Chapter 13

Ari closed her eyes and steadied herself as Mara opened the door. Just the change in air made Ari shiver. She could feel the Dark Side radiating from the planet. She had felt it years ago, but after so much training, she could feel it even more.

"So this is how it felt to you?" Mara asked as they paused at the edge of the ramp.

Ari nodded. "It feels even more intense now. Not in a good way."

The two women looked at each other. Ari found it strange that the very person who tried to kill her on the same planet over a decade ago was now her ally. She could tell that Mara was thinking the same thing. Though some might have been worried about Mara going back to her old ways, Ari didn't. She knew that Mara would do anything she could to help rescue the children.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Mara asked, motioning to Ari's stomach.

Ari nodded. "It's too late to turn back."

"Just be careful. Your husband would not be pleased if you got cut up by a Sith."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ari responded, her dry tone matching Mara's.

The two women stepped onto the planet. It was a dead and desolate place. Ari shivered as Mara quickly worked on her additions to the ship. It would make it nearly impossible for someone else to break in and there were a few tricks that she had up her sleeve.

"I hope we don't meet anu of the wildlife here," Ari said, her hand on her lightsaber, ready to use it as needed.

"Why not?"

"It seems like whatever is here might try to kill us."

Mara was about to say something, then in the dim light, they saw the first statue and both women were silent. It was one of the numerous tombs in the valley. The resting place of many Sith. Ari felt a shiver run down her spine just looking at the monument.

Mara touched Ari's arm to get her attention, then tapped her ear. Ari paused and listened. Then she could hear it too. There was the faintest sound of footsteps, coming closer to them.

Moving as a team, the two women pulled back further into the shadows, pulling their dark cloaks tighter around their bodies. Ari could sense beings, but it was hard to get a good reading on them. A flash of white could be seen and for a moment, Ari felt like she had been transported back in time.

Though a little different, the armor was clearly based on an Imperial stormtrooper. There were four of them, moving with purpose. Ari thought they might have seen the ship somehow. Or perhaps they were just charge with checking the area.

Mara's hand shifted slightly, as if to reach for a weapon but Ari grabbed her wrist and shook her head. Currently they had the element of surprise and she didn't want to alert anyone that they were on the planet.

Once they had left, the two Jedi continued, but they were careful to watch their backs and kept to the shadows. They didn't see anyone else though. Instead, they were only watched by the unblinking and unmoving stone monuments.

In some ways, it felt like they were still being watched. Ari shared that feeling with Mara through the Force. The red head nodded in agreement.

They were quiet as they moved though Ari felt as if her nerves were hyper-sensitive. She was waiting to be attacked by animals, like the last time. She still had the scars from that encounter, even after a dip in the bacta tank.

She assumed the animals might have been scared away by the troops that were guarding the Sith Academy. Though she had to be ready for them as well.

With the cloaks still pulled up to hide their red hair and blonde hair, they blended into the shadows well. Ari stole a glance at Mara. She knew some might not trust the former Emperor's Hand, but she did. Though they had been foes when they had last been on that planet, they had become comrades and allies. Perhaps even friends.

They made it to the edge of the Valley of the Kings without incident and Mara spoke the same words that had been in Ari's mind. "Too easy."

They had not sensed any traps, though the Force felt different with the Dark Side there, permeating everything. However, they had not seen another living being or even a droid.

"That probably means that Academy is well protecting," Ari said.

Mara nodded, then both of them paused as they saw the shape of the Academy through the faint light.

Ari could feel the darkness radiating from this place. She could also feel an undercurrent of sadness and fear. It had to be the missing children. It took every ounce of control not to go rushing in there. Her child needed her. All the children needed her. However, she knew she had to wait. Rushing in without a plan would ruin the element of surprise. It would probably also lead to capture or death.

The two Jedi crept closer, keeping to the shadows.

"It is large and I can't tell exactly where they are," Mara admitted.

Ari paused and reached out, trying to pinpoint where the children were, but shook her head. "I can't either. I wish R4 was here." The droid would be able to help by running a scan. "But I know, too hard to travel here with a droid," she added, knowing that Mara was about to say something.

"A droid might be able to tell heat signatures, but not about traps or droids," Mara pointed out.

Ari nodded. She wanted to just attack right away, but she knew better. "Let's set up a perimeter, see if there are any weak points and then make a plan," she suggested.

Mara nodded, then her voice became a bit kinder. "We'll get them back."

Ari could only nod, but whispered so quietly it was almost inaudible. "Hold on, Tiri. I am coming to take you home."