Chapter 5

It was a few days after Mara's demonstration when Tahiri woke Callista as she checked the restraints on her wrists and ankles. Since the incident Callista had been visited only by Tahiri. She wasn't sure what had happened to Jacen. At first Callista had been glad of his absence, but now it made her anxious. Where was he? What was he planning? Would she have enough time?

Tahiri shortened the chains attached to the ankle restraints, but left Callista enough slack on the wrist restraints that she could sit up. As she worked Callista noticed, not for the first time, that Tahiri's eyes never quite seemed to focus on her, as though Tahiri was looking through her instead of at her. Callista had not known Tahiri before the Vong got their hands on her, but she was certain the scar on Tahiri's forehead was nothing compared to the damage done to her on the inside.

Jacen appeared in the doorway. "Is she secure?" Callista felt the tiniest tinge of pride—though Jacen was not exactly cowering, he did seem reluctant to enter a room where Callista had free range of movement.

"She is," Tahiri replied, straightening up and casting a final glance toward Callista. Though Callista pitied Tahiri, she knew deep down that she was the enemy. It broke her heart to look into Tahiri's not-quite-focused eyes, but she didn't trust her for a second. Callista had the smallest hope that she might save Jacen. For Tahiri, she feared there was nothing left to save.

Tahiri left the room and Jacen sat down at his desk. Callista noticed that Jacen kept his chair at an angle to his desk, so his back was not fully turned to her.

Jacen worked quietly, reading his datapad and typing at the computer for some time. Callista thought she saw an extra tenseness in his posture when he began, but after a while he seemed to relax—at least as much as he ever did—and appeared lost in thought, gazing out the viewport. It was time for Callista to go to work. She just hoped there was enough time left for Mara's plan to succeed.

"Tell me, Jacen. Why do you hate your little brother?"

Jacen turned abruptly, coming to directly face Callista. "I love Anakin," he snapped, fixing Callista with a withering glare. "More than anyone. Everyone else has forgotten him, but I remember."

"Then why do you take advantage of his best friend?"

Jacen's eyes narrowed and he seemed to grow with anger. Callista continued quickly, before he could object. "You wait until she is broken and vulnerable and then you seduce her."

Jacen's eyes flashed and he stood up. His temper was even quicker than Callista had imagined. "I've never touched Tahiri!" he roared.

"That's not what I meant," Callista replied levelly. She knew she was playing with fire, but she looked Jacen in the eye, refusing to let her fear show.

Jacen balled his right fist and struck Callista across the face. Callista would have gone sprawling but instead she only fell halfway off the cot. Her ankles were still secured to the bottom corners of the cot and her upper body hung awkwardly off the side. One arm was twisted painfully behind her, the chain attached to her wrist becoming taut when her face was just inches from the deck. She paused, gathering her strength as the blood began to gather in her freshly split lip. The blood trickled down her chin as she looked up at Jacen. "How could I ever think you would take advantage of someone who was defenseless?"

Jacen stared hard at Callista, his nostrils flaring with silent rage. For a moment Callista thought he would attack her, maybe even finally end it all. But eventually he turned on his heel and strode out of the room without a word, his cape fluttering aimlessly behind him.

With an effort Callista managed to haul herself back onto the cot. She wiped the blood off her chin and closed her eyes, waiting for Mara to help her plan their next angle of attack.