Chapter Seven

Jade’s limbs were stiff, her legs especially. She had walked miles and gotten nowhere. Her face and neck were sunburned a deep red, and every part of her body felt rusty and ached with thirst. She moved like a droid programmed to trudge, neither slowing nor stopping. The roar of a speeder engine didn’t faze her, even as it pulled up beside her and the driver leapt out.

“Jade!” Seven shouted, running to her. He grasped her arms, and she halted in place but still stared ahead along the path she’d been treading. “I went to the hut and couldn’t find you. I’ve been searching for hours. How in hell did you get out here? Where’s Obi-Wan and Nova?”

She turned her head to him. Seven was surprised this didn’t elicit a creaking noise like that of a hinge needing oil.

“What’s happened to you?” he asked, gazing into the emptiness of her eyes.

“Obi-Wan is dead,” she said simply, her voice husky and dry. “Nova is…” She paused and closed her eyes. “I feel her, but she is weak. She is frail and may not last long.”

The matter-of-fact way she announced these things made Seven ill. “It’s Ayani,” he said. “She has them. But how?”

“Nova was taken in the night,” she said. “And Obi-Wan and I ran straight into Ayani’s open arms when we attempted to get her back. We thought we had a chance. We didn’t.”

“You’re delirious,” Seven said worriedly. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“I’m completely fine,” Jade said. “I threw up, but I’m fine.”

“No,” Seven said, nearly shouting. “Get in the speeder. I’m taking you home.”

“I am the captain!” Jade screamed at him. “I call the shots, not you!”

Seven stiffened. “So you want to keep shuffling through the desert like a mindless nomad?”

“I want to have control over something in this damned game!” Jade shouted. “And if that something is you, so be it! I want to stop losing! I want my daughter and husband back! I want to cut Ayani’s heart out with my bare hands! I want to die… Seven, I can’t…”

Jade fell on him, weeping, and Seven swept her into his arms and rushed her to the speeder. “You’re going to be all right,” he assured.

“No,” Jade said, wiping at her eyes. “I won’t.”

“You will,” he said, starting up his speeder and roaring back toward her hut.

* * * * *

Ayani stepped into the spare room on her ship and quickly located the small child laying in the corner. The tranquilizer was just wearing off, and the girl’s eyes opened slowly. Ayani could tell she was extremely woozy.

"I guess I have to keep you alive for a little while," Ayani sighed and leaned up against the wall staring at her. "What do you eat? Do you even have teeth?" She raised her eyebrows as the child began to whimper. "Don't you dare start crying on me," Ayani warned, and the child’s whimpers got louder.

Ayani turned and left the room as the child’s cries grew louder. The door sliding shut behind her silenced them, and Ayani shook her head.

* * * * *

Seven kicked the front door in and carried Jade to the sofa, laying her gently across it. He pushed her hair back from her forehead, then rushed to the kitchen for a glass of water. He grabbed a rag along the way and soaked it, then hurried back into the living area with both in tow.

Jade winced when Seven placed the cool cloth over her forehead. Her face felt incinerated, and the sudden change in temperature only heightened this sensation. Yet when he propped her up and poured cold water into her mouth, it was a blissful feeling. He only allowed her one swallow, afraid too much would make her sick. When she settled back again with a cough, Seven lowered himself to the floor next to her.

With a weary sigh, he said, “what you told me out there… It was true, wasn’t it? You weren’t just delirious.”

“Yes,” Jade said, looking up at the ceiling. “I can still feel Nova. Brighter now… But she’s in pain. Nothing like the pain Obi-Wan felt, thank the Force. But she’s hurting. Inside.”

“Do you remember where Ayani’s ship was docked?” Seven asked.

“Middle of nowhere,” Jade said, waving a hand in the air. “Most likely moved by now.”

“You can’t give up hope,” he said, plucking her hand from the air and squeezing it.

She laid her cheek against the cushion beneath her and gazed at him for a long moment. “What hope, Seven?”

“Jade, I know you’re hurting right now. I understand that. But you have to snap out of this.”

Jade pulled her hand held by his to her stomach and forced his palm to lay there. “Can you feel him?”

“What?” Seven asked. “Feel who?”

“It’s only been a few days,” she said. “It happened the night you told Obi and I to go out and get some fresh air. Have a date. When we got home…” She sighed. “It’s always wonderful, because it’s Obi-Wan, and I love him. But there have been only three times in my life when I felt something else complete along with us. Do you understand?”

Seven shook his head. “No, Jade, I don’t.”

“I’m talking about something more,” she said. “This extra thing that clicks when we make love. The first time, it was Amethyst. The second time, it was Nova. And now…”

Seven’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant?”

“I can’t do this again, Seven,” Jade said. “Not only have I lost two children, but now I have no husband. I’m alone in a wasteland with nothing but a measly hut to call my own. I have no allies, save you. And what kind of universe would I be bringing him into? One where he’d be hunted and killed in the most excruciating way imaginable?”

“What other option is there?” Seven asked. “You can’t just…”

Jade stared at him. “Maybe I could. Maybe it would be better.”

“Are we talking about the same thing?” he asked. “Because if you mean an abortion…”

Jade burst into tears, and Seven slid his arm around her.

“Maybe you didn’t mean that,” he said cautiously.

“No, I did, but… I couldn’t,” she sobbed miserably. “I’d be sinking to her level. Worse! My own child…” She looked at Seven beseechingly. “How could I even think that for an instant? Have I lost my mind?”

“No, but I think you’re clinging to the last of it,” he said. “You need rest. Drink your water, sleep, keep that cloth on your face. I’ll be back.”

He pushed himself to his feet, and Jade did her best to sit up.

“Can you find her?” Jade asked frantically.

“I can sure as hell try,” he said. He bent down and kissed her cheek. “Just… don’t wait up for me.”

Jade’s lip trembled, and she nodded. When Seven had left and the sound of his speeder engine had all but vanished, she laid back with her hand on her stomach. She soothed herself by stroking her tummy gently and sniffling when tears threatened.

“I’m sorry, baby,” she murmured. “I’m sorry I even thought that. You’re all of Obi I have left, and I wanted to… Force, I’m sorry. So sorry.”

Her eyes slid shut, and her hand finally laid still. Soft apologies still slipped from her lips as exhaustion took her.

* * * * *

Ayani took some mashed foods to the room that held Nova and looked at the child, trying to decide the best way to feed her. The child was stronger now, the tranquillizer having almost fully worn off.

"I can't expect you to feed yourself, can I?" Ayani set the food on the table and moved forward to pick up the child. As she bent over, arms moving to lift Nova off the ground, the small girl let out a piercing cry and began screaming, tears rolling down her cheeks. Ayani jerked backwards, eyes wide. "Why would anyone want one of these things..." Ayani bent back down and grabbed the struggling child who continued to let out ear piercing screeches.

Twenty minutes later Ayani emerged from the room, covered in the food she had tried to feed Nova. Ayani was sure she was wearing more of the food then the child had actually eaten. She had left the child crying and screaming her head off to wash up.

"Why do kids have to cry so much?" Ayani asked as she washed her hands off, shaking her head. Nova's crying was going to drive her insane if she didn't find a way to get that child to be quiet.

She raised her head as a familiar presence assaulted her Force senses, then a smile snaked its way across her face. Wiping her hands on a towel, she stepped into the hall and moved toward the ramp of the ship. Seven walked brusquely toward her, and Ayani kept the amiable look on her face as he approached.

“Feroz,” she said tenderly. “To what do I owe the—”

She was cut off as Seven slammed his hand into her throat and bared down on her. Rushing forward, her slammed against the wall, her feet several inches above the ground. Her eyes practically popped from her head, and her legs flailed out as she struggled. Seven snarled up at her, his eyes vicious slits.

“I see you found Jade,” she wheezed, holding both her hands over his and attempting to pry him away.

“What was your first clue?” he asked, holding her firmly in place.

“How did you find me?” she asked, coughing and fighting for air.

“Docking registries,” he said simply. “The minute I saw ‘Maeko’ listed, I knew.”

Ayani managed a half smile. "Should have used a different name," she gasped as Seven pressed harder on her neck.

“Too late for ‘should haves’,” he muttered. He squeezed her throat. “Where is the baby, Ayani?”

Ayani closed her eyes, her mouth hanging open trying to get air. She could throw Seven off her in a minute, but she didn't try. "Screaming her little head off in my cabin," she choked out.

“And I bet there’s only one way I could get her out of here without your interference,” he said, squeezing even tighter.

"She's not going anywhere, Feroz," Ayani coughed, her hands gripping his tighter. "Just like her father isn't going anywhere." Ayani tried to laugh but it only came out as a cough. "Oh wait, he's dead. He couldn't go anywhere if you wanted him to." Ayani’s eyes twinkled.

“If he’s dead, then your work is finished,” he said. “Give me Nova.”

"No," Ayani said simply.

“Yes,” Seven insisted, bringing his other hand to her throat, nearly crushing her.

Ayani's face was starting to turn blue from lack of air. "I still have uses for her."

“She’s not a thing, Ayani,” Seven growled. “No more than you were at her age. Can’t you see anything?”

"How is Jade holding up?" Ayani changed the subject. Seven loosened his grip on her just long enough for her to choke down some air before putting all his weight on her again.

“Better than you right about now,” he said, smiling. “Ready to pass out yet?”

Ayani's eyes turned icy. "Don't forget who you’re threatening, Feroz. I could kill you in an instant."

Seven watched her for a moment, then dropped her. She hit the ground with a thud when her knees buckled under her. She sat below him, rubbing her neck and grimacing.

“Just so you know, that doesn’t mean I’m scared of you,” he said, gazing down at her. “But I’m no good to Nova when I’m dead.”

Ayani felt light headed as she gulped in air. When her vision cleared, she stood and turned to face Seven. "I never said you were," she looked him right in the eyes. "Only a man of true bravery, or stupidity, would march into my ship and attempt to strangle me to death."

“But which has yet to be determined?” When she nodded, he returned the gesture. “Before I get the urge to try again, take me to Nova.”

"With pleasure," Ayani said, moving forward.

He followed her down the hall to her bedroom door. It slid open to reveal the still screaming girl in the corner of the room.

"I can't get it to shut up," Ayani said, making a face at the girl as Seven moved into the room.

Seven ignored Ayani and scooped the child up, using his sleeve to wipe mushy food from her cheek.

“Nova, honey, shush,” he said gently, bouncing her in his arms and patting her back. “It’s me, sweetie. I know you’d rather have mommy or daddy, but you gotta make do with Uncle Seven for now.”

Nova snuffled, jerking when she did so. Her wet eyes were wide and framed by a tear-drenched face, but her wails had ceased. Seven smiled weakly at her and tucked a lock of blond hair behind her tiny ear.

“Thada girl,” he said softly.

"You're staying on board this ship," Ayani said, and Seven turned to look at her. "You can make her be quiet; you're not going anywhere."

“It’s not that hard,” he sneered. “If you treat her like a human instead of a prisoner. Besides which, I think she senses in you the same thing her parents do. There’s no masking that. Not even with the Force. Kids know these things.”

"And when did you become an expert on children?" Ayani cocked her head to the side as she leaned against the door frame.

“I know more about them than you, apparently,” he shot back defensively. He paused. “Listen, you don’t need her. Let me take her back to Jade. You’ve done your job. You’ve won. Now leave what’s left in peace.”

Ayani shook her head, "no, I want to torment Jade into insanity. That is now my new goal." Ayani raised her eyebrows. "Exactly how was she? How did you find her, is more like it? I left her in the middle of the desert."

"I combed the desert," he said sourly, glaring at her. "You don't survive half of what I've been through in my time without some tracking skills."

"Still have the same fiery temper," Ayani said. "You have…" Ayani paused suddenly, her eyes jerking to the side for a second, then back to Seven. "You stay in here with the baby," she commanded and left the room, locking the door and rushing down to the cell that held Obi-Wan.

She grabbed a syringe full of the drug and stopped at the door to Obi-Wan's cell. Using the Force she flung the needle at him and pushed the drug into him. His head snapped to her as he awoke, and he yanked the needle out of his arm and threw it out of the cell.

Before he could shout at her or even get to his feet, Ayani put up a warning finger. Obi-Wan felt his throat tighten and balked long enough for Ayani to say, “not a word”. She slammed the door shut again, and Obi-Wan slumped back to the floor. A fraction of his Force sensitivity had begun to tingle, but the second dose of the drug Ayani was determined to keep him pumped full of was dissolving his salvation all over again. He’d never felt pitiful in his life, hardly even knew what it meant to feel such an emotion. It was then that he realized he was pitiful and pathetic and dead in all the ways that truly mattered.

Ayani marched back towards her room. She had almost forgotten to drug Kenobi. All because Seven had come. She couldn't do that again. If Jade had even a glimmer of his Force sense touch her, her faith would be renewed. Not to mention that if Kenobi had the Force long enough, he could easily escape. Ayani opened the door to her room to find Seven sitting on the edge of her bed bouncing Nova on his knee.

“What was that about?” he asked when she reentered.

"None of your concern," Ayani said, waving her hand and moving over to her dresser. She pulled out another syringe and moved towards Nova with it.

Seven yanked Nova off his knee and pressed her into his shoulder. Stumbling to his feet, he backed away with the child whimpering nervously against him.

“What is that stuff?” he asked hurriedly, looking ready to bolt past her. “What’re you doing?”

Ayani laughed. "Please, do you honestly think I'd kill the child with you holding her?" The look Seven gave her made her shrug, "Okay, so I would. It's just vitamins to keep her healthy. She's been through a lot, and children need them. You want her to stay healthy, don't you?" She tilted her head.

“I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you right now, woman,” Seven said, petting Nova’s hair.

“That’s pretty far,” Ayani said, wincing.

“Regardless,” he spat. “Anything you stick in her, you can stick in me first.”

Ayani shrugged and injected Seven swiftly before he could dodge her. He blanched as he waited to collapse or gag himself to death. When the injection resulted in neither end, he sighed fitfully.

“All right, so you told the truth for once,” he said tiredly.

Ayani snorted at this as she readied a fresh syringe. Nova whimpered when she was stuck, but the pain was temporary. Seven kissed the child’s forehead and doted on her for being brave. He noticed that Nova was weary, looking ready to doze off, so he laid her down on Ayani’s bed and covered her with a blanket.

Ayani glared at the child. "She's not staying on my bed. She can sleep on the floor in the corner. I'll put blankets down," she said before Seven began to yell at her.

He whirled on her. “You will not put down blankets in the corner like she’s some kind of animal.”

Ayani cocked her eyebrow. "I could stuff her in the dresser drawer, or I could just toss her across the room and see where she lands." Ayani looked pointedly at him. "Would you like that better?"

“Your sarcasm is duly noted,” he growled. “At least put together something that looks remotely like a child’s bed. That’s all I ask.”

Ayani stared at him for a moment then huffed. "Fine, fine."

She rummaged around in her closet and pulled out all her extra blankets, and even managed to find a small foam mat. She placed it next to the wall and put the blankest on it along with a pillow and looked up at Seven.

"Does that pass your inspection, Inspector Clone," Ayani smirked at him as she put her hands on her hips.

Seven smiled, having to admit to himself that she was making an effort, even if it was just to humor him. “It does,” he said. He lifted Nova up gently and laid in her new bed, tucking her in tenderly.

"You have a fatherly touch, Feroz. Very odd for something that was made just for fighting," Ayani said, sitting down on her bed. She put her hand down and jerked it back up making a face at the puddle of drool Nova had left. She whipped it off on her pants.

“And you have no motherly instincts whatsoever,” Seven laughed as he turned back to her. “Not surprising.”

Ayani smiled. "Never had anyone to show the way, and personally, I don't like children... They cry far too much, and they smell funny..." She wrinkled her nose. "Not to mention they drool." Ayani called a towel to her and cleaned up the mess on her bed.

“How would you feel if she were…” Seven paused. “Forget it.”

Ayani looked up at him, lifting her eyebrow in a look he’d become all too familiar with. “I don’t like half-thoughts, Feroz. What were you going to say?”

He bit his bottom lip, looking as though he’d say nothing. Finally, he said, “what if she were our child? Would you feel differently?”

Ayani tilted her head at him. She looked down at the sleeping child, then back up at Seven. "In all honesty," she said slowly, "I'd be terrified. I know nothing about children." She took a deep breath. "And actually, I'd be scared she'd turn out like me," she said quietly, looking back at Seven.

Seven slipped beside her on the bed, his eyes level with hers. He held the look for a long moment, then leaned in to kiss her. When he broke gently away, he was smiling. “You’re a good person waiting to happen, Ayani. I know it.”

Ayani let out a breath of air that sounded slightly like a laugh. "I have been molded into a fighting machine, Feroz. There is no good in me. It was drained out of me when I only a few years older than Nova." She looked over at the child. "I wish I could believe you, but it's like asking the deserts of this planet to turn into an ocean. I could never be good."

She looked at him, and for once, he could see the sadness and regret deep with in her soul through her blue eyes.

* * * * *

A smile touched Jade’s sleeping lips, and they parted as she awaited a kiss. It had all been some overpoweringly unspeakable nightmare. And she was waking up. She rolled onto her side and reached her arm out to feel for her husband.

“Obi…” There was nothing but empty air.

Her eyes snapped open, and she was filled with disorientation at her surroundings. She was in the living area, not the bedroom. She blinked heavily and put a hand to her face, which was still hot from her merciless sunburn. She cleared her parched throat and winced, reaching for the water Seven had left on the table. Even simply feeling the glass told her that it was too warm to drink and still be soothing to her aching throat.

“Seven?” she called, beginning to remember and accept reality’s truth now. But he was gone, as well. On a search for Ayani and Nova.

Nova… Jade’s stomach tightened and rolled as she pushed her mind forward, snatching at the lost essence that had been her child. Perhaps she wasn’t concentrating hard enough. Ayani might have moved, sensing that Seven was on her trail. It was likely.

Yet even Jade knew there was no distance that could separate Nova’s spirit from her own. No distance but death.

“Seven swore she wouldn’t hurt her,” Jade muttered. “He was sure of it…”

He was wrong, she heard a dark voice say. And even she couldn’t be certain if this was Ayani or part of herself.

She felt nothing. No one she cared for could be felt or even respond no matter how loudly she screamed with her lungs and soul. Seven was intangible with the exception of being brushed and spoken to. Even then, Jade could not be certain he was alive with his lifeforce at such a distance. She was alone with her grief and cognizant enough to know this was dangerous.

“I need a bath,” she grunted, pulling herself to her feet.

Her legs were stiff, and her body threatened to collapse on her, but she ignored the warnings of her nearly buckling knees. Shuffling delicately, she made her way to the kitchen and drew a fresh glass of water. She chugged it down, gagged, and swayed in front of the sink.

Having finished this task, she moved back toward her bedroom and picked out a light pink dress, one that Obi-Wan had been very fond of seeing her in, and moved toward the washroom. She began running a cool bath, then shut the water off before she could waste too much of the precious commodity. She stripped down and sank into the water, her mind like a droid that had been powered down except for a few auxiliary functions. She breathed, she moved, she washed her skin. She wasn’t alive.

As she finished her bath and dried off, her body felt rejuvenated. Another glass of water and perhaps a little something to eat, and she’d be back in working order. She slipped on the dress and felt the material shift lovingly against her. She could almost feel Obi-Wan’s hands on her hips, could almost see his smile as he gave her the once-over. Could almost sense the way he tried to be lecherous and failed miserably. He was just too good.

Covering her face with her hands, fresh sobs entangled her.

“I’ll never be sane,” she cried softly to no one. “I’ll never be the same.”

It was all she could do to stop herself and move back into the bedroom. She stumbled over something and kicked at it angrily. When she peered down and spied what it was, her heart broke a bit more, turning to pulverized dust. She reached down and pulled one of Obi-Wan’s discarded tunics into her arms. It was worn-in and carried his scent comfortably, and she shamelessly pressed the fabric to her face and inhaled until her lungs felt full to bursting. With a half-hearted sob, she carried the tunic with her into the living area.

And someone was at the door.

The sun cast their shadow across the floor, leaving the figure there as nothing but a black silhouette like an eclipse. Jade’s hand snapped to her hip, then her mind cursed a thousand filthy words when she remembered she had discarded her weapon in the desert during a fit of grief. On instinct, she dove for a hidden alcove behind the sofa and whipped out a concealed blaster there. Her hands were surprisingly steady as she leveled the barrel at the figure’s head.

The blaster flew from Jade’s hands and out the door into the sand.

"Don't be stupid, Blood. As if a blaster could kill me." Ayani stepped forward, forcing Jade back inside her hut.

Jade prowled backwards, not in retreat but as though readying herself to pounce. Her fingers were curled into claws, and her wide eyes shot fiery arrows directly at Ayani. Her mind swam with too many responses, too many hatefully spat insults, too many angry shouts and curses. So she merely snarled soundlessly.

Ayani laughed at her. "It looks as though you've spent a bit of time in the sun? You do know that sunburn is very bad for the skin?"

“Laughing at me is bad for your health,” Jade said, clenching and unclenching her fists.

"A health risk I'm willing to take," Ayani smirked. "How foolish it was of you and your husband to come rushing onto my ship. Did you really believe you'd get away unscathed?" Ayani shook her head and clicked her tongue. "I really thought you'd have learned by now." Ayani's eyes lit up as a thought crossed her mind. "Did you feel the pain Kenobi went through before I killed him?" She raised her eyebrows. "Don't even think about lying to me, I know you did. I can see it in your eyes."

“Then, why did you ask?” Jade snarled. “You’ve treated us like experiments in torture since we had the extreme misfortune of meeting you, and our reactions are your results. I won’t play anymore, Ayani. I’m not the prey to your predator, and I won’t continue acting as though I am. I’m the lioness, and you’ve invaded my home and slaughtered my family. Even you must know what comes next.”

"Right, right, you try and kill me." Ayani put emphasis on “try”. "You couldn't kill me before. It took your husband to end the fight, and even then, he didn't kill me. As you see now, I am the stronger one. If you want to put this in terms of animals, the larger lioness has taken over your pride."

Jade was frozen with the most intense rage she’d ever felt. She’d lost her temper before, but Ayani’s words had destroyed it. Jade’s blood boiled, and her body tensed as she readied to hurl herself at Ayani. Before Jade could attack, Ayani moved in one swift motion, producing a lightsaber and teething ring in her hands. She held them out for Jade to take.

Jade was panting with the force of the rage inside her. It seemed to ravage her completely, and she couldn’t gain control. Yet these two, familiar items stilled her. She glanced from them and to Ayani’s face and back again.

“What’s this for?” Jade asked. “A peace offering so I won’t rip your arms off?”

Ayani shook her head. "More like the leftovers of a long war." She dropped them to the ground at Jade’s feet. "You have been defeated and destroyed in the worst way possible. Now you will live with it." She glanced at Jade’s stomach. "Though you will have a piece of Kenobi soon. I shall have to decide if I want to let that child live or not." Ayani smiled coldly at Jade before turning and leaving.

Chapter Eight

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