Chapter Fourteen: Over the Edge

As it was wont to do at critical junctures in her life, time slowed to a crawl.

The shadows from the demon's sickle-shaped blades fell across Kali's face and she whirled back around, ducking out of their way just in time; a moment later she was able to roll beneath the feet of the creature to come up on its other side. The ground was a little more solid here and Kali found that she was able to get her footing even though she was now coated in mud and mire.

I don't have the Force, she thought as she looked up at her foe. But I have to do something. The demon was larger and stronger than her, but Kali realized that she was faster – even with her aching knee – so she lunged for the blade in the nearest of the creature's arms. It was heavy and awkward but it was a weapon. Kali planted her feet and raised the sword, forcing herself to meet the demon's eyes. At first fear clouded her thoughts; but as she stared at the creature, when she knew for certain that she was looking at her own end, she felt a flood of calm overtake her mind as the fear vanished.

Heat from the nearby fire burned her skin and choked in her lungs but Kali tightened her grip on the weapon's hilt.

Before it lunged, the demon smiled one last time.

Even with the ship, it took Stonewall and the others far too long to reach the temple in the mountains. "You sure we're not lost?"

Weave's voice was deliberate, as if he was trying to hide his annoyance. "No, Captain, we're right on track. We should be there soon." He and Milo exchanged glances as Stonewall knelt between them, his eyes on the viewscreen.

"How soon?" He looked down at the controls and frowned. "Can't this thing go any faster?"

"Captain," the Jedi said from his place at the center of the ship. "I don't think that you're helping matters by hovering." After giving Weave an apologetic nod Stonewall moved away from the helm towards the general, who indicated that they should both take a seat at the small table. He did so and they sat across from one another in silence for a few minutes as the ship moved across the terrain. Finally, General Kenobi cleared his throat and looked at Stone. "You should be proud of the team that you and Kalinda have assembled."

He's trying to take the edge off of the situation. Can't say that I blame him. Stonewall nodded.

"I don't mean just your ability to complete the missions that you've been given," the Jedi continued. "Though that is, of course, commendable. No," his hand went to his beard and his tone turned speculative. "I was also referring to the musical abilities that I witnessed on our journey here."

Though any thought of Kali was painful now, he couldn't help but chuckle. "She's determined to make musicians out of us. It didn't go so well at first but after a lot of practice, we sound...competent."

"Ever since I've known her she has enjoyed spreading music. It was something that she and her old Master did together. After he passed, well...it was a difficult time for her and I'm glad that she has found someone to share it with. Music, I mean." There was a pause while Kenobi seemed to consider something before speaking again; when he did, his voice was sudden and quiet. "Don't give up on her; if you do, you will regret it forever."

Stonewall nodded, though he felt another stab of sorrow and found himself unable to reply for several minutes. "I don't want to. But even if she...felt as I do, what could happen? We're too different, General. Not to mention the host of other...complications." He shook his head; it was strange to discuss these things with the Jedi, but he felt that it was somehow necessary to clear the air. "I'm aware of the Jedi Order's restrictions on attachments, sir."

"True, though there are more important things to occupy our minds at the moment than the personal relationships of a few Knights." His face changed into an expression that Stone wasn't sure how to read. "And she deserves to be happy."

Before Stonewall could form a reply, Milo turned towards them from the helm. "General, I think that's the site of the avalanche."

Immediately, the clone captain and the Jedi were on their feet and at the viewscreen; as their ship passed above it, they could see a massive pile of rocks and debris that was blanketing the road. We should clear it out on the way back. As he verbalized the thought, the General said much the same thing and the two men cast amused glances at each other.

Weave cleared his throat and nodded to the console. "We should be there soon. Very soon."

"Their communicators still aren't working," Milo added. "Shall I keep trying, Captain?"

Stone glanced at the Jedi. "Don't give up just yet, Milo," he said as he looked back at the viewscreen. "You never know."

After the rogue guards had been secured Crest approached the queen, who was peering around the door of the temple. "It's okay, m'am," he said as he stood before her. "They're not going to cause any more trouble." On a whim he popped the seal of his helmet and gave her a friendly smile. "Are you alright?"

She stepped out of the doorway, her pale hair glinting in the light. "I can't believe that they would turn on me," she said as she stared at her former protectors. "They were Badal's men – he handpicked them himself...thank you," she added in a quiet voice to Crest. "I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you and your brother." Here she gave him a small smile and he felt heat creep into his cheeks.

"Er, well..." He was at a loss for words so he glanced back at Trax, who had taken to examining the transport. "How's it look?"

Traxis blew out a puff of air in irritation. "Those di'kute sabotaged this thing and their speeders were damaged by the falling rocks from your grenade." He frowned. "One of them was yammering into his comm as well. I put a stop to it."

"Not good," Crest replied. "They might have reinforcements coming." He looked back at the queen. "Your majesty...is there a settlement nearby?"

"Sita," she said. At his look of confusion she smiled at him again. "You may call me Sita. And no, there isn't one. This place is too isolated..." While she spoke, a noise rose in the distance and the clones tensed, raising their weapons and listening.

"Speaking of reinforcements," Traxis said with a growl. "That's an engine. Sounds like we're going to have company." His hands moved to his blasters as he stood over the conscious guards, who looked up at him with fear in their eyes.

"Unless it's the Captain and General Kenobi?" Crest's voice was hopeful.

Sita shook her head. "Not this quickly." She glanced back at the temple then back at Crest. "I suppose we should take shelter?" The clones followed her gaze before they exchanged looks.

I don't think Trax wants to go back to that creepy place any more than I do, Crest thought as he scanned the mountainside for an alternative. "There's a little cave or alcove up there," he said, pointing to a section of the flame-colored rock above them. "You can stay there while we lead them off, your majesty." He watched as the Arunai woman frowned, her hands wringing her tunic.

"I would feel better if you..." She hesitated as she looked at Crest. "If you remained with me."

He had no idea what to make of that, so he nodded and looked at Traxis. "Well then," he replied. "Let's go, shall we?"

Though the section of mountain to the side of the temple was not steep it was still not an easy climb; after the first time that Sita slipped, Crest unspooled a length of cable attached to his belt and handed it to her. "Wrap this around your waist...just in case," he said. "And sorry about the rhyme," he added as she paused to tie the cord around herself.

She gave a small laugh even as she cast him a sideways look. "Will you keep me from falling, Crest?"

"You can count on it."

Traxis cleared his throat. "If you don't mind, vod," he said. "We need to keep moving." He indicated behind them; the noise was still growing louder. "Company's on the way."

Crest sighed and nodded. "Right, right..." On some wild impulse, he winked at Sita, who hid her smile behind her hand. "We're going."

On the edges of his consciousness, Obi-Wan felt a brush of fear. His first thought was of Kalinda but as he focused on the feeling he realized that it was the young queen. That's not good, he thought as he watched the ground race away beneath them. But at least it means she's still alive. He took a deep breath and exchanged glances with the clone captain, who was gripping the seat behind Milo as if hanging on for his life, though the ride had been relatively smooth. "The queen's in trouble," he said. "You still can't contact the others?"

Stonewall lifted his wrist comm and tried once more, though it proved to be a futile effort and he shook his head. "I know that they'll be able to keep her safe." His voice was quiet and Obi-Wan was again struck by the emotion that he felt emanating from the clone.

He's not blocking them from me anymore. He really does love her. Stars above...I didn't see that coming. With a nod, Obi-Wan took another breath and faced forward again. On a whim, he cast out his awareness, searching for Kalinda though he knew it was useless. I only hope she's still hiding from me. If she were dead...I wouldn't know. I would have no idea. The thought made his hands clench so he attempted to release the emotion and let it pass through him.

When a Jedi felt fear – or any negative emotion, really – he was supposed to search within himself, find the source of the problem and acknowledge it as his mind's way of telling him that something was wrong. A Jedi was thankful for the warning and then was able to let the feeling go.

At least, that's how it was supposed to work, though Obi-Wan thought that it perhaps wasn't a foolproof system when it came to a fear so vast it felt like the looming shadow of a mountain.

After what seemed like hours they reached the site of the temple and what appeared to be a skirmish between the Republic soldiers and a contingent of Arunai that Obi-Wan recognized as part of the palace guard. In addition to the transport that the queen's retinue had taken there were several speeders embossed with the royal seal clustered around it, as well as a larger transport that held a handful of unidentified Arunai who also were firing on the clones. More of Neerja's people?

Stonewall pointed to a section of rock that was overhanging the Arunai, beneath which they had taken cover. "Milo, give that bit of mountain a little persuasion. That should get their attention."

The blaster-fire from the ship split the air and caused the Arunai to turn; they raised their weapons to retaliate but were knocked out of the way by a spray of rock. There was a flat section of terrain behind them where Weave was able to land the freighter, moments later Obi-Wan and the clones were running across the rocky ground to secure the guards. "Their testimonies will be needed. Don't kill them if you don't have to," he called to the clones as he ignited his saber.

There were at least a dozen guards that had already been felled; the other group of Arunai who had managed to duck out of the way of the rock-slide kept the clones busy for a few minutes while Obi-Wan looked up in the direction they'd been firing before the ship had arrived. A familiar white helmet appeared from an alcove in the slope above them then ducked back, popping back up moments later with the bald clone; both of them began firing on the remaining dissidents from their vantage point. A push with the Force sent several of the enemies back and Obi-Wan watched as the last of them were stunned and then secured by the clones.

He looked back up at the sloping rock. "Kalinda?" His voice was carried by the Force to reach her, but only the clones peered back at him. The bald one shook his head and pointed to the temple; moments later he watched as Sita appeared beside Crest and she and the clones began to make their way down the rock. Their going was slow but careful and he noted how Crest seemed particularly attentive to the young Aruani woman, ensuring that she reached the ground safely with a care that went beyond the normal parameters of duty.

As soon as Sita's feet touched the earth she grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and pointed to the temple. "Kali's in there," she said, still breathless from the climb. "She went with the priestess."

"I thought you were supposed to do that?" Stonewall was beside him, though his eyes were fixed on the temple's entrance.

The white-haired woman shook her head. "She wouldn't have me but she told Kali that she could help her get the Force back." Her eyes fixed on Obi-Wan's and her tone sharpened. "I was unaware that Kali was so afflicted, Master Kenobi."

Around them he felt the others gathering, though he was only dimly aware of it as another malevolent presence reached his mind. "Someone else is here," he said, nodding to the temple. "Someone hostile." The clones raised their weapons and formed a circle around the queen. Obi-Wan's lightsaber was ignited again even as he focused on the new presence; the realization struck him like blaster-fire and he began urging Sita towards their ship. "Whoever it is...they mean to destroy the temple."

"I'll go look for her," Stonewall said, stepping towards the structure.

As Obi-Wan was about to reply, a tremendous explosion filled the air; the ground shuddered and they were tossed to the ground like toys from the hand of a petulant child. When he rose he searched for Kali's presence in the Force; again he was met with nothing. Instead he looked at Sita, who was scrabbling to her feet – assisted by Crest – and then at Stonewall, who was the only one who'd remained standing. "That could only be the beginning. Captain," he called. "We must go."

"I can't leave her," Stonewall replied. "I have to see if she's there..."

Obi-Wan shouted orders to fetch as many guards as they could; he watched as Traxis and Milo began to move the limp forms of the Arunai men away from the temple. "Captain...you have a duty, as does she. What would she do if she were here?"

Stonewall gestured helplessly to the temple. Another explosion shook the area and the front of the ancient edifice began to crumble.

Urging Sita and the others to the ship, Obi-Wan grabbed the captain's arm. "I know how it feels to lose her, I do. But we have to go. Stonewall...we must-" They were both covered by a spray of saffron-colored rock as a third explosion ripped through the air and Obi-Wan could see flames within the temple flickering even as the rocks fell across the entrance. His eyes closed, briefly. I've lost her again. He turned and hastened towards the ship, the engines already whining as one of the clones had reached the helm. Behind him, he felt Stonewall falter, so he used the Force to urge him on while still gripping his arm, releasing it only when he was certain that the other man was on board.

As their ship swept away from the area, Obi-Wan found that he had to close his mind to the clone captain, who leaned against the bulkhead and looked as though he would never be able to move again.

First of all: Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms out there! Mom, I know you'll probably never read this, but you are awesome and I love you!

Apologies for the short chapter; that's just how this one turned out. Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to review!