Chapter 5

Armenia and her fellow warriors reached the roof of the Imperial Palace, where Cray's personal ship, the Fallen Moon awaited. Armenia carried the screaming boy with both arms, expecting to find her Master waiting for them.
But instead, she saw no one near the ship.
"Where is she?" one of the warriors asked, his eyes scanning the area. "She said she would be here. Do you think--?"
"Silence, Voreo," Armenia snapped. "Panicking isn't going to help."
"So, what are we going to do?" a second warrior asked.
"Let me go!" Anakin screamed shrilly as he fought to break free from Armenia's hold. "Let me go, now!"
"Shut up, you little brat!" Armenia brought a knife from her robe and pressed the tip of the blade against the little boy's throat. Just a little more pressure, and it was pass right through his flesh. "If you say one more word, I will kill you. Understand?"
Anakin nodded, fearful, his eyes brimming with tears.
Armenia looked over at her fellow warriors. "Well, it looks like we'll have to leave without Cray. Apparently, the Republic guards must have captured her."
The warriors exchanged shocked glances. They had never abandoned their leader before like this. Voreo stepped forth. "Uh...Armenia, are you sure that's wise? Maybe she's running behind a little late--"
"We don't have much time!" Armenia growled, interrupting the young man. She almost pitied the poor fool, who was so naive as to believe that the HRD was truly their leader. "We need to return to Xizor's headquarters and pick up the girl as well. The priests have requested that we bring these children to Anasazi before the next full moon. As much as I hate to do so, we are going to have to leave Cray behind."
Voreo still didn't look convinced. "But, Armenia--"
Armenia stabbed forth with the dagger, burying it in the young man's gut hilt-deep. Voreo's eyes glassed over, and he looked up at Armenia, his face expressing pain and betrayal.
He slumped to the ground, writhing in agony.
Armenia looked up at the other warriors, who stepped away from her as one, all fearful that she may attack one of them next.
"Does anyone else wish to question my orders?" she demanded sharply, waving the dagger teasingly in their faces.
The group wisely remained silent.
"Then let's go," she snapped.
The Kerash warriors headed for the Fallen Moon before the Republic security could catch them.
Armenia watched her followers go, and looked down at Voreo, who was still alive, though his life was slowly draining from his body. A puddle of blood congealed under his stomach like spilled wine.
"Wh-Why?" he wheezed out.
Armenia offered him a cold sneer. "I am sorry, Voreo, but too much is at stake here. These children are the key to unleashing Arak into our world. She will destroy the unfaithful, and reward her followers. The Kerash will inherit the galaxy once again, and no one will be able to stop us. This is the will of Arak."
As she spoke, her voice rising as each word came out of her mouth, Voreo coughed up blood and finally breathed his last.
Armenia's eyes gazed down at the fresh corpse, her eyes distant and hardened. "She is coming," she whispered. "Yes...She is coming..."
With the frightened Anakin in her arms, she headed for the Fallen Moon.

Callista, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Threepio, and Jacen all sat in the waiting room of the bustling MedCenter, the tension almost tangible in the group.
Callista checked her chronometer for a thousandth time. They had brought Jaina in around dawn, just an hour so so after the Kerash warriors broke into Leia's home. The little girl had still been bleeding profusely from the numerous gashes on her arms, legs, and face. The doctors had immediately placed her in a bacta tank, and promised that she would be out within three standard hours. Now, it had been over five. Callista could barely contain the anxiety she felt rising in her chest. So many things had happened in the last few hours--the disappearance of her daughter, the fights in the Underworld, the attack in Leia's home, Jaina's injuries, Anakin's kidnapping, Cray's unexpected return--and it was more than she could bear.
Stars, she thought. Once this whole mess is taken care of, Luke and I are going on a long vacation. While they had waited, Callista and Luke filled the rest in on what had happened with Cray.
Not too surprisingly, they were more than a little startled by this. "But...how could she be alive?" Han asked, a dubious look on his face.
"Truthfully, she isn't alive," Callista pointed out. "She's a synthdroid, made to look like a human from the outside, but on the inside, she's like every other droid."
"Like Nichos was," Leia added sullenly. Callista felt a pang at the mention of the young man's name...the man whom Cray now accused Callista of murdering.
"Sort of," Callista said. "But in Nichos's case, his persona was transferred into the droid. Cray, however, is a hundred percent mechanical. These Kerash warriors must have built her on their home base and gave her false memories of her life...of what happened on the Eye of Palpatine."
"I'm still not clear about this Kerash," Han said, rubbing his chin, a gesture he often did when he was nervous. "What exactly are these people up to?"
Callista shrugged. "Trust me, Han, if I try to explain it, you'll be even more confused."
"But there's something I don't understand," Leia said. "If these Kerash warriors are so far away, and practically unheard of throughout the galaxy, then how do they know about you? I mean, in order to have constructed Cray, they had to have known about you and the Eye." "Good question." Callista pondered it for a moment. The Kerash--or someone in their cult--seemed to know her far too well. The question was, how? And, more importantly, who?
"So, what's going to happen to Cray?" Leia asked.
Callista shrugged again. "I'm not sure. Right now, she's in the brig. I'm planning on questioning her after we're done here. Hopefully, she may have some answers regarding where the Kerash have taken Anakin."
Leia nodded. "I'm going to call a meeting of the Senate tomorrow and discuss what we're going to do about Black Sun."
"Do you think Black Sun and these Kerash guys are connected?" asked Han. "It would make sense," Luke said, who, up until this moment, had not participated in the discussion. "They both share similar goals. Both want our children..."
Callista suppressed a moan as she thought of Hope. They still hadn't found her daughter--although the NRI was investigating into her disapperance even as they spoke--and now Anakin was gone as well. Jacen remained uncharacteristically silent throughout the conversation. Normally, he would be talking up a storm and annoying the other patients in the MedCenter...but not today. It was hard to be talkative when your own sister was being treated by the hospital, and your brother was missing. Threepio, now fully repaired, stood over him, laying his gold-plated hands on his shoulder, quietly reassuring him.
The protocol droid was also unusually quiet. This whole ordeal had affected them all very deeply. And that brought Callista back to their earlier fight.
"Um...Han," she said, looking him straight in the eyes. "About that fight, we had earlier...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the horrible things I said to you and Leia. I had no right to dump all this on you two, when I had just as much responsibility to accept."
Han offered her a sympathetic smile. "I appreciate that, Callista. I'm sorry, too, for losing my temper. I should've been more understanding about what you were going through. Both of us were at fault for what happened."
Callista smiled back. For just a brief second, despite all that had happened in the last few days, she felt a moment of happiness. It was quickly interrupted by the sound of footsteps. The group turned to see Jaina's Calamarian doctor, Doctor Poshkal, enter the waiting room. His eyes shone with relief as he headed over to them.
"Well?" Leia asked as she stood. "Is she okay, Doctor?"
Doctor Poshkal nodded. "Yes, Madam Chief of State. She's fine." The group let out a simultaneous sigh of relief, and everyone exchanged a series of grateful hugs and kisses. All the tension that had been collecting in Callista's chest finally dissipated; her niece would be okay after all!
"So, how bad is it?" Han asked.
"Well, the dip in the bacta healed most of her wounds," the Calamarian explained. "There are still a few cuts visible on her skin, and a possibility of some scarring. But other than that, she's as good as new." Han put his arm around his wife, grinning from ear to ear. Callista smiled at them both, and turned back to the doctor.
"Can we see her?"
"Certainly," he replied. "She's in Room 36-A in the West Wing, the last door to your left."
The group thanked Doctor Poshkal several times over and went to see Jaina. As they prepared to get up from their seats, the waiting room holovid suddenly sprung to life. An all-too-familiar face appeared on the screen, a face that made everyone in the room gasping in shock and horror. It was the face of a man they had thought died years ago. The face of a Falleen.
Xizor.

Prince Xizor sat stock still and straight in the conforming chair, staring ahead at the viewscreen pickup camera. "Is it ready yet?" He whispered, low and silken.
The technician squirmed from under the console at Xizor's feet. "N-not quite yet, my lord. My associate on Coruscant has to finish hooking all of the broadcast systems together, but it won't be much longer now." "Call him," Xizor purred. "Call him and tell him he has ten standard minutes to complete the job." The technician nodded shakily and complied.
Ten minutes later, they were online. Guri adjusted the transistor knob and reported, "online in 3...2...1..."
The viewscreen to Xizor's left flickered, showing the close-up of his face that had just been broadcast across every viewscreen in Imperial City.
Xizor spoke, keeping his voice even and smooth: "Citizens of the New Republic, some of you may know me as Prince Xizor, ruler of Black Sun. And some of you may think I have been dead these past ten years. Obviously, this rumor is unsubstantiated.
"But fear not, I want nothing from you...yet. Right now I wish to speak directly to authority. I call upon Master Luke Skywalker and his wife, Callista Ming."
Xizor looked straight ahead, imagining the Jedi Master and his wife standing before him. "I have your daughter, young Hope." He paused to let those words sink in, feeling the satisfaction of them drip over him like ambrosia-like honey. "Do not fear, I will not harm her...yet. Not if you see that my wishes are carried out to the letter."
Xizor allowed his face to break its rocklike stasis and smile. "See that Coruscant is evacuated of all military ships and persons within the next forty-eight hours. I am coming home...and I don't want the hero's welcome. If you fail to do this, I will see to it that you will never see your daughter again."
His voice dropped. "I will see to it that no one will ever see here again."

"I have you daughter, young Hope." As Luke watched the strange broadcast, he felt his muscles tense in horror. One of his most dangerous adversaries had his daughter!
Calm...calm...Damn you, Xizor! He gripped the armrests of the hospital chair in fury.
Beside him, Callista gasped and her hands flew to her mouth. "No," she whispered, her voice filled with terror and confusion. They listened as Xizor stated his ultimatums, punctuated by his final threat.
"If you fail to do this, I will see to it that you will never see your daughter again." He leaned closer, and Luke could all but feel the Dark Prince's breath on his face. "I will see to it that no one sees her again!" Callista bolted from the room, and ran across the hall to the women's fresher station. Luke didn't look at Han or Leia's terrified faces as he went after her, didn't hesitate at the door of the room, didn't see the annoyed faces of half a dozen women.
"C-Callista?" His tongue felt like cotton in his mouth... He heard a cough from the nearest stall, and looked over to see Callista kneeling in front of the toilet. Luke fell to his knees beside her and wrapped his hands over her shoulders. Callista retched again, coughed, and cleared her throat.
"Who the hell is that, Luke?" She whimpered. Luke rested his forehead against the matted curls on the back of her head. "An old nemesis, from before the Empire fell. I swear he was dead--"
Callista scoffed. "Yeah, cold and stiff, by the looks of it." She muttered angrily. She tried to get up, but her legs were so shaky that they failed her and she slipped uselessly into her husband's arms. Finally, she let go, and violent sobs racked her body. Between breathless shudders, she whispered. "What will we do, Luke?"
Luke pressed his forehead to hers, feeling tears trickling down his own cheeks. "I don't know, Callista. I'm sorry, I'm...I'm just as lost as you are."

"I don't believe it," Leia said for perhaps the hundreth time as she paced the waiting room. Luke, Callista, Han, Chewie Threepio, and Jacen were back in their seats, barely able to take in the horrible news. Xizor was alive. "How?" Leia asked. "How can he still be alive? We saw Vader destroy the Falleen's Fist, remember?"
Luke nodded, all the color drained from his face. "I know...but maybe he managed to escape. After all, we didn't really get any concrete confirmation that he was truly dead. We had been so preoccupied with saving Han from Jabba the Hutt that we didn't even think about the possibility of Xizor surviving."
"Or maybe he's a clone," Han said. "Like C'baoth was."
"Maybe," Leia said. "Perhaps one of Thrawn's old cloning facilities are still here, hidden somewhere in the city. If that's true, then we need to find it as soon as we can..."
Callista remained silent during the exchange, unable to form a single thought. After Luke had helped her out of the refresher station, he and Leia had filled her in on their history with Xizor. Callista had barely even listened to what they had said, her mind still thinking about Hope.
She had never met Xizor before, only heard stories about him. But she knew that he had been a very dangerous man, and one of the most powerful figures in the galaxy before the battle of Endor. And now he had her daughter. Hope. Callista could feel her eyes start to well again. She had not seen her daughter for days now; this was the longest she had ever been away from her. She missed hearing her daughter's sweet laughter, missed stroking her beautiful brown hair, missed tucking her into bed at night and singing her quietly to sleep...
And now this had happened. The worst thing that could possibly ever happen to a mother...having her daughter brutally taken away from her.
"So, what's our next move?" Han asked, jerking Callista out of her thoughts.
"I don't know," Leia said, wringing her hands together, almost as distraught as Callista. She too had lost a child, and must have felt the same emotional turmoil Callista did. "Xizor wants everyone off Coruscant in two days, or he'll kill Hope. I'm betting that annoucement Xizor made was broadcoast throughout the entire city. I'm going to call a meeting of the Senate in a few hours, and we'll decide what to do."
"What?" Callista said, the first word she had spoken in hours. "Why?" The group turned to her, bewildered. "Why bother with a meeting? Let's just evacuate the entire city!" Callista said. "Give Xizor what he wants."
"But Callista," Leia said, "if we do that, he'll have control over the Republic's most powerful planet. Black Sun will have won."
"But he'll kill my daughter!" Callista snapped as she rose from her seat and glared at Leia. "Are you saying that you're not going to meet his demands?"
Leia's eyes were full of sympathy for her friend, but she refused to back down. "I am not going to allow this madman to destroy all that we have worked so hard to build for the past eleven years," she said, meaning every word she said. "And if that means refusing to give Coruscant over to Xizor...I'll do that."
Callista was hardly able to believe what she was hearing. The anger she had felt earlier slowly started returning again. "You would sacrfice Hope?"
Leia looked away from Callista, unable to meet her rage-driven eyes. "That question is unfair," she said. "I refuse to answer it."
"Why won't you? Because it's true?"
"Callista," Luke said softly as he went over to his wife's side, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Calm yourself. You're not thinking rationally. Now, I want our daughter back as much as you--"
"You certainly aren't showing it," Callista interrupted, slapping his hand away.
Luke recoiled in surprise, and continued, "--but there has to be another way to save her."
"Like what?" Callista said, on the verge of shouting. "We don't even know where this Xizor is! He could be anywhere on Coruscant, and he has our daughter! He could kill her at any moment."
She turned back to Leia. "Leia, please listen to me. I don't want Hope to die."
Leia glanced at Callista for a brief moment, then turned to Chewie. "Chewie, could you take Jacen to see his sister?" she asked. The Wookiee nodded--apparently sensing the tension rising in the room--and took the little boy by the hand to Jaina's room. Once they were gone, Leia turned back on Callista.
"Look, Callista," she said sharply. "I don't know what's going on with you, but it stops now! I'm sorry your daughter is lost, but that does not excuse your behavior toward us. You're scaring me, you're scaring everyone else around you. Do you have any idea how close to the dark side you are?" She went over to clasp Callista's hands, her voice softening. "Callista, I know what you must be going through right now--" "No, you don't!" Callista shouted in a voice so loud that Leia was literally knocked back a few steps. She glared at everyone in the room, the anger seething in her heart. "Hope is my family; she's the most important thing in my life! If she dies, a part of me dies to. I've already lost one daughter; do I have to lose another one?"
Tears flooded in small rivulets down her sunken cheeks, but she made no move to wipe them away. "You can say whatever you want Leia, but I will not allow you to sacrifice my Hope, not even for the good of the Republic. I'm not going to lose Hope the way I lost Kara. Ever."
Leia stepped closer to her, her hands reaching out to touch her shoulders. "Callista, please, you have to listen to reason--"
Without even realizing it, Callista slapped Leia across the face so hard that the impact resounded in the waiting room. Leia stumbled back, one hand going up to her bruised cheek. Han stepped forth to interfere, but Callista pushed him back with the Force, sending him back into his seat. She stepped away from her group, her eyes wild with fury and paranoia and she looked at each and every one of them.
Luke remained still, unable to comprehend what had just happened. "Callista," he said in a weak voice. Callista ignored him and focused her eyes on Leia, who had backed away from her, obviously afraid. Her fear sent a thrill through Callista's blood. She liked it.
"I don't care if you're family or not," Callista growled, pointing an accusing finger at Leia. "But if my daughter dies at the hands of Xizor, I swear on my mother's grave that she won't be the only one who will die. I can promise you that." As everyone stared at her, horrified, she turned and strode out of the room.

Guri terminated the transmission, and Xizor smiled at her. "So, how do you think it went?" he asked with alacrity.
The Human Replica Droid nodded in approval. "Excellent work, my lord," she said. "No doubt, the entire city is in an uproar at this very moment."
Xizor's smile widened. He could almost imagine the look on Skywalker's face when his reptilian face appeared on every holovid screen in Imperial City. No one on the planet had been expecting this...no one.
"Do you think they'll heed to your demands?" Guri asked.
Xizor shrugged. "They will...or Hope will be killed. Either way, I win." He sat down on his throne and stared at the viewport of the sprawling city, imaginging the reactions of everyone in the metropolis who had heard his speech. "So...how did it go with the child?"
Guri frowned. "The little brat refused to take a bath," she said. "I tried to force her into the water--and even contemplated drowning her--but she somehow kept pushing me away with this strange, invisible power...I believe the Jedi call it the 'Force'. She is resting now in the quarters you requested for her."
The Black Sun prince nodded. "She has so much power," he hissed. "No wonder the Kerash warriors want her so badly."
As if on cue, his Rodian assistant entered the chamber. "My lord," he said in badly accented Basic. "The Kerash warriors have come for Hope."
Xizor flashed a grin at Guri. "See? These Kerash certainly do not waste their time." He nodded to his assistant. "Come. Let us go meet them."

Hope jerked awake with a scream as she sat up in her spacious bed. She had just had a horrible dream--a dream with lots of screams, people dressed in black, their faces unrecognizable, and so much blood spilling across her vision. Her blood. A cold stab of fear paralyzed Hope as she realized that something really bad was going to happen to her.

Callista stormed into her room and flung herself into her bed, finally letting out all the tears, the frustration, and the anger she had been bottling up for the past few days. Her body shook with sobs as she violently bashed her head over and over against the wall. She had never felt this horrible before...not even when her mother had died.
I can't believe what's happened to me, she thought as she continued crying. Images of her hand striking Leia, her hand going up to her face, her eyes wide with fear, shock, and betrayal... How would her family trust her now, after this? How could they ever forgive her?
The dark side...
She could feel the temptation, stronger than ever. It beckoned her, whispering dark thoughts into her mind. The more she felt her anger rise, the closer she was to the dark side. If she didn't control her feelings fast, it would be too late for her.
After minutes of sobbing, Callista tried to calm herself down. Using a technique Djinn had taught her, she closed her eyes and concentrated, allowing the Force to permeate her body, quell her burning emotions, send the darkness out of her heart. For a moment, it started to work, and Callista could feel herself calming down-- Until she heard an all-too-familiar voice.
Well, isn't this pathetic? The legendary Callista who punished her own daughter for joining the dark side if now slipping away as well. How...hypocritical.
Callista slowly turned around. The voice that had been haunting her for years in her dreams had finally returned to her. "Kara."
She looked around the room, waiting for her daughter to appear at any given moment.
But she didn't.
"Kara!" she shouted, her voice echoing. "I know you're in here! Show yourself! Come out and face me, or hide like the coward you are!" The anger she had worked to rid herself of immediately returned tenfold; she couldn't help it this time, and did not even bother to fight it. She could hear her daughter's laugh...in her mind. You amuse me, Mother. Do you really think I would show myself now...when my plans are now falling into place?
Callista realized that Kara was speaking to her in her mind from the spiritual realm, almost telepathically. No one could else hear her daughter but her.
What plans? she demanded, not opening her mouth, but communicating through the Force.
Oh, come now, Mother, Kara said. Don't tell my you've already forgotten. Who do you think is behind your daughter's disapperance?
Callista could feel the terrible realization sink in as everything started falling into place. Who else could have constructed the Cray droid other than someone who knew her personally?
I should have known it was you, Callista said in disgust. But then...maybe deep inside, I always knew, but afraid to admit it.
She could hear Kara laugh again, her voice low-pitched and chilling. You never fail to disappoint me, Mother. I knew you would figure it out sooner or later.
Why did you do it? Callista asked. How could you steal your own sister from me?
Perhaps I had best explain from the beginning, Kara said:
When you abandoned me shortly after I was born, I was taken in by an old couple who were descendants of the original nomads who founded the Kerash religion. They knew about it too; they kept one of the few written records about the Kerash, which had been passed down to them from generation to generation.
When I was old enough, I read through it and found out everything I needed to know about them: where they came from, their sun goddess Arak, the prophecy about the end of the world... After my foster parents had died, I continued learning about the Kerash. Even when I was under the tutelage of the Emperor, I was obsessed with them. Eventually, I went to the homeworld of the Kerash. The journey lasted many months, for the planet is located deep within unexplored space.
I finally found it, and saw that the planet was mostly made up of primitive villages, people who knew nothing about their glory days. Well...you might say I helped re-educate them with the tablets my foster parents left behind.
In years, I had gathered a cult made up of thousands of men and women, people willing to die for Arak...for me. I studied the ancient writings of the Kerash priests left behind in their temples, where I learned powers not even a Jedi could master, such the ability to possess another being, which was how I able I was able to take over your friend Tionne.
And what does Cray have to do with this? asked Callista. In her mind, she could feel her daughter smile.
I eventually left the Kerash homeworld, looking for you. You see, Mother, I had never forgiven you for leaving me behind for your own selfish purposes, and I was planning to get even. I tracked you down all the way to the Moonflower Nebula. I watched as you helped your dear husband destroy the Eye of Palpatine. I watched as Cray offered you her body so that you could have a chance for a new life.
When I saw you with Luke, I was overcome with so much rage. You now had a new life, and had completely forgotten about your own daugher.
Callista shook her head. Kara, I never forgot about you--
Silence! she hissed. I built Cray shortly after her death. I controlled her every movement, every thought. The Kerash knew this, too. They knew that she was merely a pawn, masquerading as their leader. She had no real power over them, and never did.
Callista nodded, waiting for her daughter to continue.
I eventually followed you to Yavin 4. There, I was surprised to find an ancient Kerash temple hidden deep within the jungle, untouched by human hands for eons.
Callista's eyes grew wider as she remembered. The temple we found you in, she said. It had been a Kerash stronghold.
Very good, her daughter chuckled. The temple had been built centuries before the Massassi's arrival, by the original nomads. The feline warriors I used against you and your friends were the spirits of the nomads, the ones who created the Kerash Order.
Callista recalled the ferocious battle in the temple, the screech of the cat-like beasts as they attacked Luke and the others, her duel with Kara as mother and daughter fought to the death-- --and Kyp's lightsaber slicing through her.
So, Callista said. You've been planning this from the very beginning. When you visited me on Dathomir, you told me that someone would be coming. And that someone is Arak, isn't it? The sun goddess of the Kerash. You plan on resurrecting her, don't you?
You catch on pretty quick, Kara said. I visited the Nightsisters when you were on Dathomir. I knew you would try to interfere with my plans, hence the vison of your death. I told the Nightsisters to make sure that it was carried out...and they failed.
But this time, there will be no failure. There will be no vision of death. This time, there is just the goddess Arak, who will bring death and destruction to the rest of the galaxy! Your daughter--my sister--and your nephew is the key.
That's why you've taken her, Callista said, gritting her teeth. And I want her back.
Kara laughed. Oh, I don't think so, dear Mother. You'll be lucky if you get to see your precious daughter's corpse when I'm finished with her. Consider it my revenge for what you have done to me.
What I have done? Callista shouted. It wasn't my fault that you let yourself be consumed by your anger. It wasn't my fault that you became the monster you are today. The only person you should be blaming, Kara, is yourself.
Be careful of what you say, Mother, her daughter said in a threatening voice. If you want Hope to live.
You lay one hand on her, and I swear by the Force I will--
You'll what? Kill me? Kara laughed. You won't do that.
Callista had to smile at that. Give me a reason not to.
There is something I must show you, her daughter said. Something I have kept hidden from you for over three years...
Darkness spilled across Callista's vision, and the world around her dissipated into oblivion...

Nighttime on Yavin 4. Most of the Jedi Academy was asleep now; Artoo-Detoo strolled down the dark corridors, keeping watch, but other than, the Padawans and teachers peacefully slept. Even when they weren't awake, their connections to the Force remained strong and alive.
Except for Callista.
Entering Cray's body had come with a great price. It had completely stripped her of her Force abilities, shutting her off from the great powers she had once wielded. It felt as if a very part of her soul, her essence, had been ripped away from her like a piece of her own flesh, never to return.
She was now with Luke again, the man she loved more than anyone else...and yet she couldn't help but feel a great emptiness every time she saw him use the Force.
Until this night.
As Callista slept in her bed, her chest slowly rising as falling as she breathed, a shadow towered over her, cutting her away from the dim light that radiated off the gas giant and through the small window in her room. Callista turned in her sleep as if she could unconsciously sense that someone was in her bedroom, but she did not wake up.
Kara stood over her mother, tracing one clawed finger lightly over her chin.
"Poor, dear Mommy," she whispered. "You traded your powers for another chance of life. Your connection to the Force is now gone, leaving you helpless and vulnerable to the dangers of the universe." She allowed an evil smile to slowly spread across her face. "But not for long," she added.
As Callista slept, Kara held her wrist over her head. Using one claw, she dug deep into the flesh, digging in until she drew blood. She held back a grimace of pain, careful not to wake her mother up. She watched as several small drops fell from her wrist and into Callista's mouth. Within seconds, she could feel the blood coursing through her mother's veins, reawakening her dormant powers. Her connection with the Force was once again established, as if it had never disappeared in the first place. Kara smiled, and left the room. Callista remained asleep, unaware of the powers she had regained...

Callista screamed as the vision disappeared, and she found herself in her room on Coruscant again. Her mind rang as she heard her daugher cackle.
Yes, Mother, she growled. I'm the one who gave you your powers back. And you should be grateful for that. Without them, you would have been a whimpering dog, lost and alone in the brutal universe. I did you a favor.
Callista's face was sticky with tears she had not known had fallen as she tried to form words. Why? she gasped.
Very simple, Mother. I knew that you valued the Force more than anything else in your miserable life, save for your husband and Hope. Your prized it more than you did your mother, your family...and even me. I gave you back what you wanted...but at a price.
What? Callista asked weakly, knowing that she did not want to know.
My blood still lives in your body, Kara said. It is what keeps your powers alive within you. If you kill me, Mother--and I know you will try to when you find me--you kill off your only connection to the Force. You will be blind to it once again, will lose the special bond you have with Luke and the other Jedi. You will be a normal human being, and will stay that way until the day you die. Doesn't sound very pleasant, does it?
Callista could barely contain the terror she felt as her daughter spoke those words. When she had first regained her lost powers, she had thought of it as a blessing. But now...everything she had believed in for the past three years had now been shattered by the reality of it all. If she killed Kara, she would lose her powers once again...and perhaps permanently.
And quite frankly, Mother, her daughter continued. I don't think you're able to sacrifice that. Her voice started to fade away. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. We will meet again, Mother...and this time, I will not be pulling any more punches...
Callista couldn't respond as her daughter's voice left her. She sank to her knees, completely at a loss of what to do or say. She couldn't even cry now.
It felt as if she would never be able to cry again.

"I can't believe Callista did that," Luke said sullenly as he sat down in the waiting room, watching as Leia held an ice pack up to her bruised cheek. "I have never seen her like this before. She has no idea how close she is to the dark side."
"Poor Mistress Callista," moaned Threepio.
"Losing her daughter is probably hurting her more than we had thought," Leia said. "I know how she feels."
"Well, I seem to recall that you never struck anyone when our kids were kidnapped," Han said, clearly angry over what had happened. "Callista had no right to do that. If she keeps this up, we're gonna have to lock her up."
"Master Han, are you sure that's wise?" Threepio asked. "After all, she's family."
"Well, family or not," Han snapped at the protocol droid, "that doesn't excuse what she did to Leia. I'm all for locking her up."
"No," Luke said sharply, meeting his brother-in-law's eyes. "That won't do you any good."
"Now, Luke, I know that she's your wife and all, but you have to admit...she's a bit borderline.
"You don't understand," Luke interrupted. "Callista is a Jedi Knight, remember? If we lock her up, she'll definitely find a way to escape. It would only be a matter of time."
Han sighed, and laid an arm around his wife. Luke couldn't help but sympathize with him. His own wife had been struck by someone very close to him. It had been a personal betrayal, and must have hurt very deeply.
"But we can't just let her wander around freely," Han pointed out. "She might end up getting someone--maybe even herself--hurt...or worse."
Luke nodded. "You're right." He stood up from his seat. "You can leave that to me."
Leia looked up at him, concerned. "Luke, are you sure--?"
"Look, I'm the only person Callista will listen to," the Jedi Master said. "If any of you try to step in, she'll just try to shut you out. Besides, you both have other, problems to worry about...like Black Sun, for instance."
Leia nodded, finally agreeing with her brother. "You're right. I'd better call Mon Mothma and arrange a Senate meeting. I'm still not sure what we're going to do against Xizor. And Chewie and Threepio can stay here with Jacen and Jaina, and make sure they're safe."
"You can count on me, Mistress Leia," Threepio said, standing straight and tall. "Besides, the children have missed several days of school. They'll need someone who can bring them their make-up work."
"I'll contact Isolder and the Hapan fleet," Han offered. "We could use the firepower."
"Good," Luke nodded. "I'll talk to Callista. Hopefully, I may be able to snap her out of it."
"Be careful," Leia said softly. Luke nodded, gave his sister a calm smile, and headed out of the waiting room.

Callista was curled in the window seat of the room she shared with Luke, contemplating the rain as it trickled down the transparisteel pane. Dialogues replayed in her mind:
"You're scaring me, you're scaring everyone else around you. Do you have any idea how close to the dark side you are?"
"Who do you think is behind your daughter's disappearance?"
"You will be blind to it once again, will lose the special bond..."
"She is coming..."
Frustrated, Callista pounded the window and made her way to the fresher. The apartment was dark; she hadn't bothered to turn on the lights. Inside the fresher, she stared at her reflection for several moments, before opening the medecine cabinet behind the mirror. She knew she wasn't going to find anything, but she wanted to confirm it for herself. She didn't know what she would have done if there had been anything in there anyway...
Callista wandered back into the sitting room and knelt in the center, closing her eyes and wondering what she could do.
Kara...
You called?
 Callista turned and looked over her shoulder, saw the dark form standing in darker shadows. "What are you doing here?" She demanded. I have a proposition for you, the figure thought-spoke. "And that is?"
I know where they are keeping Hope. I will take you.
"In exchange for what?"
Something that will be revealed in due time.
 Callista bit her lip. That probably meant it was something unpleasant. But what options did she have? Hope may die before too much longer, and Callista was sick of waiting for the official answers.
"Okay," she acceded. Ten minutes later, Callista scribbled a note for Luke on a sheet of flimsiplast, and she was gone.

Luke opened the door of his apartment. It was dark inside. "Callista?" he called.
No answer.
"Callista?" He called again. "Are you here?"
When she didn't answer this time, he began to worry. He checked the kitchen, the sitting room, the fresher, but she was nowhere to be found. Then he checked the bedroom. On the bed, he found a crumpled sheet of flimsi, on which was scribbled a note:

Dearest Luke,
I once told you that sometimes there is nothing you can do. This is not one of those times. I'm afraid I may lose my mind if I stay here and do nothing, especially after everything that happened today.
I've learned horrifying things about myself, things that Kara never told me before she died. If I can ever face myself again, if I can ever face you again, I have to make sense of it all, make it worthwhile. I know how I can do that.
Luke, please don't hate me. I've gone to find Hope. I spoke with someone who knows where she is, and they are taking me to her. Keep the peace on Coruscant; I will deal with this on my own.
I love you so much. I swear to you that I'll be back in a few days. But I have to find her, Luke. I can't stand her in danger.
Please don't try to call me. As soon as I get where I'm going, I'll contact you.
Love always,
Callista
PS: Please tell Leia I'm sorry, and Han too.

"Xizor's alive?" Jaina gasped as she sat up in her hospital bed. "But how? Didn't Mom and Dad kill him a long time ago?"
"I don't know," Jacen answered as he sat next to his sister. They were the only two people in the room. The grown-ups had all left the MedCenter. Chewie was standing outside the room, keeping watch, while See- Threepio had gone off to Jacen and Jaina's school to collect all the schoolwork they had missed--Oh, joy, Jacen thought.
"So, Hope and Anakin are gone?" Jaina asked sadly.
Jacen nodded. "From what the grown-ups said, Xizor and those warriors who attacked us wanted them for some reason."
Jaina sighed. "I don't get it."
"Yeah, me neither," Jacen replied. "Sometimes, I wonder if we'll ever be able to live a normal life like most kids do."
"No, I don't mean that," Jaina retorted. "I mean, why Anakin? How come every time some new bad guy comes, they always want Anakin? I mean, first Furgan, then Hethrir, and now Xizor? How come they're never interested in us? What are we, chopped liver?"
Jacen had to laugh at that. He knew his sister was just trying to lighten up the dark mood they were both in. "Well, whatever the reason, it's got the grown-ups yelling at each other," Jacen said sadly, the laughter instantly dying out. "Especially Aunt Callista. I think this whole thing has really hurt her."
"Yeah. I just wish we can see Hope and Annie again," Jaina as she laid back against her pillow, all the energy drained out of her.
Jacen gave her a sly smile. "Maybe we can," he said.
Jaina looked over at him. "Oh, no," she said. "What are you planning, Jacen?"
"Since the grown-ups are at each other's throats, I guess it's up to us to set things right," Jacen said.
Jaina groaned, knowing what was going to come next. "What do you have in mind?"
"I've got a plan. We're going to save Hope and Annie."

"Ah, welcome, Armenia," Xizor said as he and Guri entered the hangar bay. The Kerash warriors had just stepped out of their ship, the Fallen Moon, with Armenia in the lead. "So nice to have you in my humble abode."
Armenia merely nodded. "It is an honor to meet you again, Prince Xizor." She allowed a small smile to creep at the edges of her lipsticked mouth. "We saw your announcement on the holovid. Quite impressive, I must say, and definitely unexpected."
Xizor chuckled. "What can I say? I love surprising people." He looked around and noticed that the blond woman who had visited him earlier was not present. "Where is your leader, Cray Mingla?"
Armenia's emerald-green eyes hardened. "Your guess is as good as mine, Prince Xizor," she said coldly. "As far as I am concerned, she is dead...and I am now in charge of the Kerash."
The Falleen managed a simple shrug. "Well, none of that is any of my business anyway." He looked over at Guri. "I suppose you have come for the child."
The Kerash woman nodded. "If you please. She and the boy must be brought to Anasazi immediately."
"Then, by all means, do with her as you wish," Xizor said. "I have no further purpose with her."
Guri looked startled. "But, my lord, what about the ransom?"
"The Republic thinks that I have Skywalker's daughter," Xizor said, raising a hand to quiet his assistant. "That is all we need. I have no doubts that when they evacuate Coruscant, they will still believe that I am keeping the child in custody."
The HRD slowly nodded as things began to make sense. "I understand. So, both parties will get what they want."
"Exactly." Xizor flashed a guileful smile at Armenia and turned back to Guri. "Bring Hope here."

Hope got up from her bed, unable to shake this horrible feeling that something terrible was going to happen to her. She looked around her room to see if anyone or anything might jump out at her at that moment, but nothing happened. Not that it made her feel any better.
Get out of here, a voice whispered malevolently in her head. Get out of her, as fast as you can. They're going to hurt you if you stay...
Hope barely suppressed a whimper of fear, unable to control her trembling. Suddenly, everything began to make sense: Xizor wasn't as nice as she had thought he was. She didn't know why, but something inside her told her that he was planning on killing her. In just a matter of seconds, everything had changed.
"I've gotta get out of here," Hope whispered, as the dream returned to her in horrifying flashbacks. She could still see her blood, the flames that reached for her, the people in black surrounding her...
The door to her room suddenly slid open, and Hope shrank back against the wall as Guri entered, her face expressionless save for a frightening coldness in her eyes.
"Hope Skywalker," she said in a voice that almost melted Hope into ashes. "You're coming with me." She started toward the little girl, and Hope screamed.
"Get away from me!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Don't touch me!"
"Don't bother resisting," Guri said as she grabbed Hope violently by the wrist. "My lord has no further use for you. So we're giving you away to the Kerash. If you try to struggle, I'll have to break your arm."
Her mind on the verge of exploding, Hope let out a scream loud enough to burst the eardrums of a krayt dragon, and unconsciously used the Force to propel Guri back, sending her flying through the closet door. Hope stood there, motionless, for a fraction of a second. Then, when she saw Guri starting to get up, she took off running out of the room. Get out of here! the voice continued to whisper, slowly growing into a painful shriek. Get out! They're coming to get you! They're coming to get you!
Hope ran and didn't look back.

Sitting alone in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, in the hangar bay of the Imperial Palace, Han remembered the last time he had talked to Isolder. It had been at his and Teneniel Djo's wedding, just a few months after Han and Leia were husband and wife. The first time they had met, Isolder had been seeking Leia's hand in marriage in order for the Hapes Cluster to join the New Republic in the war against the Empire. Han immediately became untrustworthy--and maybe even a litte jealous--when he learned of this. As a result, Han ended up on kidnapping Leia and bringing her to the barren world of Dathomir. Isolder and Luke followed them, and together, they faced a myriad of Imperial warships, led by the now-dead warlord Zsinj, Nightsisters, the Singing Mountain Clan...and Isolder's future wife.
Now, Isolder and Teneniel were happily married, and had a daughter, Tenel Ka, who was living on Dathomir at the moment (for she despised Hapes). Teneniel was the Queen Mother of the entire system, and one of the most powerful leaders in the galaxy, backed up by an extremely worthy fleet. Which was what the Republic now desperately needed. Han took a deep breath as he contacted the Fountain Palace of Hapes.
It took a few moments before a fist-sized image of Astarta, Isolder's bodyguard, appeared on top of the console.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Astarta, it's Han Solo," Han replied. "I need to speak to Isolder. It's an emergency."
Astarta nodded, and her image disappeared, replaced almost immediately by one of Prince Isolder. Isolder certainly hadn't changed much since Han had last seen him. He was still tall, still handsome, and still held an aura of power and confidence that Han could feel inside the cockpit, despite the fact that he was only a holographic image.
"Well, long time, no see, Han," the prince replied with a chuckle. "How have you been?" Han offered him a tired smile. "Not good, I'm afraid. Listen, we've got a major problem here on Coruscant..."

Leia sat in her seat on the Chief of State platform, dressed in a white ceremonial robe as she addressed the New Republic Senate. Mon Mothma, the former Chief of State, stood to her left, and Admiral Ackbar, the commander of the Republic fleet, to her right. The Senate Hall was one of the most peculiar-looking chambers on Coruscant. It looked eerily like an arena or colosseum, with steel, circular walls surrounding over them, an an enormous roof that towered over the senators like a god about to pass judgement on them. Over a thousand senators from different worlds--worlds that had sworn allegiance to the New Republic--had gathered for the meeting today on their various platforms, all talking nervously amongst themselves. They had all seen the shocking announcement from Xizor the same time Leia had, and everyone was frightened by the return of an enemy they had once thought was vanquished.
Leia too was suffering an inner turmoil due to the recent revelation--which not only included Xizor, but also the apperance of the Cray Replica Droid, and the kidnapping of her son and niece--but something else bothered her, more than anything else that had happened in the past week.
It was Callista's frightening behavior. Leia's cheek still stung from the slap her sister-in-law had given her. Although it did hurt, even worse was the emotional pain she felt, a pain that would not heal for a long time. Callista was one of her closest friends, and was family. And to see her lose herself into the dark side terrified Leia to no end. She hoped Luke had found her by now. If anyone could talk some sense into Callista, it was Luke. Hopefully, he would find her before things got even worse.
Mon Mothma must have noticed Leia's uneasiness, for she laid a friendly hand on her shoulder. Leia looked over at the older woman and offered her a small smile, silently letting her know that she was all right. Mon Mothma was one of the strongest people Leia had even known. She had once nearly been assassinated by Caridan Ambassador Furgan when he splashed a poisonous drink onto her face. Thanks to Cilghal, Calamari's Ambassador and one of Luke's first students, the poison was neutralized and Mon Mothma survived, but she stayed in retirement, giving her position to Leia. Even so, she remained to be one of the most important figures in the New Republic.
Leia gave her a nod, and took a deep breath. It was now or never. Mon Mothma stood straight and tall and quieted the senators down as the meeting began, her voice magnified by hidden microphones in the walls. "The Chief of State of the New Republic wishes to address the Senate on this newest threat looming over the horizon." The various conversations between the senators immediately ceased, as all eyes fixed on Leia. She stood up from her uncomfortable seat and began to speak. "Members of the New Republic Senate," she began. "Apparently, an old enemy we thought to have been destroyed has returned like a phoenix from the ashes. Approximately two hours ago, Prince Xizor of Black Sun sent a broadcast thoughout Imperial City, informing us that he has my niece, Hope Skywalker, the daughter of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, in his clutches. His demands are that we evacuate Coruscant within forty-eight standard hours, or he will take Hope's life."
"This madman must be stopped!" said Senator Kracha, a three-eyed Gran from Malastare. "He must not be allowed to take over Coruscant. It will mean certain doom for the Republic."
"I understand that, Senator," Leia said, "but there are complications."
"Complications?" asked another senator, this one a Bothan. "What kind of complications? We cannot meet Xizor's demands. If we give him Coruscant, Black Sun will have won."
"But this is the daughter of Skywalker we are talking about," replied Senator Sayorga, a female Calamarian.
"Maybe so, but we're also talking about the life of one girl against the lives of billions upon billions of people," the Bothan senator shot back. "Are you willing to risk losing so much that we've worked hard to gain?"
Leia flinched at those words. She had said almost the exact same thing to Callista in the MedCenter. And she had meant it that one time. But now...
"I understand where you're coming from, Senator," Leia said, her voice booming across the Hall. "But there has to be another way."
"There is no other way!" Senator Gjorm, who represented the world of Munto Codru, exclaimed. "I know that this girl is your niece, Chief of State, but if we surrender, we'll be giving Xizor exactly what we wants. Absolute control over Coruscant. And we may not be able to get it back."
A Wookiee senator roared, echoing Gjorm's sentiment.
"That's where you are wrong, Gjorm," Mon Mothma said confidently, looking over at Leia. "You see, the Chief of State has a plan that will work."
Leia grinned at the old woman and looked over at the gathered senators. "As we speak, my husband is contacting the Hapan government. If things go well, they will sent all the firepower we have here. Whatever Xizor has at his disposal, it cannot possible be a match for an entire fleet of Hapan Battle Dragons."
"Sounds reasonable," the Bothan senator said. "But won't an orbital battle risk laying waste to Imperial City?"
"Yes," Leia nodded. "Which is why I plan to evacuate Coruscant as quickly as possible."
At that moment, the entire Hall erupted into a storm of shouting, as the senators displayed their disapproval. Leia held up her hands in an attempt to quiet everyone down. When the shouting was down to a minimum, she continued. "I know that you may not agree with me on this," she said. "But trust me, this is the best way. We don't know where Xizor is hiding, and he probably won't show up as long as Coruscant remains populated."
Realization started to dawn on the Bothan's face. "So, we flush him out?"
Leia nodded. "We'll take every ship we have, and evacuate every last citizen of Imperial City, and take them to the fringes of the system. Once the Hapans arrive, they--along with Ackbar's ships--will land on Coruscant and comb the planet for Xizor. And I guarantee that once everyone has left, Xizor will show himself, thinking that he has won."
"But are you sure that's enough?" asked another senator. "What if Xizor has a secret weapon that can thwart the Hapans?"
Leia held up a finger. "That's why I plan on making a trip to see the Barabels and the Verpines in the next hour or so. With Black Sun on the rise again, we'll need all the help we can get. The Verpines and Barabels are very powerful, and if we can arrange a peace treaty to end their long fued, we will emerge stronger than ever. And that, my friends, will guarantee victory for us."
The senators talked quietly amongst themselves, Leia's words starting to get to them.
"So there is no time to lose," Leia said as she prepared to close the meeting. "We evacuate Coruscant before forty-eight hours is up. Black Sun must be stopped once and for all."