Chapter 18
"Master Skywalker? Master Skywalker, wake up!"
Luke screamed as he awoke from his nightmare, the images of the funeral still dancing around in his head. He looked up and saw Cray standing over him, holding him by the shoulders, a concerned look on her face. He felt dizzy, and realized that she had been shaking him.
"Are you okay?" the HRD asked. "Leanna and I heard you scream. I was worried that--"
"I'm fine," Luke said, and coughed. He looked into Cray's eyes, and for a brief second, saw Aunt Beru again, saw her flesh melt away from her bones, the pus that broke from her skin...
The fire...
Luke took several deep breaths, and realized that he was sweating. He reached over and switched on the overhead lights, bathing the tiny room in white, and laid his head in his hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It was just..."
"...a bad dream," finished Cray, and nodded in understanding. "I've had plenty of those lately, believe me." Luke looked up at her, surprised that a droid was capable of having bad dreams.
"Tell me about them," he told her softly, just wishing to forget the horrific events that had transpired in his nightmare. He could still hear Beru's evil laughter deep in the back of his mind.
Cray sighed and seated herself on the end of the cot, placing her hands uncomfortably on her knees. "I guess that..." She seemed at a loss for words. She looked over at Luke. "Your wife, Callista, told me about what happened on the Eye of Palpatine." Luke nodded, remembering. "She told you about...the death of the real Cray?"
The droid nodded. "What's ironic about that is that I thought I was the real Cray. For a very, very long time. The Kerash programmed me to think that. And when Callista finally told me the truth about what happened to Nichos and me...I didn't want to believe it. I refused to believe that all these years was all for nothing. But...the sad thing is, they were." She looked away from him. Luke wiped some sweat dripping down his cheeks--despite the coldness of the small room, he was sweating like a Gamorrean--and moved closer to Cray, wishing he could do more for her.
"I'm sorry that this had to happen to you," he said softly, laying a hand on her arm. "And I'm sorry too," Cray admitted. "For trying to kill you and Callista. And for allowing the Kerash to kidnap your daughter and nephew. I was--"
"Misguided, that's all," Luke said. "Don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault that the Kerash programmed you to be like this. We'll get the children back...and make the Kerash pay for all the terrible things they have done to us."
Cray nodded, and she offered him a smile. "Thank you," she said.
"How's Leanna doing?" Luke asked.
The HRD shrugged. "Okay, I guess. She's just so laconic; she refuses to talk about anything. I've seen dursateel walls that are friendlier than her. Something must be wrong with her."
"I think I know what it is," Luke said quietly, focusing on the open doorway that led out into the corridor leading to the cockpit.
"What do you think it is?" asked Cray curiously.
"I'll tell you later," Luke answered, as he rose from the cot and donned his Jedi robe. "If you'll excuse me, Cray, Leanna and I need some time alone together."
Cray nodded and watched as Luke left the room. He reached the cockpit within seconds, and saw Leanna in the pilot's seat, focused on the viewscreen. She remained as still and silent as a statue, even when Luke came in.
"How are you doing?" he asked her casually as he seated himself in the seat next to her.
"We'll be at Anasazi in ten standard minutes," was all Leanna said in reply, and continued her silence. Luke nodded, and the two sat together in silence, a slight wall of tension building between them. The only sound in the room was the hum of the ship's hyperspace engines. Luke relaxed, waiting for Leanna to make the first move. She finally did.
"He killed my family," she said in so brisk a tone that Luke almost missed it. He looked over at her, not at all surprised.
"Who?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"You know damn well who," Leanna snapped, causing Luke to smile. She was a woman not easily fooled, and he had to admire that. "The Hutt-slime formerly known as Boba Fett." Her eyes still remained glued to the viewscreen, but the barriers around her were starting to tumble down.
"What happened?" Luke said softly. Not commanding, just encouraging.
"It was on my ninth life day," Leanna explained. "I was having such a wonderful time. I was at home with my mother, father, brother, and little sister. We were getting ready to celebrate my life day...when we were attacked." She paused, as if replaying the events all over again in her head, and continued, "My parents were in the kitchen when it happened. They were killed when the roof collapsed down upon them. My brother was knocked unconscious as well. My sister and I managed to get out in time...and I decided to go back inside, to save the rest of my family."
She stopped, the faintest shimmer of tears glimmering in her ice-blue eyes. Luke considered reaching out to comfort her, but decided that sympathy was the last thing Leanna wanted at the moment. Instead, he sat back and waited for her to continue.
"As I was going back into what was left of our house, I saw him. Fett had my sister, Llia, in his arms, and he was dragging her away. I tried to save her, but he knocked me out with a stun beam. By the time I woke up, it was..." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"There was nothing you could have done," Luke said gently, echoing the same words Leia had told him when he had watched Vader kill Obi-Wan.
Leanna nodded. "You're right. There wasn't. And because of that, my parents are dead, my brother is in a hospital, still in a coma, and my sister is gone. I loved Llia more than anyone else I have ever known...and she was just taken away from me." For the first time, she glanced over at Luke. "Do you have any idea how that feels, Jedi Master, to see your family just taken away from you like that? And unable to do anything about it?"
Yes, Luke thought. Many times, in fact. The memories of seeing the charred corpses of Owen and Beru returned, along with the image of Beru in his dream...
"I can't say that I completely understand what you're going through, Leanna. But I do want you to know that revenge will never make things right. Killing Fett didn't bring your family back."
Rather than argue with him, as he had expected, Leanna nodded in agreement. "I know. For a long time, I believed otherwise. But when I finally had the perfect opportunity to kill Fett...I couldn't take it. He wasn't worth killing, and when I finally realized that...I didn't want to live anymore. I was just hoping for my suffering to end, my nightmare to end. If I can't get my family back...then I have no other reason for living."
This time, several tears began to fall from her hardened eyes.
"That's not true," Luke said. "You do have a reason for living. Your brother and your sister. Your sister may still be alive somewhere, waiting for you to find her, so you can be together once again. And your brother is not dead, either. He may be in a coma, but there is still a chance he may wake up. I was in a coma once as well..."
Leanna sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice slightly weak. "I'm usually a lot stronger than this..."
"Don't be sorry. Grieving for your loved ones is never a sign of weakness. Trying to hide your feelings is." This time, Luke reached out to her, putting his hand on her back, and she didn't argue. "Listen to me, Leanna. You're a good person. And if you don't find your sister...then I'll do everything in my power to help you."
Through the curtain of tears, Leanna gave him a surprised look. "You would do that for me, Jedi Master?" she asked.
Luke smiled. "It's what Jedi do."
A smile broke across Leanna's face, and she nodded in acceptance. "Thank you very much," she said, and turned back to the controls. "We should be coming out of hyperspace any minute now."
Luke sighed, as he watched the starlines revert back to white pinpricks in the black sky as the Silver Wings came out of lightspeed. "How tough are these Kerash?" he asked. "Pretty tough," Leanna admitted. "They show no mercy to anyone who stands in their way. And if what Cray is saying about Arak is true...then they'll become invincible. It'll take more than Jedi to beat them if they succeed in freeing Arak from Raximidaj."
Luke nodded, as he looked upon the planet of Anasazi. A chill ran through him as the Silver Wings closed in on the jungle planet. He sensed something, a dark, long-evil presence deep within the heart of the planet, a force of unbelievable power, power he had never felt before...
The image of Beru returned to him, along with the flames, and the jungle, and the skeletons, and the charred being, and the eclipse...
I'm sorry, Luke. I couldn't stop her...
He suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
We'll be together forever, right, Lea?
Yeah, we will, Llia. Together forever, in our hearts.
Llia laid upon the small hay-stuffed mattress in her tiny cell, on the thin line between life and death, her eyes staring endlessly upon the cracked ceiling. She barely moved a muscle, for any amount of movement--whether big or small--caused a tremendous mountain of agony to burn through her back.
The purification had lasted for almost two hours. And it had been the most painful two hours she had ever imagined. Worse than all the times Armenia had punished her for being bad. All she could remember was her own screaming, and an endless stream of pure agony as the fire-poker burned deep into her back...
After the purification, Armenia had brought Llia out of the temple dungeons, and into a small room on the higher levels. She had laid her unceremoniously on the uncomfortable cot, not even bothering to tend to her wounds. She had gazed down upon her, disgust and apathy evident on her face.
"I hope you have learned your lesson, my dear cousin," Armenia had snarled. "I shall return after the Ritual of the Coming. If you're still alive, then that will be fine. If not...oh well." Without another word, she had turned and left. That had been hours ago. Llia had remained on the cot, unmoving, wincing as the hay sticking out of the worn-out mattress dug into the wound in her back. Her nerves shuddered with pain, and she wished that she could just fall unconscious, if only to make the pain go away. Her injury was grievous; her spine clearly showed through the gaping hole. The wound had been cauterized, so there was no blood, but that didn't alleviate the pain any. And as she laid there, not sure whether she would live or die, she thought of Leanna.
I'm sorry, Leanna, Llia thought sadly, on the verge of tears. I tried to help Hope and Anakin...but I failed. Armenia is too strong for me. For so many years, I resisted her, but I was only delaying the inevitable. And now look at me. I'm dying.
Don't give up, sis, she heard Leanna say. She knew it wasn't really her voice, just her deranged mind whispering lies into her ears. You can beat her. I know you can. You just have to have faith.
I must be going crazy, Llia thought with a small bit of amusement. Now I'm talking to voices in my head. She stared up at the ceiling as time slowly dripped away. Her sister's words echoed in her head, never going away.
Together forever, in our hearts.
The ceiling started to move, take shape. Llia's eyes widened, wondering if she was seeing things. For seconds, the ceiling seemed to move, and coalsced into a very familiar face--
"Lea?" she gasped.
Leanna's face stared down at her with a smile. "I'm here, little sis," it whispered. "I'm sorry Armenia hurt you. But I know you can make it. You're one of the strongest people I've ever known. You can do it. I know you can."
"But, how?" Llia asked, not caring if anyone heard her. "I'm beaten. Even now, the Kerash are preparing for Arak's return. How can I stop them without you?" She began to sob, reflecting back on happier times, when she still had her family, before the bounty hunter had taken her away. "I need you, Lea. I need you with me. You're the only true family I have left."
"I know," Leanna said softly, her voice so beautiful and real. Llia had missed hearing her voice. "And we will be together soon, Llia. I'm coming to save you."
Her words sparked a new sense of hope in Llia. She gazed up at the ceiling, into Leanna's eyes. "You...You're coming?" she asked hopefully.
The face nodded. "Yes, I am." Llia could barely contain the smile that spread across her face, despite the terrible pain. She had been burning to hear those words for so long. After years of praying, years of doubting, her wish had finally come true. Her sister was coming to rescue her. And they would be together again.
Tears of joy fell down her cheeks, spilling onto the hay-covered mattress. Llia wiped them with one grimy hand, and smiled up at the ceiling, just as her sister's face began to disappear...
"No!" she shouted weakly, stretching one hand up, longing to touch Leanna's face just once, before it went away. The joyful tears turned into desperation as Leanna left her once again. "Please, don't go! Don't leave me again, Lea! Please!"
"I'm here, Llia." The voice sounded so close. Llia gasped as she felt a cold hand touch her shoulder, a shadow loomed over her. She turned around, expecting to see Armenia glaring down at her-- --and instead found Leanna.
"Leanna?" Llia choked, sobbing even harder than before. "By Sheherhera, it can't be you--"
"I'm sorry, child, but I'm not her," Leanna said softly, with no trace of menace or evil. Despite her words, she radiated with goodness and light. She may not be Leanna, but Llia knew that she was good. "I have taken your sister's form. Leanna is indeed heading here even as we speak. And you two will be reunited once again."
She waved a hand slowly in front of the child's face, and in her mind's eye, Llia saw a ship coursing through Anasazi's atmosphere. The Silver Wings was stenciled on its side, and inside, she saw Leanna at the controls, a determined expression on her face, as she prepared to land on the planet. The spirit hadn't lied. Leanna was truly here, looking for her! "It is her!" Llia exclaimed, elated beyond belief. She looked up at the spirit with grateful eyes. "Thank you so much! I don't know how to...what about Armenia?"
"The Kerash are about to begin the Ritual of the Coming," the spirit said gravely. "The eclipse is almost complete. Leanna will soon be here, along with the Skywalkers, and the rebels, but they need your help. You must go to the Main Hall, and free Hope and Anakin before their blood is drawn, and the portal to Raximiaj opens."
Llia felt her relief at seeing her sister again evaporate into overwhelming despair. "But...how? The purification...I can't..."
"I know," the spirit said. "I need you to relax..." She sat Llia up, careful not to cause any pain. Llia let her do so, wondering what the spirit was planning to do. She felt her cool hand brush lightly against the wound in her back. The spirit, still in the form of her sister, closed her eyes and began humming. Within seconds, Llia felt the wave of pain start to dissipate. Her wound began to close up under the spirit's touch, healed by her goodness. The burnt tissue disappeared, replaced by healthy, newborn flesh. In no time at all, all traces of the wound had been wiped out. Llia sat still on the mattress, feeling more alive and rejuvinated than she had been since she had been taken away from her family. Her body felt new and strong. It was as if she had been given a second chance of life. She looked up at the spirit, amazed.
"You...healed me?" A sudden epiphany came to her as everything fit into place. "You're the Shemra, aren't you? The essence of the Force itself?"
The spirit nodded. "Yes. Now, you must go, Llia. You still have time. I shall return when the time comes." As she spoke, she became more transparent, fading away into nothingness. "Good luck, Llia. May the Force be with you."
The spirit disappeared, leaving Llia alone once again, healed and filled with hope. The little girl quickly rose from the mattress, and opened the door to her cell. Surprisingly, Armenia had forgotten to lock it. Either that, or the Shemra had unlocked it for her...
She checked the darkened hallway to make sure no one was around, saw no one, and then headed for the Main Hall. Outside, the sky turned a dark purple-black as the moon blocked out the sunlight. The spirit had been right; the eclipse was almost finished. The Kerash would soon begin the ritual...and she had to get there before that happened.
As the Silver Wings landed in a clearing in the jungle, a flood of memories returned to Leanna. She had not seen Anasazi in so many years, it felt like she was in a dream...or rather, a nightmare. Her family had rarely spoken of Anasazi in the years after they had left the treacherous world. Her brother sometimes, in an attempt to scare the living Force out of her, would tell her "ghost stories" of the Kerash cutting open the chests of their victims and eating their hearts.
Her parents, however, seemed to want to just forget about their dark past and move on with their lives. And now, Leanna was reliving her nightmare. It was a nightmare worse than Boba Fett, worse than losing her brother and sister. It was the nightmare of facing a true god. She remembered little about her life on Anasazi, but what little she did remember was terrifying. She remembered seeing black-robed people bursting through the homes in her village, dragging screaming children from their parents's arms, taking them to the Temple of Arak. Leanna herself had almost been one of those children.
As Leanna shut down the ship's engines, she saw the eclipse in the sky through the viewport, just as her brother had told her in his stories. She looked over at Skywalker, and saw that his face had turned pale, as if he had just seen an apparition.
"Are you okay, Skywalker?" she asked.
Skywalker barely nodded. "The eclipse...it was in my dream."
Leanna nodded in understanding--What is it with Jedi and their dreams?--and unbuckled her crash webbing. "It's been years since I've seen this place. So I'm not quite sure where the temple is located. You'll have to use your Force tricks if you want to find the Kerash..."
Skywalker nodded as he followed after her, a distant look in his blue eyes. "Right. I'll do that." Something else seemed to be bothering him, something more than just the eclipse, and she briefly wondered asking him about it...but Leanna let that go. She knew all about keeping secrets...
The group had been traveling for over two and a half hours now, and Callista was starting to get tired. Kieran had offered her a jug of water, which she had gratefully accepted, and drank freely. The last few weeks had now taken its toll on her, and she longed for just a few minutes of rest. But she knew that rest would come later. Right now, she had to focus on the here and now, on reaching the Temple of Arak before it was too late. She had no time to think about her own personal needs, when the lives of billions hung in the balance. As they walked, several of the Kerash rebels regarded Callista with respectful nods and bows wherever she went. Callista returned their gestures with a smile of gratitude, allowing herself just a brief second to let her ego swell at the thought of being worshipped like a goddess. But it went away as quickly as it had arrived, and grim, dark reality returned. "The eclipse is almost complete," Kieran observed, looking up at the dark night sky. Callista followed his gaze, up to where the moon had almost completely cut off the sun's rays, shrouding Anasazi in darkness. "By now, the Kerash are preparing for the Ritual of the Coming. We must quicken our speed if we are to get there in time."
"How long does this ritual last?" Callista asked the rebel leader, her boots crunching against the fallen leaves on the ground. Kieran shrugged. "I'm not sure. Hours, maybe minutes. The Kerash begin the ritual as soon as the eclipse is finished. First, they draw the blood of the Vessel, the child chosen to be purified. Then the blood of the Bond is drawn, and the blood is mixed into a bowl, causing a rip in the fabric of space to open." Callista felt her stomach wrench at the mention of her daughter's blood. The idea of these vile people using her own daughter's blood to open a portal sickened her to no end.
"Once the blood is mixed," continued Kieran, "the Vessel must drink. This will finalize the opening of the portal, and Arak will be freed from Raximidaj."
"Just like that?" Callista asked.
Kieran nodded grimly. "Just like that." Through the last few bits of sunlight that managed to penetrate the barrier of the moon, Callista could see the despair and fear on his face.
"Then we have to hurry," Callista said, as the group continued their sojourn through the jungle. For hours no one spoke, the only sounds the occasional howl of the jungle animals and the crunching of dead, fallen leaves and twigs on the ground. The scuffling sound of footsteps up ahead startled the group, and as a unit, they ground to a halt. Callista tensed, expecting a group of Kerash warriors to pop out from the trees and attack.
"Did anyone else hear that?" she asked quietly, in a hushed whisper. Kieran nodded. "Trahman, Shekshke, come with me. Let's find out who it is."
"I'm coming with you," Callista offered. Kieran offered her a surprised look.
"But, Callista, are you sure that's--"
"Don't argue with me!" she snapped, careful not to speak too loud, for fear of provoking their uninvited guests. "I can take care of myself." Kieran nodded, as if suddenly realizing that Callista was not a frail, helpless, woman, and didn't argue any further.
Together, they, along with Trahman and a young woman named Shekshe, broke off from the main group and headed for the bushes straight ahead, where the footsteps had been heard. Callista heard another rustle, the sound of someone moving against a bush. More foosteps...it sounded like two, maybe three people at the most. Callista tightened her grip on the sword Kieran had given her earlier, ready for the worst. Next to her, she saw the other three do the same.
Suddenly, without any warning, a group of shadow-concealed figures emerged from the bushes, wailing at the top of their lungs. Callista and her companions cried out in shock and stepped back, preparing to fight their enemies to the death, when Callista realized-- "Jacen? Jaina?"
Jacen, Jaina, and Tenel Ka ceased their screams, and they looked up at the four adults. Realization dawned on each of their faces. "Aunt Callista?" Jaina gasped.
"We thought you were bad guys!" Jacen exclaimed.
After another hour of walking, the group finally stopped and set up a camp in the jungle, allowing the rebels a few moments of much-needed rest before they went into battle.
Overhead, the eclipse was close to completion, shutting out almost every last shred of sunlight left. Kieran had taken a small team of Kerash rebels with him into the depths of the jungle, looking for any of Armenia's warriors who might be searching for them. They would be back within moments, and by then, everyone would have to continue their journey again.
This gave Callista the perfect opportunity to be with her niece and nephew again. The number of rebels totalled to around two or three hundred people, and Callista watched as they mingled with one another, their voices hushed whispers in the cold night. She could sense the tension floating in the air, as thick as a blanket. These people were not deluded about what was to come; they knew very well that their chances of surviving was slim to none, and yet they were still determined to carry on with their mission. Callista had to admire that.
She sat around a small campfire with Jacen, Jaina, and Tenel Ka. As they waited for Kieran's group to return, they exchanged stories about their recent adventures in the past few weeks. Callista listened with fascination- -and even a little amusement--as Jacen and Jaina reenacted their arrest in the Rimdarian System, while Callista told them about her fight with Armenia, Emna, Sonya, destroying Xizor's clones, and fighting Xizor on the Fallen Moon. She was careful to leave out any information about the purification ritual, Xizor's seduction over her, and Ben...
Jacen and Jaina listened to her story with awe. "Wow!" Jacen gasped. "You actually kicked Xizor's sorry butt?"
Callista nodded. "I gave him a beating he would never forget. It serves him right for what he tried to do to me." By the looks on their faces, she knew they wanted her to elaborate, but she decided to change the subject. "I just hope the Republic managed to thwart Black Sun's plans."
Jaina scoffed. "Don't worry, Aunt Callista. Black Sun's made up of nothing more but a bunch of losers with too much free time on their hands. They don't stand a chance against the New Republic."
"So," Callista said, "what brings you three children here?"
Tenel Ka, who had remained silent for the most part, sharpening her ornamental dagger, piped up, "While on Dathomir, we were visited by the Force."
Callista was taken aback by her answer. "Really?" she asked, recalling her own unexpected encounter with the living essence of the Force itself while in her trance.
Jacen nodded. "Yeah. It was so cool! It told us stuff about the universe depending on us, and how we had to save it from evil. That's how we knew how to get here. The Force told us to go to Anasazi...so, we did."
"Which brings up another question," Callista said. "Why did you two leave Coruscant in the first place? Your parents must be worried sick about you."
Jacen and Jaina both exchanged guilty looks. "Um...they don't know that we're gone," Jacen finally admitted.
"Yeah," Jaina added. "We left without telling anyone." When she noticed Callista's surprised expression, she hastily added, "But it was for a good cause. We were trying to save Hope and Annie. Were we wrong to do that?"
Callista had no idea how the answer that. She, too, had left Coruscant to search for her missing daughter...and she had left without telling anyone. Except Luke, and she didn't even tell him where she was going. A new pang of guilt stabbed her as she thought of him, how worried he must have been right now. Instead of chiding the children for their rash behavior, Callista gathered the two in her arms and hugged them.
"No, Jaina, you weren't," she said lovingly. "You both did what you thought was right. You wanted to help your family. That's never a wrong thing to do." She kissed Jaina's crown, and stroked her fingers through Jacen's hair. "I love you both so much."
"Are you still mad at Mommy?" Jaina suddenly asked, gazing up at Callista with sad eyes. "I mean, you guys seemed pretty upset with each other when..." She trailed off, looking away from her, as if afraid to incur her wrath.
Callista sighed, as she stroked Jaina's long brown hair. "No, I'm not mad at your Mommy," she said solemnly, the image of her slapping Leia in the MedCenter haunting her. "I was never mad at her. I was just...mad with myself."
Jaina looked up at her, surprised. "Yourself?"
Callista nodded. "For a long time, I blamed myself for losing Hope and Anakin. And...rather to talk about my feelings to the people I loved the most, I decided to take my anger out on them. It was a huge mistake, and I'm not proud of it at all." Her voice lowered, almost to a whisper. "I just hope your Mommy and Daddy can forgive me..."
"Callista?" asked Jacen.
Callista smiled down upon him. He looked so much like his father. "What is it, child?" "What's going to happen to Hope and Annie?" The question was so unexpected, and full of pain and sadness, so brutally honest, that Callista almost burst into tears. Kieran's words returned in her mind, telling her of the Ritual of the Coming. There was no way she could tell her nephew and niece that Hope and Anakin were going to...
"I don't know, Jacen," she answered, brushing aside the little boy's tousled brown hair and kissing his forehead. "I don't know."
"Nothing will happen to them, Jacen my friend," Tenel Ka suddenly said, the firelight shining in her granite-gray eyes. "For we will soon set them free from the hands of the Kerash. My husband will return safely, just wait and see."
Callista smled at hearing Anakin referred to as Tenel Ka's "husband". A little humor was definitely welcome in a dire time as this. She heard Jacen and Jaina giggle as well. Tenel Ka looked at them, obviously not getting the joke.
"Was it something I said?" she asked, matter-of-fact. Jacen piped up, "You know what? That reminds me of another joke--"
Callista was prepared to groan in mock-misery at the mere mention of her nephew's adorable, but not-very-funny jokes, when Trahman headed over to them.
"Someone's coming," he said in an urgent tone. Callista and the children exchanged worried looks, and she stood up, setting the twins back down. Together, she and Trahman headed over to a group of rebels, who were fully armed.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"We're not sure," Shekshke replied quietly. "But whoever it is, they're in for one hell of a surprise."
"But it could be Kieran," Callista suggested.
"Better safe than sorry," Trahman said, arming himself with two small, but lethal-looking, daggers. The sound of approaching footsteps silenced the group, and they stood as still as the dead, waiting. A figure burst into the camp. One glimpse at her told Callista that she was a friend.
"Cray?" she gasped, unable to stop from smiling.
The HRD looked around at the gathered warriors, perplexed. "Force, what is with me and being greeted by armed people? I swear, it's like a curse--"
"What are you doing here?" asked Callista, lowering her sword. Slowly, one by one, the others did the same, realizing that this new arrival was not their enemy.
Cray offered Callista a sly smile. "You'll never guess who I've brought back." She gestured toward two other people who joined her from the shadows. One was a woman Callista had never seen before, looking very much like the other Kerash. When she looked over at the second person--she didn't even need to look to recognize him--a gasp of shock and joy escaped her lips. In the name of Chad, it can't be...
"Luke?"
"Callista?"
Callista and Luke stood there, eyes locked upon each other. It seemed like an eternity to her. For a long time, neither spoke. No one in the group spoke; all eyes were on them, as if worried that they were enemies rather than friends. Emotions played across Callista's face: surprise, joy, guilt...Images danced before her eyes: their last fight in the MedCenter, her slapping Leia, Luke's horrified expression...
She saw Luke smile then, and all the tension went away in an instant. "Luke," was all she said, feeling tears start to slide down her cheeks. She had cried so much in the past few weeks, but this was the first time in a long time that she cried tears of happiness. "Luke, it's really you."
"Callista," Luke said, and they fell upon each other in a tight embrace. The tears flowed more steadily now, as Callista wept on her husband's shoulder. All her fears melted away as she fell into Luke's strong arms.
"Oh, by the Force, Luke. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She remained close to him, afraid that she would lose him again if she let go.
"It's okay, Callista," Luke whispered in her ear, stroking her hair. "I'm here."
"Uncle Luke!" Jacen and Jaina exclaimed, as they rushed to greet their uncle. They grabbed him happily by the legs, squealing with delight.
"Jacen? Jaina?" Luke said, as he stared down at the two children in bewilderment. "What are you two doing here?"
"It's a long story, believe me," Callista said, as she broke from their embrace. "So, you got my message?"
Luke nodded gravely. "Leanna filled me in on the details." He gestured over to the white-skinned woman who had accompanied him and Cray. He then turned to face the Kerash rebels gathered around them, as if just noticing them for the first time. "Did we interrupt something?"
Trahman shook his head. "Not at all."
He looked from Luke to Callista. "You know each other?"
Callista nodded, and smiled at Luke. "He's my husband, Trahman."
Trahman and the others stepped back in shock, conversing with each other in the native language, as they gazed upon the Jedi Master. "You are the husband of the Fyorga?" he asked, a mix of awe and skepticism. "The Angel of Light?"
Luke gave Callista a quizzical glance and mouthed, "Angel of Light?"
Callista chuckled. "I'll explain later." She gestured to the rebels, who still regarded Luke with curiosity. "These people are on our side. We have to stop the Kerash from performing the Ritual of the Coming."
Luke nodded. "Leanna told me about it. Something about bringing a goddess from another dimension into our world." His eyes scanned the dark jungle. "I can sense an evil on this planet. Something dark...and powerful..."
"That's why we must stop them," Callista explained. "They already have the Bond they need to free Arak." Her voice lowered as she added, "Luke, they have Hope and Anakin."
"What?"
"Hope and Anakin are the Bond. That's why the Kerash kidnapped them in the first place. They share the connection needed to free Arak." Callista could see the panic start to spread across his face.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go; we don't have much time."
Trahman stepped forth, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Calm yourself, sir. Our leader still has not returned yet from the jungle. We need him if we are to go up against the Kerash forces."
"But my daughter!" Luke protested. "My nephew! They're--"
"Luke," Callista said softly, wrapping her arm gently around his waist. "These people know what they're doing. We need to know what we're up against. If we go now without knowing how many warriors the Kerash have at their disposal, that'll only get us killed. We can't let that happen."
Luke seemed to calm down a bit, and he nodded.
"Kieran shall return momentarily," Trahman said, and he looked over at his companions. "Let us give the Fyorga and her husband some time alone."
The rebels obeyed and dispersed to focus on their own tasks. Leanna and Cray followed suit, discussing something amongst themselves. Jacen and Jaina also left them alone, and returned to the campfire to talk with Tenel Ka. Now alone, Callista smiled at her husband. "I'm so glad you're here," she said.
Luke nodded in reply. "And I am too, my love."
"Are...Are Han and Leia..." Callista could not find the right words to choose from. "Are they still mad at me?" Again, she saw herself striking Leia across the face, the pain and horror in her eyes. It kept replaying, over and over again, refusing to leave her alone.
Luke shook his head. "They're not. They're just worried about you. As was I." He kissed her on the forehead. Callista felt a cool, tingling sensation at the feel of his lips, a feeling that she relished. It was something she had not felt for a long time.
"Callista, I was so terrified for you. I thought for sure that you had fallen to the dark side. We all did."
Callista nodded, feeling another wave of tears. "I know. I'm so sorry, Luke. I don't know what came over me. I was just so frustrated, and helpless. I blamed myself for losing Hope..."
"Don't say that, my love," Luke soothed, wiping the slithering tears from her cheeks with his fingers. "This was never your fault. Remember that. The only people to be blamed are the Kerash." He hugged her again, his arms wrapping around her back. "We'll get them back, Callista. Trust me."
Callista smiled and nodded. "I know we will." A strange sense of peace flooded her, despite everything that was happening, that was going to happen. Somehow, being with Luke just made everything seem better.
You have to tell him, you know? You have to tell him sooner or later. About Xizor, and Ben...
Yes, I know. And I will tell him, when I feel ready...
"Tell me what?" asked Luke, pulling away from her. Callista smiled, disguising the fear she felt, and shook her head. "Nothing, my love."
That night, as the rebels awaited Kieran's return, they fell asleep together beside the campfire.
It was almost time. Tsin, donning his finest ceremonial robes, stood in the center of the Main Hall, surrounded by a circle of hooded, humming priests. The only light came from the torches from the walls. Other than that, the chamber was as dark as a tomb. It was not last for long, however.
A mound of human skeletons were mounted on the floor, in front of the altar. The bones would be used to light a great bonfire, signifying Arak's return from Raximidaj. Armenia would soon be here with the Bond. Kinshur, the Vessel, was already ready. Tsin looked over at the crippled boy, who had been nailed into the far wall, in a spread-eagled position, above the statue of Arak. Blood flowed from his punctured wrists and ankled, spilling onto the floor.
The priests continued humming, while Tsin began the Kerash chant. Off to one side, a Kerash warrior pounded rhytmically on a pair of drums, sending a loud boom! boom! boom! through the chamber.
"As it was written, the eclipse shall come. Darkness shall swallow the light. And the blood shall be drawn."
The circle of priests slowly raised their hands into the air, their chanting growing louder, pointing up at the ceiling. Tsin's eyes went up at the ceiling, focusing on the center. "O Mighty Arak," he bellowed. "Hear our plea! Let the walls of Raximidaj be opened! Let the blood of the Vessel and the Bond be your doorway to freedom! Let your followers be rewarded...and your enemies be crushed under your mighty fist!"
He raised his hands up at the ceiling, his eyes squeezed shut, summoning the powers of the ancient gods. In his mind's eye, he saw the eclipse, high above the temple ceiling.
"Open!" he shouted, and the priests repeated his command. The ceiling began to move, opening up. It slid to the right, operated by a link of chains being pulled by dozens of slaves on the roof. The dark black sky was exposed, and Tsin saw Anasazi's largest moon, Fhedra, blocking the final bursts of light from the sun.
"Darkness shall swallow the light," Tsin murmured. "And the blood shall be drawn." "Darkness shall swallow the light, repeated the priests, to the sound of the drums. "And the blood shall be drawn."
"The doorway will open into Raximidaj," Tsin continued. "And Arak will be brought into our world."
"The doorway will open into Raximidaj. And Arak will be brought into our world."
Tsin looked up at the sky, and watched as the last pitiful vestiges of light from the sun was extinguished, hidden by the moon.
The eclipse was complete.
"It's time," Tsin said.
*
Callista's sleep was far from peaceful. As she drifted away into forgetful blackness, far away from the grim problems of reality, far away from the worries of the Kerash and Arak, she dreamed horrible nightmares...nightmares that felt so real that she was afraid she could never wake up.
She was once again trapped in her room on the Fallen Moon. The guards were once again holding her down, forcing her still. Xizor was there, giving her that look--that look that set her emotions on fire. Some rather...disturbing news has come to my attention. You...are with child. Is this true?
Callista strugged with all her might, but the Kerash guards were too strong. She tried to use the Force, but she was in too much of a panic to do anything. Her eyes kept focusing on their thin, sharp knives, and their target... Where her unborn child slept, unaware of what was going on outside its tiny home.
No...Please, no...it's happening again... I need to wake up...I need to wake up! No! Get off me! Leave me alone!
She tried to scream, but not a sound came out of her mouth. She tried kicking at the guards, but her limbs refused to move. She was frozen, a living statue, unable to do anything but watch as Xizor prepared to take her son's life once again.
If I am to marry you, do you really think that I want anything of Skywalker's left behind?
Yes, Callista thought hopefully. This is when I'll wake up. Just when they're about to stab me, I'll wake up from this nightmare, and I'll be with Luke again. Everything will be okay--
But she did not wake up. She couldn't wake up. She was having this nightmare for a reason...and she knew why. Luke...I have to tell him. I can't keep it from him forever...
One of the guards pointed the tip of his blade against Callista's belly, right where Ben slept. Callista watched with horror, wishing she could just wake up. But she knew that would not happen.
NO! She felt the knife enter her stomach, sending a current of fiery agony through her. She felt the blade cut through her flesh, pierce her womb, cut into her son's fragile form. She could hear her baby's tiny wail inside her head as its life slowly drained from its little body. Ben's screams mixed with her own, as she fell to her knees. The guards remained holding onto her arms, as the one with the knife shoved it even deeper into her gut. She looked down, and saw the blood. Flowing freely from her wound, spilling onto the carpeted white floor, staining it a dark red.
Her blood...and Ben's.
I'm sorry, Ben. I didn't want it to end like this... As she felt her son's life drip away, she found herself huddled in a corner of the room. Xizor was gone, as were the two Kerash guards. She was all alone. Sobs racked her body, as she thought of the little boy that had been growing within her, now gone forever. She and Luke had decided a long time ago, on Hope's second life day, to name their son Ben. It had seemed fitting, but now...
How am I going to tell Luke? He'll never forgive me.
"Callista?"
She felt his hand touch her shoulder, his voice concerned. She turned, her face a mess of warm, salty tears, and looked into her husband's crystal- blue eyes.
"He's gone," she whispered, her voice cracking.
"Who's gone?" Luke asked. "Callista, what's wrong?"
Callista wiped some tears away, and pulled her shirt up, exposing the fresh scar on her belly, where the knife had gone through. "Our son, Luke," she said sadly. "Our little Ben. Xizor...he took him."
Luke looked at the scar with horror, then into Callista's eyes. Instead of anger and accusation--as she had thought--she saw concern. Concern for her, and for what had happened to her and Ben.
"He killed our son?" Luke said, a slightly dangerous tone to his voice. For a brief moment, Callista was glad that Luke had not had a chance to meet Xizor face-to-face. "Callista---"
Callista barely managed a nod, the memories returning again. "I'm sorry, Luke. I wanted to tell you...but I knew that if I did, you wouldn't allow me to leave Coruscant. But I had to. I had to save Hope--"
Another image flashed in her mind: of her standing with Xizor in the hangar bay of the Fallen Moon, locked in a passionate embrace. She felt his allure wash over her, quelling her resistance, forcing her to give herself to him. She felt his lips lock with hers, felt his black tongue enter her mouth...
And she felt a moment of pleasure.
"Callista..."
There was hurt and betrayal in his voice now. Luke had seen the vision as well. He backed away from Callista, horrified that his wife, the woman he had been married to for four years, would do such a thing.
"Luke, I'm sorry," Callista said, quickly standing up. "I didn't mean to. I swear--"
"It's not true," Luke said, shaking his head, as if that would make the vision go away. "You're lying. You would never do such a thing." The room began to change shape, and Callista found herself in Xizor's room on the Fallen Moon.
She was naked, and lying in the Falleen's bed...along with Xizor himself. Callista gasped as everything came back to her. She remembered what had happened just after her son had been murdered. Xizor had returned, using her pheromones on her, weakening her resolve. What had followed afterwards...
She heard moaning, and she realized that it was herself doing it. She looked down, and saw that she was sitting on top of Xizor, who gazed up at her in awe as he brought his head up and kissed her. Callista returned the kiss, murmuring, "I love you, Xizor," she said, pressing her hands against his bare, muscular chest. Another moan of pleasure escaped her lips.
She turned, and saw Luke standing in the room, watching the display with shock and disgust. "By the Force," he said in a low voice. His eyes met Callista's, and for the first time, she saw anger in them. "Callista, how dare you!"
Without another word, he turned and left the room. "Luke, wait!" Callista pleaded, and the room changed again. Now, she was standing in their own room, in the Great Temple on Yavin 4, fully clothed. Luke's back was turned to her, unmoving.
"Luke, please, will you listen to me?" Callista begged. Luke rounded on her, accusation in his voice. "I can't believe what you did. You slept with the man who killed our son!" She looked into his eyes, and saw that he was crying. "Callista...I trusted you more than anyone in my life. And now...this happened."
"Luke, please, it wasn't like that," Callista said. "I tried to resist him, I really did. But he had me under his thrall. It was like I was drugged. He did it to Leia, too. You know this!" Her voice softened, as she tried to reason with her husband. The man she truly loved. "Luke, I love you more than anything. I would never--"
"But you did!" Luke shouted. He reached over and snatched a datapad lying on his desk, and threw it as hard as he could against the wall, causing it to shatter into several tiny pieces.
The room grew silent after that. Luke's anger subsided. Callista could sense his turmoil. He knew she was telling the truth; it was his pride that prevented him from forgiving her. She had slept with another man, whether intentional or not, and it had devastated Luke. Callista reached over and clasped his shoulder. "Luke, there was nothing I could do.I couldn't resist. The entire time I was...screaming, inside, trying to stop myself. But...I couldn't. Please, Luke, I love you. You have to believe me."
Luke's hand went up to her hand, and she felt his fingers wrap around hers. He looked at her, the anger now gone from his face. "I know," he whispered. "And I love you, Callista. I will always love you. No matter what." He nodded resolutely, as he gripped her hands. No one will ever know. We'll never speak of it again. He looked at her, his eyes clear. It never happened.
"Luke, I'm sorry. For Xizor, and Ben, and for everything that's happened. She leaned against his shoulder, trying to melt inside him, where she would be safe. I just want everything to be back to normal again."
"Shh...it will be, soon," Luke said softly.
For a moment, neither spoke. Their connection, having undergone a severe strain ever since Hope's kidnapping, returned full force, stronger and more reunited than ever.
"Callista! Callista! Wake up!"
Callista opened her eyes slowly, and found herself back in the Kerash rebel camp. Luke woke up seconds after her.
"What is it?" she asked, looking up at Kieran.
"You have to get up," Kieran insisted urgently. "The eclipse is complete. The Kerash have begun the ritual."
As Callista rubbed her eyes, she saw the rebels already packing up, ready to continue their journey. Jacen, Jaina, and Tenel Ka clung close to Callista and Luke, dreading the battle that was to come. Cray went over to join them, along with Leanna Kai, who was armed with a nasty flame-thrower.
"Time to kick some Kerash ass," Cray said. "I am really looking forward to this."
"As am I," Leanna added, charging up her powerful weapon.
"How far is it to the temple?" asked Callista.
"Not very far," Kieran replied. "If we leave now, we should be there in ten minutes." Callista and Luke stood. They clasped hands, reconciling everything that had happened in their dream, and armed themselves. Luke had his lightsaber in hand, while Callista retrieved her sword. She turned to face Kieran. "It's time to see if the Force was right after all," she said. "I'll do everything in my power to stop the Kerash. Hopefully, that will be enough." Kieran nodded, and addressed everyone gathered in the area, making his voice loud enough for all to hear. "The time has come, my friends! Arak must never be allowed free reign. I wish everyone the best of luck in the battle. All Kerash who stand against us must die. Show no mercy!"
The group set off for the Temple of Arak, with Luke, Callista, and Kieran leading the way, each person carrying the knowledge that not all of them would survive.