Chapter 17

Ari moved through the building, staying hidden in the shadows when she heard someone nearby. Even when others were not near, she felt as if she was being watched. She had looked for cameras and easily disconnected them with the Force, but that didn't change how it felt.

However, anyone there would have to know where she was going. Though she would have liked to have another Jedi at her side, like Mara, she knew that this was her fight. It felt wrong to be headed to the darkness but reminded Ari of when Luke went to face Darth Vader as well as the Emperor. Though she knew she couldn't be hoping for her father to save her, like Anakin had done at the end for Luke, she knew she could face down this challenge.

She touched her stomach briefly as she paused. She couldn't and wouldn't back down. She had too much to live for and she was not about to let her youngest children be born without their older sister and cousins.

The darkness got closer and for just a brief moment, she thought she might be able to sense momentary flickers of light. Very brief, but it was enough to encourage her that the children, while they had been separated, might be safe and attempting to reach out to her as well.

Reaching one more door, Ari could almost sense the darkness radiating from within. It seemed to surround her from that room and from the planet itself. She attempted to reach out with the Force, to sense what was waiting for her in that room, but she couldn't sense anything. It was an odd sensation.

Knowing it had to be a trick of the Sith, she readied herself. She was not just a concerned mother. She was not the orphan from Tatooine. She was a Jedi Knight. In fact, a Jedi Master.

With her lightsaber hilt in her hand, ready but not yet activated, she opened the door easily with just the sensor outside.

The door opened with an almost inaudible hiss.

The first thing she saw was a small lizard, near the door. It was an odd thing to find. She wanted to explore more about this creature but it didn't seem dangerous. However, something felt wrong when she reached out with the Force. It was as if she couldn't feel it. Whatever was blocking the Force, it seemed to be from this lizard.

Or lizards, she realized. There were a few on the floor and on the walls. Then she saw another that was not doing well. It was being eaten by a very large Sith Hound also known as a Tuk'ata. She remembered her close encounter with the creatures before. The hound had a collar on and was chained to the floor, but Ari was fairly certain that the creature could break free if it wanted.

Though she knew this was a trap, there was no other thing it could be, she saw the children of her family held in strong bonds, these strange lizards being kept near them. The lizards were not letting them use the Force. Normally, they wouldn't be trapped, but they were now. She did feel a swell of anger as they looked up and she saw bruises and injuries. They were in torn clothing and she couldn't imagine someone doing this to children.

Keeping alert for any change, she rushed to Tiri, the closest one to the door. "I'm going to get you out of here," she said as she pulled the gag out of Tiri's mouth.

Tiri looked emotional but then her eyes grew large. That was all of the warning that Ari got, but it was the only warning she needed as she turned, igniting her lightsaber. It crackled as it met the red blade that had also just been ignited.

"Impressive, though I think you will find these Ysalamiri very unhelpful for you. As they block the Force."

Ari pushed back with her blade, trying to keep herself between Tiri and the Sith, but she needed more room. "It isn't helping you either."

"I am surrounded by the Dark Side here." Though Ari couldn't see his face, she could tell it was a male from the voice and that he was probably smirking. "It is everywhere on this planet. I am the Dark Side."

Ari frowned, but before she could respond, the battle started anew. The Sith attacked while Ari was being more defensive. She knew she had to attack, but her most important job was to get the children out.

Not having the Force, feeling it dampened, was not a feeling she enjoyed though she was glad that she and Luke had practiced for years. Her body and saber knew how to move, which was helping her a lot.

Though it was dangerous to break away from her opponent, she turned and sliced one of Tiri's restraints, then she had to stab backward at the Sith.

"You will not succeed."

Ari had to turn her entire attention to the Sith, though she felt like she was moving through mud, everything felt duller.

"Mom!" she heard Tiri shout and that was all the warning she got before she darted to the side. The Sith had released the Tuk'ata. The hound missed her and landed, claws screeching on the floor. She was feeling worried. These were not good odds and she was cut off from the Force. Even if that was not the case, the Dark Side was permeating this whole planet.

All of a sudden, a loud explosion rang out, rocking the entire building. It threw Ari off of her feet. She managed to get back to her feet even as her eyesight was hindered by debris. Her ears were ringing from the explosion.

Even though she wasn't sure about everything, she knew this could only be a good thing. She moved to Tiri, freeing her other arm.

At that moment, a red headed woman jumped beside Ari. "Let's go." Mara had a few bacta patches on, but she obviously was not about to let that hold her back. Her lightsaber glowed brightly.

"Beware. Sith and a Tuk'ata," Ari said as she moved to the next restraint. One good thing was that the Ysalamiri had moved, either hiding from the explosion or knocked away from the impact. A rope ladder dropped down and Ari could see that the ship they had taken seemed to be hovering.

"Go," Ari yelled at Tiri. She started to climb up the shaky ladder as Ari moved freed Reslina.

A snarl made her turn and Ari ignited her saber just in time to face down the Tuk'ata. She called on the Force to free Reslina's restraints. Her grasp on the Force still felt shaky, but she was close enough to do that without the Ysalamiri blocking her. As she did, she sliced at the Sith hound. It jumped back, getting slightly singed by the lightsaber.

Mara quickly moved to free Jacen and Jaina and ordered them to climb the ladder, right behind Reslina. Ari was trying to keep the Tuk'ata away from the children. She kept looking for the Sith, but there was no sign of him. Had he been injured in the explosion? Maybe, but she knew this wasn't the last time she was going to see him.

"Ari!" Mara shouted, already climbing up the ladder.

Ari raced after her, but as she was stepping onto the first rung, she felt a tug. The Tuk'ata was trying to get her to her again and had a hold of her boot. Ari kicked and twisted, trying to free her foot. She could feel the teeth sinking into the boot and into her skin. She kicked the Tuk'ata with her other foot, once. Twice. Three times. Finally, on the fourth, the Tuk'ata let go. Ari pulled herself further up the ladder as the ship was starting to rise. Even with the pain in her foot, Ari continued to climb. She looked back and didn't see the Tuk'ata, but she saw the glowing red that could only be a lightsaber.

Ari looked at the Sith for just a moment before quickly climbing the rest of the way and onto the ship.