Chapter 8

Mallie felt Kento's head rest upon her shoulder, the bristles of his hair tickled her neck slightly, but she didn't mind. She sighed inwardly, she was grateful that she did not have to keep the promise she had made to Kento in the mist of the sand. Her baby moved. It was a strange thing to have another person's life entirely dependent upon you. She sagged visibly but straightened up as Kento's head started to fall from her shoulder, sometimes she felt like a burden to Kento. She was useless and never seemed able to protect him. She played her hands. Her injured one was wrapped tenderly in torn clothing from Kento's robes, she gingerly massaged it.

Her mind wandered. What had happened? Why did the troopers suddenly turn on them? She wondered how many Jedis would be left in the galaxy now. After feeling the destruction of so many lives Mallie hated to admit that only a handful of them were probably alive. Kento lightly snored. Mallie cast her eyes down thinking about the uncertain future.

Her child moved again within her. She didn't want this life for her unborn child. Well she guessed she could refer to the baby as her son. The instant her vision had struck her she knew it had been about this child. She smiled briefly, small dimples played on her cheeks as she brushed her hair away from her face. She had decided against telling Kento about the images she had scene, while she could share anything with him, for some reason this moment seemed like it had only been meant for her, besides she didn't want to spoil the surprise of Kento finding out he had a son. Still, as happy as she was she couldn't help but feel unnerved by her vision. She sat and tried to see more but nothing came to her. She eyes became heavy so she leaned her head to rest against Kentos'.

Unsure of how long the couple had been sleeping Mallie got up to not only stretch but also inquire about their journey so far to the personal aboard the ship. Kento rested his elbows on his knees and placed his head in his hands. He was revisiting his nightmare again. The young man in the dream was terrifying, it was the same young man he had been dreaming about for months, lightening poured from his fingertips and absolute fury crashed around him, Kento tried to shout out to the young man, trying to help him, but the boy laughed cruelly at him stating that Kento could never help him. Kento was determined to nonetheless but the boy always seemed just out of Kento's reach. Kento closed his eyes rubbing them with his coarse fingers, he knew he would never be rid of these nightmares but it didn't hurt to attempt to rid himself from the haunting memories.

Mallie returned to him looking cross, fingering her necklace, this made laughter rise from Kento, Mallie was naturally so even tempered that this look was humorous upon her round face. She sat down angrily, leaning forward slightly; her hands gripped the edge of the seat. She turned to Kento, her crossness still there.

"Did you know this cargo ship was headed to Kashyyyk ?" she asked him, although her tone was more of that than an accusation than a question. Kento's eyebrows popped up for a moment.

"No. Sorry Mallie," he placed his hand against her cheek and continued, "I wasn't that concerned with the location. I was more occupied with getting us out of there," his eyes fell for a moment as he thought of Galen. Mallie cupped his chin in her hand and brought it close to her own lips. They sat close together for the remainder of the trip contemplating their new lives on an unfamiliar planet.

To Mallie's delight she found she enjoyed Kashyyyk , the smell of the forest reminded her of when she was a young child playing in the forests behind her home, and despite their ferocious size, she found the Wookies to be warm and welcoming to two outcast Jedis, and so she was optimistic about raising her child here. However the planet bore its' own scars of battle. They arrived to see the aftermath of a war that had left black, smoked trees, crashed war ships littered on the beaches, regardless of the obvious signs of a destructive battle, the world was calm. The natives of the planet began to rebuild, just as Mallie and Kento tried to rebuild a broken promise of safety and joy.

While Kento had many concerns about create a home her there was only one that truly caught Mallie's attention. When she would go the markets there were always an increasing number Trandoshan slavers. Her stomach always churned uncomfortably as they reminded her of that almost fateful night many months ago. There was also something about the way those Trandoshan looked at the small Wookie younglings that made Mallie's stomach drop. Their eyes followed the small Wookies, as they clung to their parents' leg, it was if they seemed to be putting a price on each and every one. Instinctively she had reached for her weapon, when she saw them for the first time, but she found Kento's hand in hers instead of the smooth texture of her lightsaber's hilt.

Their home was simple but warm. It was made from the same woods that surrounded them and that seemed created a bond to this planet in a way that the desert planet had not. Kento ran his hand down the family crest that he had fashioned outside their doorway. Pride rose in his chest. He thought back to those his younger years in where he had run through the halls of the temple, shouting to hear his voice echoing off the great statues only to be promptly shushed by an elder Jedi, nothing meant much to him back then and even into his teenage years he was still an immature child. His family chest had held little importance to him then, disregarding it as, something that if he died in battle, could be used to identify his body, but now he would have a family he could claim to it.

He could hear Mallie's cries of pain floating from inside the wooden hut, and he clenched his fist until they turned white, he had been ushered out of the room by the midwife, he prayed for the safety of both his beloved wife and their child. After what seemed like several lifetimes Kento heard the unmistakable small cries of a baby, in this instant something within was changed forever.

With both of her sleeves rolled up, the plump midwife motioned Kento back into his home. With each step Kento took closer to his bedroom door his heart began to beat wildly with panic. For one brief moment he contemplated leaving, he wasn't ready for this, he couldn't be a father, he was unsure of the protection he could offer his child. The door to the bedroom stood slightly ajar and the afternoon sun painted the opening, inviting him to enter. He took one large intake of breath before pushing the door fully open.

Mallie sat on their bed, her face was still slightly pink from the exhaustion of childbirth, in her arms she held a bundled of cloth that held their child, her face was full of unconditional love as she stared at the bundle, she looked up at Kento, tilting her head slightly a warm smile played with her lips. To him, she had never looked more breathtaking. Without speaking Kento walked towards the bed, and sat next to Mallie, he peered over the top of the cloth to see a small rounded face sleeping with the confines of his mother's arms. Kento carefully placed his hand on his child's small tuft of dark chestnut hair. Mallie moved her arms, careful not to wake the infant, and placed him in Kento's strong arms.

Kento was no longer a warrior but a father. Mallie just watched them both for a while before speaking,

"He looks just you".

"He?" Kento's voice jumped then looking down at his son his tone returned to a revered tone, "Hello son". Mallie looked at him anxiously before she offered her own gift to Kento.

"Galen," she offered pausing for a moment, "His name is Galen". Kento's face broke into a heartbreaking smile and he placed a kiss on both his wife and son's foreheads.

Time bounded and seemed to leap following Galen's birth and their home was full of rich laughter. Mallie and Kento felt immensely happy as they watched their tiny son grow strong with each passing day, even as a small baby his parents could sense his extreme connection to the force. It was unusual for a child so young have such a bond. The family enjoyed their days together, taking walks into the wood, visiting the markets and taking in the occasional Jedi visitor, who like them, was just seeking protection and peace. There were not many to come by, enough to count on one hand. It was from one of these visitors Mallie and Kento learned the truth behind the untimely, and unnecessary death of their friends.

"I don't understand," Mallie, muttered, "How could he betray us. All of us". She and Kento allowed the truth to seep into them, it hadn't been a mistake or a fluke, it had been a friend and it had been done with a purpose. Kento's voice was louder than necessary when he questioned their guest,

"Skywalker. Are you sure it was Skywalker?" He was in disbelief. Anakin had been his friend and on many occasions had watched each other's backs during battles.

"Yes. It was Skywalker. However that name holds little importance to him now as he only answers to his master as Darth Vader," their guest said trying to sound casual and unemotional as she eyed Galen, who was lying face-up on Kento's lap trying to grasp at his father's dangling fingers, her emotions were conflicted. Shaaki Ti watched the boy with curiosity, she had felt his immense power, and wondered about his future. She herself had pondered about the fate of the Jedi, even to finding her own Padawan to train. She would have suggested to Mallie and Kento possibly returning to train their child, however she could feel the bond of the family, and knowing Kento's protective nature he could never give up his child. She was lucky enough to have escaped the grievous order 66 and while she would have enjoyed to stay nearby those similar to her own abilities, she knew she must continue on her own journey, too may force sensitive beings clustered together would attract attention, she could not endanger this family. After embracing Mallie, wishing them safety and gently tickling Galen's round stomach she bid the family farewell and embarked on her own uncertainty.

After Shaaki Ti's departure Mallie and Kento could only look at each other. With much abruptness Kento gathered Galen into his arms and handed him to Mallie, walking out their door without as much a glance back. Galen yawned in her arms, resting his head against her chest, she kissed the top of his head, her eyes still cast upon the entryway, she followed his angry yells, and the sound of splintering wood. She was feet from him but he took no notice, his right hand raised he gave on charged punch into a large tree, it swayed then fainted, causing an earsplitting crack upon breaking and falling into the midst of the other foliage. Galen cried. Kento turned around; his breathing was heavy, is eyes contained a thousand questions but could not find the will to ask any.

"It was always him," Kento managed to say between breaths, "It had always been Skywalker and he is the reason they are all dead. He is in the dark now, selfishly following his own desires. He has no compassion for anyone any longer. I want to kill him Mallie". He finished his thought without looking at his wife who was attempting to console their child who continued to whimper. Mallie often tried to suppress Kento's harsh emotion reactions however this time she just let him carry on.

"All of us, in the order, made a promise to protect each other and he just…just," Kento gulped trying to find the words but since they eluded him he began shouting, "He is the reason I can't protect anyone. He is the reason Galen is dead and he is the reason we can't ever be a family free of being burdened with the feeling of helplessness!

"Kento," Mallie quickly interjected, "We are not helpless, and we have each other. We will protect each other and our son". He put his arms around her, so that Galen was resting between the two of them. Mallie continued her voice soft and comforting, "Kento, Anakin is no longer in the light but that doesn't give you the excuse to dip into darkness. I'm sure somewhere within him he is conflicted and is feeling pain too, even if it just a small speck it has to be there, he was always-" Kento cut her off, Mallie was often too trusting, believing there was good in all beings, for her own good.

"There is nothing redeeming in him now. Nothing. You think that if he found us he would hesitant for even a moment? He doesn't know what it's like to have a family, or to care for someone the way I care about you. If he had this would never have happened and all of the Jedi would still be alive. Vader will never been a redeemed man, his acts are too vile to be forgiven". Kento just left his words at this, his mind swirling with thoughts of revenge and hate, but Mallie's sweet kiss on his cheek removed the fog of darkness. He released her from their embrace taking Galen from her and they walked side-by-side back into the house without speaking another word.

Mallie awoke in middle of the night to find her bed empty, panic set into her gut as she quickly slide from the bed to find her son's cradle empty as well. Her long white nightgown swept along the floor as she made her way through the dark home, lit with the moon, she couldn't find her family anywhere, her conversation with Kento was fresh in her mind, she began to fear the worst until she heard the high pitched laughter of her son and the deep hums from her husband.

She just watched them together from the window, leaning against the sill, her white gown was gently caressed by the wind, and this was a gentle side to Kento, that people other than herself, rarely witnessed. He was rocking Galen and humming to him trying to soothe his son, and with every gust of wind Kento held Galen closer to his chest. As tempted as she was to join them outside Mallie allowed Kento to share this moment with Galen, she ran her fingers through her hair, and made her way back to her bed smiling to herself the entire way.

Kento stared into the black woods just waiting for a dark figure to arise and take his family from him. Nothing stirred so Kento continued to rock Galen back and forth, his eyes never leaving the darkness.

Author's Notes: This is my least favorite chapter I've written so far, so I will be making a much needed return to this chapter to make major improvements. Regardless I hope you readers have enjoyed the story so far!