Chapter 7

Mallie let out a gasp of pain as she cradled her hand in her chest, it was burning. Kento lunged at Mallie pulling his arms over her head as Galen kicked over the table as to shield themselves from the oncoming fire. Galen ignited his saber and started to fight off the incoming blaster fire with shot within inches of their heads. The troopers were piling into the small home, breaking the window and trying to get any shots at the three Jedis they could get. Something was wrong. Kento joined Galen in trying to deflect the fire, Galen was shouting at the troopers,

"Stand down. Stand Down! That's an order!" He repeated this over and over but to there was no effect on the troopers. They continued to fire on their leader and once considered allies. Kento was able to tear through four or five troopers but even this wasn't enough as more seemed to surround the dwelling seeking their lives. The men ducked down behind the table with Mallie, who had her arms wrapped around her stomach, as if it might protect her unborn child. It was Galen, who spoke first,

"Is there a back way out of here?" Kento nodded. "Kento, Get Mallie out of here. Go. I'll catch up with you two when after I've given you both enough time to get to a safe distance, and don't argue with me Kento". Kento stared at Galen, he had never been more grateful to have Galen standing beside him. Kento nodded and tugged at Mallie's wounded hand urging her to follow him, she let out a hiss of discomfort but hurried after her husband.

It was if the world had slowed for a moment. Mallie flipped her head over her shoulder, to see Galen defend, not only himself but his friends, against the countless troopers. He was hit in the shoulder and with a scream of agony continued his attacks. Mallie knew she would never see him again. Kento pushed a trooper that was blocking the back exit hard into the wall, causing the solider to slump onto the ground, with a powerful force push as he raced down the dusty road. He could hear Galen's cries of desperation and survival, they were the same cries Kento had heard on the battlefield, then his yells stopped abruptly.

"Galen! GALEN!" Kento was screaming at the top of his lungs, his throat burning. Regardless that he had felt his friend fall Kento retreated back to the home to destroy those who, without any feeling of remorse, he ended Galen's life. His robes made a tearing noise as his left sleeve was almost torn clean off, Mallie was holding his robe, forcing him to stay despite the pain in caused her in her hand.

"Let go. Get out my way!" he snarled. She tried her best to console him, standing firmly in front of him, silent tears etched her face, and she was pleading with him, placing her hands on his face trying to force him to meet her eyes. He couldn't, as his eyes were wild and fierce.

"Kento, he's gone. I know you want to go back for him but you can't! Don't let his sacrifice be in vain! Don't leave me to raise this child alone. Please Kento!" she was pleading with him trying to make him see reason, his emotional walls were about to burst, sending a flood in every direction, his face softened briefly before gulping down the dry desert air.

She was right and Galen was dead. As sense seeped back into Kento he began to see the extent of his and Mallie's situation, his eyes darkened at the thought of their prospects. He could hear the not so distant footsteps that were unmistakably those of troopers. Grabbing Mallie's uninjured hand he pulled her behind him. She was too slow, being this burdened with child, she was no longer able to move at the speed he needed her to be. Scooping her into his arms he ran. He ran until his legs grew numb, he ignored it. Ran until his shins burned with exhaustion, he ignored it. Finally his feet could barely take one more step in front of the other, he wasn't even running anymore, just taking short steps that cost him all of his energy.

Mallie begged him to put her down, it hurt her to see him this physically exhausted. She felt a pang of sorrow go through her, as she could not even imagine the emotional trauma that was surely raging inside him. He let her go dropping to his knees behind a large pile of metal junk in a small alcove. His head bobbed slightly back and forth as his breath was ragged. Mallie put her arms around his broad shoulders, doubting it would provide him with any relief but he had to know she was here, standing beside him and he wasn't alone. She felt him shaking beneath her hands. She had never seen him shed one tear before in her life. He managed to squeeze out a few tears. Each one fell unashamed as they were for his brother.

Mallie just held him, both of them were dirty, sand smudged on their cheeks, dark circles under the eyes from a sleepless night, and there was a sadness that created a shield around their souls.

Mallie's uninjured hand flew to her forehead and the other went to her child. Something was wrong she could feel it. Mallie had always been more attune to feeling the traces of others than most other Jedis so Kento had not noticed the steady disappearance of the traces. Mallie's eyes were bulged wide, her green eyes sat looking but seeing nothing. They were gone. A pain stabbed her heart. She could feel those she knew falling, the screams of children, the feeling of betrayal. Her mouth opened to speak but just moved wordlessly. Her soul was being ripped from thousands of directions. Each piece was torn from those she could not help but feel be destroyed.

Kento turned to his wife. His alarm was magnified as in seeing her in this position he feared the worse for her and their child. He stood so that he was right in front of her. In a voice ridden with panic he half yelled,

"Mallie. Mallie! What's wrong? Is it the baby? Mallie, please…"he trailed off. If she was having their child now, there was no was they wouldn't be discovered as they would have to head to the nearest medical facility and questions would be raised. She just shook her head; with a haunting look masked upon her face. Her arms quivering reached up to grab hold of his biceps. He eyes looked into his as tears cascaded down her cheeks and she was only able to utter out one word breathily.

"…gone…" Kento didn't understand. He checked their location again before turning to face his wife's horrified face again.

"Mallie who's gone?"

"Everyone is gone".

And just like that he felt the wave. It poured upon them both, they were almost drowning in it. She fell into his chest bawling like a small child. She continued to talk but he couldn't understand through her unselfish, uncontrollable, tears. Embracing each other in this moment is all they could do for solace but even that wasn't enough.

They held their breath as troopers marched past them; the disregarded piles of scrap metal protected them. Soon the uniform steps faded away. Kento's eyelids drooped shut but instantly popped open. He couldn't rest now, not when they were left so exposed.

"Stay here," he told her. She tried to protest as he rose, wiping the dust from his worn pants, but he gave her a look that told her arguing would not do her any good.

"I'll be back," he said reassuringly and she believed him. Watching her husband's figure growing smaller Mallie attempted to meditate again hopeful to find some spark of light to grasp onto.

Her eyebrows scrunched together as she saw a young man standing on the edge of a landing platform, the wind gently whipping his white robes around him, his hand rested precariously on the metal inside of the ship. It was if she was standing right in front of him but could not sense her, so she continued to stare at him. The young man had many of the same features Kento carried. Mallie could sense something was troubling him. She could feel his heart beating with hers; there was a great deal of sadness and anxiety stirring within him. Whatever the reason might be Mallie felt a strong desire to comfort him, she placed her hand against his cheek but the sturdy man did not register her touch. Mallie could sense another figure on the platform, she peered over his shoulder to find a startlingly beautiful woman behind him. Her expression brought tears to Mallie's eyes, the woman's crystal blue eyes were filled with a love brimmed with sorrow. How many times had Mallie given that look to her own husband. Mallie shut her eyes and when she opened them she found herself staring back again into the unforgiving desert landscape.

Kento returned shortly caring clothing in his hands. He explained to her that it was medic clothing and that he had found a way off of the hostile planet.

"A ship?" Mallie asked while trying to squeeze into the medic uniform that was too tight around her midsection.

"Yes," he replied, "There is a cargo ship leaving shortly, we'll get aboard without too many questions asked in these outfits. Mallie if something happens… if we get attacked I want you to run, don't try to fight back, I'll make sure to give you enough time to get away. Promise that you won't come back for me." Mallie's insides crumbled but promised him regardless.