 He looked back down at his Hope, his love, his joy, his reason for life itself...and awaited the next events.

Kyp heard Master Skywalker's voice echo in his mind. He immediately stopped in his tracks and signaled for Corran and Heless to do the same. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
Luke's voice continued to speak to him. The Nightsisters had just attacked the Singing Mountain prison. The prisoners had been set free, the Sister warriors all slaughtered. Gabriela's army had triumphed, and they would no doubt soon move on to attack the Singing Mountain Clan itself.
Kyp's eyes snapped open. He could feel the dark presence of the Nightsisters, at least half a mile away. They were returning to their camp to recuperate. It wouldn't be long, though, before they set off again.
After Kyp relayed the information to Kyp and Heless, they began heading for Master Skywalker and Callista. Luke had asked for everyone to regroup there, where they would discuss their next step. "It looks like the Nightsisters may beat us after all."
"That's not gonna happen," Corran said.
Kyp gave the other a solemn look. "The Nightsisters have a larger army now, and are stronger than before."
Heless's ears perked up, and she hissed. Kyp guessed that it was a sign of fear. "Katharssssssssssssssssssss's soldiers are near. I can ssssssssensssssssssse it. They know that I am helping you. We musssssssssssst hurry, for they will quickly find usssssssssssssssssssss."
"Great, more trouble," Kyp said. "This hasn't been our day, has it?"
"All in a day's work of being a Jedi," Corran grinned. "And with the Force on our side, there's no way we can lose."

Luke sat with Hope as Callista slept. The birth had left his wife completely drained of energy, and she deserved the rest. Kirana Ti had gone off to scout for any Nightsisters. Luke cradled his beautiful child, aware of the dangers that surrounded them. He had contacted Augwynne through the Force, and the old woman had told him that she and her warriors were heading the prison now. But by then, the Nightsisters would be gone.
"She's such a beautiful little angel, isn't she?" Callista observed as she awoke from her slumber, tracing one finger across Hope's soft cheek.
Luke looked into her smoke-gray eyes, smiled, and placed the sleeping baby between them. "Like her mother."
"Noticed that too, didn't you?" Callista laughed as she wrapped her arm around Luke's back. "But now that she's, I'm afraid. I mean, look around us. There's danger everywhere. These Nightsisters want to steal our Hope away from us...and then there's that vision," she finished ominously.
Luke nodded. "I know. But my love, you have nothing to worry about. Kara sent you that vision just to frighten you. Yoda taught me that the future is always in motion. Nothing is unchangeable. We determine our own fate. And believe me, nothing will happen to us...or Hope. We will be together forever."
Callista sighed and bit her lower lip. "It still scares me, though."
"Callista, we have gone through so much together," Luke went on. "The Eye of Palpatine, Cray's death, you losing the Force, Daala...your daughter." Callista flinched as memories of Kara returned. "No matter if this vision is true or not, I will not allow anything to happen to you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You have given my life so much happiness and purpose. You're my wife, my vision of hope. And I will always love you."
He then gave her a small smirk. "Hey, don't sweat over all this. I've been to the dark side and back before; I'm sure we can survive this." He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, reveling in the warmth and peace he felt. "Now, let's say we go find Kirana Ti and see what's she's been up to. Her daughter's still lost to her. And since she helped us, she should return the favor."
Callista and Luke got up, with her holding Hope in her arms. She gave Luke another smile and opened her mouth as if to say something else.
Before she could say anything, a cloaked woman burst from behind a tree. Luke was taken by surprise as she reached out with one clawed hand, grabbed him by the throat, and tossed him through the air. He hit a nearby tree and fell seconds later, dazed.
The woman pulled back her hood, and Callista gasped, recognizing the Nightsister. Anya. The woman who had assaulted her on Yavin 4 and kidnapped her. She slowly walked toward Luke, a staff in one hand. Callista's heart pounded, and she quickly hid behind a tangle of bushes, where she laid Hope down and covered her under a blanket.
Luke had now gotten up, his lightsaber out and ready. He ran toward Anya and hurled the blade with all his strength--but the Nightsister brought her head to one side, swiftly dodging the attack. Luke swung again, aiming for her neck. Anya anticipated the blow seconds before it came, and she ducked it, she struck Luke in the chest with the Force, throwing him back against the tree.
Anya's voice came out in a low, warning growl. "You know what I want, Skywalker. Give me your child, and I will spare you and your wife." The woman stopped a few steps from Luke, who was on his hands and knees. She brought the staff up into the air and struck down, aiming to deliver a killing blow to the back of Luke's head.
Callista moved fast, getting her own saber out. She smashed full force into Anya with her body, knocking the woman down. "You are not going to take my baby, Anya! You'll have to go through me first!"
Anya looked up at her, surprise evident in her eyes. She nodded slightly, as if accepting Callista's challenge--just as blue lightning exploded from her fingertips. Callista cried out as the fire hit her in the chest, sending her sailing backwards from the force of the blow. She collided back-first into another tree, a tremble of pain flowing down her spine. She fell to her knees, horrified for a split second that she had been paralyzed.
Anya laughed. "You Jedi are so pathetic!"
Luke retrieved his lightsaber and sprinted toward Anya, focused on the Nightsister. The woman in turn grabbed Callista's fallen lightsaber and clashed blades with Luke. The two combatants fought, the hum of their weapons surrounding them like a pack of buzzing insects, their blades smashing against each other dozens of times, sparks flying into their faces. Luke was an expert in wielding a lightsaber, but Anya was more than a match for him. The Nightsisters had trained her well. And there was little chance she was willing to negotiate.
Moments--or hours, Luke had lost all track of time--passed, and the second Luke began to tire, Anya moved forth, her fist slamming into Luke's ribs. The blow sent him stumbling against the tree a third time, his chest aching with pain.
He recovered within moments, and whirled, sending a backhand slash toward Anya's head. The witch ducked the blow, accidentally dropping her lightsaber.
Luke finally saw a chance to take her down. He brought his weapon up and struck, intending to slice her head in half--
Anya saw the blow coming, and she grabbed Luke by the hand that held his saber, stopping the blade from hitting her. Luke barely had time to recover from his surprise before she threw him into the air. Luke smashed through a rather large tree branch and hit the ground, pain spreading across his body.
As Anya began moving toward him, a Dathomirian war cry echoed in the air. The witch looked around in surprise, and cried out as someone came through the air and smashed both feet into her chest, throwing her back a good distance away. She was up seconds later, and now faced a new opponent.
Kirana Ti had just entered the fray. She flicked her lightsaber on, the energy blade coming to life with a buzzing snap- hiss. She squared her shoulders, her emerald-green eyes fixated on the Nightsister before her. She was ready for this battle, the Force flowing through her, her senses on alert. "Stay away from my friends, Anya," she said. "I will not let you take their child."
Anya laughed. "Are you going to stop me, Kirana Ti? Because you will have to." She nodded. "Then stop talking and start fighting." She ran forth and swung her lightsaber, but Anya brought up Callista's weapon. The blades crackled against each other, like two meteorites colliding.
Anya snarled as she continued striking against Kirana Ti's blade, sweat breaking out on her forehead. "I wonder which one of us will tire first. Let's find out, shall we?"
Kirana Ti rolled aside and jabbed upward, intending to gut the woman. Anya cursed and sidestepped, smacking her lightsaber into Kirana Ti's. The warrior Jedi was up seconds later, and they clashed again, their fight growing more intense with each passing moment. Kirana Ti slashed, and Anya retaliated with her own blow, cackling. They continued hacking at each other. Kirana Ti was a strong, well-trained warrior, but Anya was the better of the two. Slowly but surely, she was wearing the Jedi down.
Anya ducked an arc to the head and threw four blows within a second-- two to the leg, one to the ear, and another to the hip. Kirana Ti barely blocked the attacks, her movements getting sloppier and less accurate. "Getting tired so quickly, Kirana Ti?" Anya said, her sneer growing wider.
"You wish," she retorted, and struck several more times. Her blows were effortlessly blocked by Anya, and the Nightsister finally saw an opening. She reached forth with one hand, snatched Kirana Ti by the throat, and lifted her up into the air. Her claws tightened around Kirana Ti's neck, cutting off the air supply to her lungs.
"I win," Anya growled, as Kirana Ti gasped for breath. Stars exploded in her head, and blackness started eating away her vision. Her arms and legs stopped flailing, and she started to go limp.
"Goodbye, Kirana Ti," Anya said, as she prepared to crush her windpipe--
--suddenly a form burst throught the bushes and knocked down Anya. The Nightsister let go of Kirana as she was knocked to the ground. Kirana took in some air and looked up to see who had saved her. Teneniel Djo smiled down at her.
"Look's like I came just in time." she noted.
Kirana rubbed the claw marks on her neck. "I could've handled her."
Teneniel shook her head and help Kirana up, "It is not time to argue. I got a call from Kyp. We must reunite to defeat the Nightsisters."
There was a rusle in the bushes and Kirana jumped but relaxed when it was only Isolder that came through.
He looked seriously at Teneniel, "We've got trouble."
"Trouble indeed," Anya said as she rose to her feet, Callista's lightsaber still gripped in her clawed hand. "As of right now, Gabriela has triumphed. Our Sisters have been freed, our army stronger than ever before." She took a step toward Kirana Ti and Teneniel. "And now we move on to the final step--Singing Mountain."
Just as she was about to strike them down, Callista came from behind, wrapping an arm around Anya's throat and tightening, taking her by surprise. "Thanks for letting us know that, Anya. Now, if you don't mind, tell us where Gabriela is," Callista said.
Anya growled, her elbow smashing into Callista's gut. She grunted in pain, loosing her grip on the Nightsister, and she rounded on Callista, striking her with a powerful Force blow. Callista was hurtled back through the air, but managed to turn her fall into a somersault that landed her safely on her feet. She snatched Luke's lightsaber and held it before her, prepared for battle.
"You cannot defeat the Nightsisters, Skywalker," Anya said, teasingly waving her lightsaber back and forth. The sounds of approaching footsteps began to grow louder. "Even if you kill me, you will still have to worry about my comrades."
Callista turned to Isolder and Teneniel. "You two, take care of the others. Kirana and I will handle her."
Without arguing, Teneniel and her husband rushed away into the forest. Callista and Kirana Ti faced Anya. The three women stood there, their lightsabers the only noise to be heard, their eyes locked together. Callista could feel sweat gather in her palm, threatening to let her lightsaber slip, but she maintained her hold.
The attack then came.
Callista and Kirana Ti charged at Anya from both sides and struck. Anya moved with incredible speed, swinging her lightsaber to parry their blows. The three women fought with ferocity and skill, their blades hammering into each other, producing sparks that nearly blinded Callista. Anya showed no indication of tiring or giving up; it was almost as if she wasn't even human. She brought her lightsaber back and forth between her, blocking each and every blow thrown at her from both women.
Luckily, Anya was so busy defending herself that she had no time to attack. But Callista knew that it wouldn't last forever. Sooner or later, Anya would gain the upper hand in battle--unless they did something quickly to stop her.
Callista's brown hair flew around her as she continually attacked the Nightsister. Kirana Ti fought with equal strength, a snarl curving at the edges of her mouth. Anya leaped into the air, her black cloak billowing in the air, and landed right behind them. It gave her just enough time to move to the offensive.
Kirana Ti and Callista were now starting to wear down. Callista fought desperately, trying to take the Nightsister down, hacking, slashing, jabbing, punching, kicking, doing everything she could think of. But each effort was fruitless.
Finally catching her off guard, Anya slashed, her blade cutting deep into Callista's upper arm, singeing through her jumpsuit and burning her flesh. Callista gasped in pain and staggered back, her hand instinctively going up to her wound.
Kirana Ti saw an opening. While Anya was distracted, she snapped a kick to the gut, knocking the Nightsister off balance.
As Callista prepared to enter the fray again, something caught the corner of her eye.
Two Nightsisters emerged from the trees, quickly assessing the battle. One of them noticed, to Callista's horror, the baby lying in the bush.
Callista's eyes widened, and she felt a sudden avalanche of adrenaline surge through her body. The Nightsisters closed in on Hope, who started wailing in fear, sensing the danger. The sight of seeing her child in danger-
"Hope!" Callista shouted, rushing forth to take on the two women.
All had seem lost, the two dark NightSisters came with blinding speed. As their deadly claws came to strike the defenseless newborn...Hope was wisked away from the on comming attack.
"LUKE!" Was the only word that Callista could say as Luke dove in front of his daughter...
"Ughhh!" Was the shout Luke had uttered as the NightSisters clawed his back. With amazing grace Callista disengaged from her conflict and rushed over to help him. With a few quick saber slices the NightSisters fell to the ground.
Callista sighed as she fell to the ground, the battle weakened her.
"BY THE STARS!" Luke yelled as over five dozen more NightSisters entered the battle...overwhelming the little band of Jedi. Luke tried to warn Kirana Ti but it was too late, she was in the grasps of the NightSisters. Luke's mind sped through thoughts and idea on what to do next, only one word came to mind...
"RETREAT!"
With that thought Luke picked up his baby daughter and bent down to grab Callista.
"No, Luke..go...save our Hope..."
"I can't leave you!"
"You must, Luke..go..."
Luke nodded with a tear in his eye and he gave Callista one last, tender kiss on the forehead. He stood up and leapt over a fallen tree with his daughter softly in his arms. He ran as fast as he could, not knowing where to travel, just to get away. His thoughts of Callista vivid in his mind.
What seemed like years he ran, unlike his nature, but at the request of his wife.
He finally stopped in a clear open field, then a thought ran through his head.
What about Kyp...Isolder and Teneniel...Corran... His mind became a blur..for once he did not have an answer, a solution, or a clue. He looked back on the horizon from which he just came. His mind reached out for them...trying to touch them...he tried and tried and when all almost seemed lost he finally contacted...
Suddenly, a chorus of female war cries reverberated throughout the forest, surprising everyone, including the Nightsisters.
The Sisters of the Singing Mountain Clan leaped from their perches on the trees and descended upon the cloaked women. Others came from the forests, mounted on sopfhas and rancors. In the crowd of warriors, Callista saw Augwynne, Teneniel, Isolder, Catalina, Kam Solusar, Kyp, Corran, and a rather peculiar-looking beast that resembled Katharss. The Nightsisters were driven back by the onslaught, but soon regained their composure and began fighting back.

Callista ran toward the closest Nightsister, barreling into her like a battering ram, driving them both to the ground. She got up and grabbed the Nightsister by the robe, pinning her against a tree.
Corran came over to help her, holding the woman immobile by one arm, while Callista held the other. The Nightsister squirmed and shrieked, trying to break free. She shoved Corran away with a mighty Force blow, but Callista held her own. No matter what the Nightsister did, she could not release herself from Callista.
Teneniel used this to her advantage. She charged forth with her lightsaber and rammed the blade through the Nightsister's chest, cutting through flesh, bone, and heart. The woman uttered a single howl of pain before she died.
Callista let go of the corpse and gave Teneniel a quick nod. "You guys came just in the nick of time," she said. She quickly scanned the monstrous battle. "Now this is where the real fun begins."
Together, she and Teneniel quickly joined the battle.

Luke held his daughter tightly to him, trying to soothe her terrified sobs. Not used to being separated from her mother, Hope was expressing her displeasure in the loudest way she knew how.
Screaming directly into Luke's ear.
"Come on, honey, please. Your mother is alright, I swear. Everything will be alright."
"WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
Luke sighed, trying to use the Force to block his ears, and sighing again when it didn't work. He rocked her slightly, hoping that he'd be able to put her to sleep, but looking into those beautiful blue eyes, he knew it would be inpossible.
I'm gonna be deaf by the time I get you back to your mother, aren't I?"
"Ah?"
Luke smiled, wonderingly. "Hey, honey. Feeling better now?"
"Bah.
He laughed at how grumpy the little girl sounded.
"I know, honey, you got that from me. I don't like being away from her either."
"Awaa...
There was a distinctive snap from one side of him and he jumped. His eyes widened as he saw a colorful leaf floating through the air. It soared for a moment over his head before landing in his hand.
"Mah." Luke looked down at his tiny daughter, stunned.
"Did you do that, honey?" There was a rush of wind, before all the leaves around him started levitating themselves around him. He didn't need to ask this time, he could feel the Force flowing through the girl. His eyes widened even further as the leaves started moving themselves into a very familiar pattern.
He shook his head to make sure what he was seeing was real. In the space of the few seconds he was doing this, the leaves completed their movement, and floated in the air, still. He looked down at Hope.
"Alright, honey, I get the picture. Let's go." As Luke picked up his daughter and inched carefully out of his hiding spot, the leaves remained in their current shape for a moment.

The battle grew more and more intense as the Nightsisters and the Singing Mountain warriors butchered each other in massive numbers. So far, they seemed evenly matched. The three rancors that accompanied the Sisters stomped on and swiped away several of the cloaked women, while Sister archers fired their arrows from a faraway distance, each arrow finding its own target.
Some of the Nightsisters had gathered in a circle, chanting in the ancient Dathomirian language. Black clouds started to slowly form in the sky, encompassing the burning sun. A Force storm would be coming in a few minutes, and it wouldn't be pretty.

Callista fought harder than she had ever before. She was almost exhausted from the whole ordeal as she cut down woman after woman. Kirana Ti, Corran, Kam, and Kyp looked similarly tired, but all held themselves together with the Force. None of them planned on going down anytime soon.
The wind started to pick up, growing stronger with each passing second. A flash of green lightning burst across the sky, shattering a tree into several pieces. Several Sisters shrieked as the wind knocked them off their feet. The Nightsisters remained in their circle, still chanting.
Callista spun and sliced an incoming arrow in half, which would have pierced her throat if she hadn't seen it coming. As the battle continued, she wondered if Luke and Hope had gotten away to safety.
Suddenly, a Nightsister ambushed her from behind. Callista turned, and cried out as the black-cloaked woman grabbed her by her arms and shoved her violently to the floor. Callista landed hard against the corpse of a Sister warrior, stunned.
Her opponent pulled out a small knife from her robe and brought it down upon Callista's chest. She anticipated the blow, reached up, slapped the dagger away, and knocked the Nightsister off her. The woman landed beside her.
The two combatants got to their feet around the same time. Callista had just gotten her lightsaber, but before she could use it, the Nightsister kicked it out of her hand and shoved her with the Force, knocking her back down.
Seconds later, she was sitting on Callista's belly.
"I'm going to enjoy ripping your heart out," the woman whispered in Callista's ear, holding the knife just above her chest.
"Awa bah!"
The Nightsister's head snapped up as she heard the sound of a baby coming from the side of the battle field. She took a step towards her smiling. This must be the baby everyone wanted. She would be well rewarded for finding her. She paid no regard to the person holding her. It was a man, and they were good for very few things one of which was not putting up a fight.
"Luke...Hope...I told you to go...Why did you come back?" Callista asked, horrified by the sight of her husband and daughter so close to the people that wanted to destroy her. She noticed Luke was not in the slightest bit worried about the Nightsister approaching them. She tried to glare at him, but he anticipated it, and gave her a 'watch this' look in return.
The Nightsister took one final step before stopping in front of the male and the child, and smile of delicious anticipation on her face. This would be a day long remembered.
"Mah bah da!"
The Nightsister turned her head, exasperated as the child spoke these gibberish words. The wind suddenly picked up and she had to duck as stones hurled themselves at her. One of them struck her on the head, and she dropped dead.

Augwynne had called for another Council meeting. It had been hours since the battle, and it was nearing midnight. She stood before the circle of Sisters and spoke in her loudest voice.
"My Sisters, the final battle is approaching, Augwynne said.
"Is Gabriela really dead?" Catalina asked the old woman.
Augwynne gravely nodded, and another Sister spoke up. "Even with her dead, the Nightsisters still have us at an advantage. They are now united with Gethzerion's followers. If it were not for the Skywalker child, we all would have died in that battle."
Augwynne's face paled at the mention of Hope. The baby had indeed saved them all. The Force was extremely powerful within her; she had potential to become a Jedi even greater than her father...but that meant she could also become an agent of evil. Precisely what the Nightsisters wanted.
Augwynne spoke in a loud voice, addressing her fellow Sisters. "The Nightsisters's plans have not changed. They still want Hope alive. She is strong in the Force, but easily suspectible to the dark side. If the Nightsisters capture her, it may be too late to save her. I have learned of their plans to attack Singing Mountain at dawn. We must have everyone stand at the wall throughout the night. We must not let our guard slip. Hope must be protected at all costs.
"But if the Nightsisters succeed...then all hope is lost."

Luke stood over Callista, offering her his hand. "Did you really think I'd leave you here? And Hope here was rather insistent herself."
Callista chuckled a little and climbed to her feet. "Takes after her father. Hey, there," she said, lifting Hope from Luke's arm, and wincing as pain coursed down her wounded arm.
Luke touched the shoulder. Her muscles tensed under his fingers, and he retracted his hand. "We should get that checked out," he said. He touched Callista's cheek. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "I'm fine. Let's go."
Luke, Callista, Kirana Ti, and the other Jedi trudged through the jungles, towards Singing Mountain.
"Did Hope do that?" Callista asked suddenly.
"Do what?" Luke asked in return.
"That trick with the stones. Did she do that?"
Luke chuckled. "Yes, she did. It turns out we have a rather strong kid, my dear. And quite the artist, I might add."
Callista looked at him strangely. "What?"
Luke shook his head. "Never mind."
In Callista's arms, Hope began to whimper and shiver. Callista looked at her sympathetically. "Yeah, it is a little chilly out here, isn't it?" She hugged her daughter closer, rocking her as they walked. The baby fell asleep soon, and she snored a little. Callista smiled. "She does take after you, doesn't she?"
A stab of cold shot through the air.
Callista gasped at its intensity. "Luke..." she whispered, to warn him of the impending danger.
But there was no need, they had all felt it.
A hulking black shape emerged from the trees, hissing in anger and bloodlust. "SSSSSSSSSSkywalker," Katharss rasped.
Luke stood in front of Callista and Hope, pulling out his lightsaber. "Katharss," he greeted the creature. Run, Callista heard Luke in her mind. Get Hope out of here, now!
She took a step back, and Katharss cackled. "Don't worry, little one," he told Callista. "I'm not here for you."
She glared at him, pulling Hope closer to her breast. Katharss lunged brutally, knocking Kirana Ti to the ground. She struck her head on a rock, and fell unconscious. In his flight, he landed in front of Luke.
"Callista! Go!" Luke cried. Callista did, but only long enough to hide Hope in the trunk of a tree. Then she returned and pulled out her own weapon.
"We do this together," she told her husband, and lunged for Katharss. The creature batted her away like a doll, but she succeeded in burning his shoulder on her way to the ground. Her lightsaber was knocked from her grip, and it catapulted into the embrace of a high branch. Katharss yowled in pain and clawed at her.
Luke reacted with lightning reflexes, intercepting Katharss' claws before they raked across Callista's face. Callista rolled away and stood up. while Luke kept Katharss busy, she ran over to Kirana Ti. The Dathomiran woman was alive. Callista grabbed the warrior's stone dagger and leapt onto Katharss' back as he bore down on Luke. She stabbed his back and shoulders repeatedly, sending hot blood gouting from wide slashes. Katharss screamed, and reared onto his hind legs. Callista flew off his back, and smacked into a tree.
She was out before she hit the ground.
Luke was distracted by his wife's predicament. Katharss swung a massive paw at his head, knocking him over with a sick thwaap.
Katharss looked around him, surveying the beautiful destruction he'd done. He remembered his orders: Bring Skywalker and the brat's mother, leave the Jedi woman with the child.
Katharss picked up Luke into his teeth and tossed him into his back. He did the same with Kirana Ti. "You have an appointment with the Nightsisters," he said with a low cackle, and lumbered into the jungles.

On Coruscant, Anakin Solo had a very weird feeling. It was the same kind of feeling he got when one of the people he loved was in danger, but when he looked around the room, he could see his mother, father, brother and sister were all in perfect condition. It was very strange.
"Mom, can I go to my room for while, please?"
His mother looked down at him with a warm smile on her face.
"Sure sweetheart. Anything special?"
"Nope." He replied. "There's just something I want to take a look at."
"Don't take too long, Ani." Jacen said.
"Yeah. Uncle Lando is supposed to be coming over tonight, remember." Jaina added.
"I won't." He replied, hurrying to his room, and sitting on the bed. He closed his eyes as Uncle Luke had taught him, and took deep breaths. Calming himself, he reached out for the person who was in trouble, and connected his mind to hers.
The shock of what he found almost made him recoil all the way back to Coruscant. It was a baby! He didn't know much about them, being the youngest member of his family, but he was pretty sure this one couldn't have been more than a week old.
What are you doing? He asked her. Babies couldn't talk, but if this one was anything like him at that age, she would be able to understand.
Nothing. I'm sitting here in a tree for fun. What does it look like I'm doing? The answer didn't come to him in words, rather in feelings. He was stunned at the strong connection he felt to this child.
I'm Anakin Solo. He thought to her. Who are you?
I don't know. I think they call me Hope, but I'm not sure about the rest of it.
Who calls you Hope?
My big people.
Your-oh! It finally occurred to the boy what she was talking about. Your parents!
Yeah. My parents.
Can you show me them? I might be able to work out who you are if you do.
 The girl flashed him an image of two faces...two very familiar faces...he recoiled in surprise. His Uncle Luke and Aunt Callista were in trouble. Before he headed out to tell his parents, though, he sent one final reassuring image to Hope, telling her he was coming.

Callista pushed herself heavily to her feet, rubbing her head. "Luke?" she said, looking around her. Hope jumped as she became louder. "Luke! Luke, answer me!" She took a deep breath, and screamed, "Luke!" Then, quieter, "Damn it," and kicked the dirt, then turned to Hope "Well, I'm guessing you're hungry."
"Bah bah!"
"Now all we have to do is find your Father, my dear. And after that, I just want to get off this forsaken rock and go home!" Callista began to cry, holding tightly onto Hope, the baby's eyes filling with sympathy tears as she felt her mother's pain.
Reaching out to the wind, she blew the leaves into the picture of her father's face. Would this make her feel better?
Callista jumped as she saw her daughter's artwork.
"So this is what your father meant by that before, hmm?" She shook her head, looking up to the stars. "Luke, I hope you're OK...wherever you are..."

Luke opened his eyes to find himself on the floor of a cave. "Unnh," he moaned. Beside him Kirana Ti stirred as well and soon they managed to get to their feet. Glowing eyes lit the cave and Luke focused on one particular pair. "Where are we, Katharss?" Luke demanded.
"Thisss isss the pack dwelling. It ssseemsss we're at a...disssagrement of what to do with you."
Another pair of eyes flashed in the dim light, "That'sss the underssssatement of the day, Katharsss."
"Sssilence, Ovarsss. I did not asssk you." Katharss snapped.
"I will not be sssilenced." Ovarsss insisted. "I do not trussst the nightssssisterssss to give ussss what we want."
"Trusssst is not important here, they have no choice. They need usssss." Katharss countered.
"Not after we give them the goods. It could be a trap. When could give them SSSkywalker and the woman and then they could ambusssh ussss. Bessidesss I do not think they are giving usss enough for thisss job." another voice argued.
"Enough!" Katharss bellowed. Then Luke and Kirana could see his grin glitter from the shadows. "I have an idea."
Luke felt for his lightsaber but, of course, it was gone. He turned to Kirana Ti but she only shook her head. They had no weapons and no knowledge of where they were. And the pack had formed a ring and was slowly closing in on them. Whatever Katharss's idea was Luke didn't think he'd like it.
"What should we do Master Skywalker?" Kirana whispered. Luke swallowed hard, "I don't know."
Anya turned as one of the sisters--Emna, young and full of promise as a Nightsister--approached and knelt before her.
"Katharss has succeeded in taking Skywalker and Kirana Ti." the girl reported.
Anya's lips curved in a delighted smile. "Gabriela's plans are in motion," she said. "Thank you, Emna. Is Katharss bringing them to us?"
Emna shook her head. "No. He has taken leave of our agreement. He has hidden them and will not reveal their location."
Anger seethed in Anya's cold heart. In fury, she struck with her right hand, sending a ball of flame into a nearby tree. "He has crossed the Nightsisters for the last time. I alone will determine his punishment,"
Emna looked startled. "But...what of Gabriela?"
"Gabriela is dead," Anya spat. "I will take control now. Gather the Nightsisters. We have some hunting to do."
Luke slept heavily, exhausted from the chain of events that had drained him of energy.
But even in sleep, he could not rest.
The wind was cold, tearing over his body and cutting into him like a thousand frozen blades. He was laying in something...wet, sticky...
Blood?
Yes...his chest was racked with pain... he'd been injured. Now he lay in a pool of his own blood.
He turned his head. Callista was beside him, her eyes closed, her face scratched bloody and bruised. The cold air had frozen tears like tiny diamonds against her frostbitten skin.
"Callie..." he managed. She did not move, didn't respond.
She was dead.
"Callie...please..."
"She can't hear you," a voice said above his head. Weakly, Luke shifted his eyes upward.
Kara was staring at him maliciously. "She's where she belongs. With me, in a place you'll never find her. Too bad," she said, turning her attention to something else in the snow. Luke followed her gaze.
Hope was lying between him and his wife, screaming and wailing with all the power her tiny lungs could muster. "She would have been powerful."
"NO!" Luke screamed as he sat up into awareness. Gasping for breath, he looked around, trying to remember where he was.
Katharss.
But there was something else, too. Something..even more evil. Luke stretched out through the Force, touching the approaching minds.
Nightsisters.
"Kirana," Luke whispered, leaning over to his student. "Kirana," Kirana stirred and sat up. "What?"
"The Nighsisters are--" his breath cut off in a choking croak, and both he and Kirana Ti dropped into the mulch, out cold.
Katharss woke first. He leapt to his feet and cried, "What issss thisss?"
Before anyone could reply, a sweeping arc of a lightsaber cut him in two.
Anya stepped into the cave, followed by Emna and four other sisters. The others of Kathsarss' kind slunk to their feet in wary anger. Seven, in all.
"Destroy them," Anya ordered. "And take the humans to the camp.
The Nightsisters carried out Anya's orders with cold efficiency. Soon, all seven Night Creatures were dead. They lifted Luke and Kirana Ti's limp bodies over their shoulders and returned to the camp.