44

"No!"

Padme lunged, shooting out her arm just as Kalth struck. His hand tightened around her forearm, missing Leia's throat by inches. The toddler wailed as she was pushed to the ground – out of the reach of Kalth.

His eyes were wild and unfocused. Bitterly cold as they zeroed in on first Leia, then Luke and Cere in the bed beside him.

There was an ominous crunch as he shoved Padme away, using the Force to toss her small form so hard against the wall at their back that it bent around her. R2 beeped in alarm.

Both kids were screaming as Tech tackled Kalth, trying to pin his arms as AZI shouted, "I have a sedative!"

"Saedii!" Cere's voice was sharpened with action. "Get help!"

But Saedii was frozen. The voice that had spoke from Kalth's lips was the same he'd used last year while hunting her down. Not the voice of a friend, but of the voice of the Inquisitor.

He thinks he's dreaming.

Suddenly, she understood. Why he'd done it. Why he'd kidnapped her. Why he'd tried to kill her. Krell had used the same visions to torment him as he had with her. And just like Saedii had when she'd woken in the cell downstairs, Kalth was sure that he was back inside the nightmares.

And just like her, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do to get out.

"Saedii!" Cere shouted.

Saedii's eyes flicked towards Padme in the corner – bruised and bleeding, but getting up. Crawling towards Leia across the floor, who was screaming. In Cere's lap, Luke, too, had begun to call for his mother.

A howl of rage cut through the chaos. Somehow, Kalth managed to flip Tech straight into the insistent form of AZI, sending both crashing to the ground. In the next moment, he was kicking the blankets from his legs. Struggling to stand as his murderous gaze landed on Leia only feet away.

Saedii finally moved then – some buried instinct that demanded she protect roaring to life. One moment, Saedii was motionless, pressed against the wall. The next, she'd leapt over Cere's bed and pulled Leia into her arms, rolling away as Kalth made a grab for her.

Leia's screams echoed in Saedii's ears as she crouched over her, holding her close. The wild beating of Saedii's heart was painful against her ribcage. Too loud. Too hard.

Luke was already in Padme's arms. She reached for Leia next, pulling her behind her as she pulled out her blaster.

"Wait!" Saedii protested, but it was too late.

Blaster bolts bounced off the wall above Kalth's head, missing only by inches. His body was lithe and quick as he dodged them, eyes narrowing as he spotted Padme crouching protectively over her children.

He held up a hand and there was a sharp snap as Padme's arm broke. A startled breath whooshed from her lips and she dropped her blaster.

Cere stood uneasily from her bed, grabbing at Kalth's sleeve. But he merely batted her off on his way towards the twins.

Saedii stepped in front of him. "Kalth, stop!"

Pain lanced up her cheek. The ground raced up to meet her. He'd hit her.

"All Jedi are to be executed in accordance with Order 66," he said tonelessly – the same words Saedii had spoken as she'd readied to kill her friends over and over in Krell's constant nightmares.

Grimacing, Padme lifted her blaster with her left hand and fired.

Blood sprayed from Kalth's arm. It wasn't a deep wound, but the shot had been impressive. Even with his Jedi speed, Padme had managed to graze him.

Her eyes were fiercely determined as she held her blaster in front of her. "Don't take another step, or this time I won't miss."

"Funny," Kalth said, though he wasn't smiling. "Do you really think you pose any threat to me? Do you even know what I am?"

The blaster crunched in her hand as he crushed his fist together. That didn't deter Padme. She merely spread her arms wide, broken arm dangling at an uncomfortable angle. Ready to fight to the end for her children.

The sole of Saedii's boot collided with the back of Kalth's knee. He fell, landing beside her on the floor. She shoved at him with the Force, and he slid away. Giving them space.

R2 trumpeted and rushed forward. A bright light flashed as he shoved a tazer bolt in Kalth's arm. Electricity crackled and Kalth screamed, jerking.

"R2, don't!" Saedii shouted.

But it was a wasted effort. With an almost lazy air, Kalth batted the astromech away. R2 beeped in alarm as the right side of his body buckled and sparked, and he fell backwards, struggling to flip right side up.

Harsh breaths tore from Kalth's mouth as he stood. Those lifeless eyes of his swung between Saedii and the twins at her back. Cataloguing weaknesses. Just like Saedii had been trained to do.

Silver flashed in his hand as he swiped the scalpel from the nearest hover table. Staring determinedly at Saedii, he stalked forward.

"Kalth, you're not dreaming," Saedii said desperately, hold out her hands. Trying to prove she wasn't a threat. "This is real. You're safe."

"I'll be safe once you're dead," he snarled.

He struck, swiping out with the thin blade. It whistled through the air as it missed her face by inches. She ducked and slid beneath his arm, coming up behind him.

A hiss escaped his clenched teeth as she yanked his arm at an awkward angle, but kept his grip on the knife. With a graceful twist, he pulled himself from her hold and kicked out, narrowly missing her stomach.

Tension rolled down her arms as she took a few steps back, arms low at her sides. Krell had trained them for this – for using their environment as a weapon. If she just let her body slip into instinct, she was sure she could beat him.

But what happened if she couldn't stop? What if she hurt someone else without trying, like she had with Gregor? What if she killed him by accident?

Kalth swung at her, three quick jabs. She blocked them deftly, keeping her feet moving. Careful of her steps as she kept him out of close reaching distance.

In the far corner, Cere had shuffled over to help Padme. Both women's faces were pale and they looked to be in pain, but despite that, they were trying to usher the kids towards the door. To get them to safety.

Saedii had to give them a window. A chance to escape.

When Kalth swung next, she grabbed him and spun, slamming him into the wall. Using his arm against him, she twisted it at a painful angle and leaned all her weight, trying to keep him pinned.

Something heavy landed on her instep. Her leg buckled and she slipped, breaking her hold.

Sharp pain sliced across her temple. Dark purple blood poured into her eyes as she stumbled back a step, holding up an arm in defense.

Another slice – this one across her forearm. The white sleeve of her pajamas quickly grew heavy and wet. She jumped back – and fell over the struggling form of R2 on the floor.

Kalth was on her in a second, straddling her chest. Both of Saedii's arms came up to stop his as he tried to stab the scalpel straight into her neck.

"Kalth." Teeth gritted, arms shaking, Saedii struggled against his strength. Even now, half-crazed and injured, he was still stronger than her. "It's me. It's Saedii. Snap out of it. Please."

"Die, Jedi," he hissed and leaned down with all his weight.

Breath stilled in her chest as the tip of the blade sliced into her skin. As a trickle of blood began to run down the side of her neck.

The blade vanished. So did the crushing weight on her chest.

Gasping, Saedii sat up, looking at the stunned form of Kalth beside her. But his attention was across the room. On the faint green glow that suddenly bathed the walls.

Standing before Padme and the twins, Cere held her new lightsaber.

That it was too big for her was obvious, but the familiar way she held it spoke of her many years of devotion. It looked capable in her fragile hands.

The light reflected back in her eyes, and for a moment, they looked to be glowing green. "Stand down, young one. I do not wish to hurt you."

"Hurt me?" A slow smile spread across Kalth's face. "You look more likely to hurt yourself. Tell me, Jedi. Do your wounds pain you?"

"I am no stranger to pain." Cere's expression was calm. Unruffled.

Kalth chuckled. "Is that so?"

It was a taunt. A challenge that Cere had issued – one he wouldn't refuse. With a glacial intensity, Kalth got to his feet.

Cere swung, pointing the blade at his chest. Tracking his movement. "Listen to your senses. Reach into the Force. Do not let Krell –"

"My master will reward me handsomely for your death," Kalth said, and sprang forward.

There was a flash of green as Cere tried to track him, but her movement was too slow. Handicapped by the tight bandages that wrapped around her chest. By the years of starvation and exhaustion she'd survived. By her crippling wounds.

It was an unfair fight.

Kalth dodged her first strike easily, then her second as she tried to make up for it. As injured and weak as she was, no amount of skill was enough to keep up with Kalth as he moved with lightning grace before her.

A terrible yell echoed as he kneed her in the gut, right where her bandages were. Red blossomed across the white as fresh blood drew forth, and Cere sucked in a wheezing breath.

Saedii pushed out with the Force, knocking him back.

It was too late.

With a wet sort of gasp, Cere went to one knee. Shadows fell over her face as the lightsaber extinguished in her hand and her body swayed dangerously. A moment later, she collapsed and the hilt rolled out of her hand. Across the floor.

Right at Kalth's feet.

Time seemed to slow as he reached for it. As Saedii desperately tried to call it to her before he could grasp it. His own power flooded the air, stalemating her own as his fingers wrapped around the hilt.

A ripple went through his shoulders. His smile widened.

Then, with terrifying grace and purpose, he got to his feet and engaged it.

The fear that had coursed through Saedii earlier roared in her veins now. Kalth was armed – a living weapon with a lightsaber in his grasp. Infinitely more dangerous than he'd been mere moments before.

As if the lightsaber had reinvigorated him, Kalth stood up to his full height. Letting the green light play along the ridges of his cheeks, casting his eyes in shadow.

"Four Jedi," he boasted. "My master will be pleased."

Padme was stone in the corner, tucking both kids into her sides. Her dark eyes twitched towards the door – and Kalth who stood before her, blocking her way. The twins screamed.

The door opened then. Three Clones rushed in, each of them armed.

When they spotted Kalth standing above Cere's inert form, they began to fire.

Dully, Saedii noticed that they, like Padme, were firing to kill. But their shots didn't do much good as Kalth expertly batted them away. As he deflected them right back.

"Padme, move!" Saedii ordered, pushing out with the Force. Knocking Kalth just enough out of her way that she could run.

Tech was there at her side, scooping Luke up with his good arm. Together, he and Padme ushered the twin out from the corner. Saedii grabbed them and shoved them towards the other side of the room, away from the blaster fire in the doorway.

"I've called Hunter. They're on their way," Tech reported. Blood was running down his jaw, but he was alert enough.

Saedii shoved him towards the fresher in the corner. "Barricade them in the bathroom. Whatever happens out here, do not let them out until it's safe."

"I can't leave –"

The room suddenly fell silent.

Death brushed against her in the Force – impossibly cold. She shivered and turned, finding the Clones dead in the doorway. Each with a smoking blaster burn in their chest.

Heart thundering, Saedii looked to Kalth.

He was breathing hard. Chest heaving as he swiped at the sweat on his forehead. A very cold, bleak chuckle escape as he stalked forward. As his gaze landed on Saedii and the twins.

"Now," he said cruelly, "you're mine."

Tech swung his blaster up.

From the floor, Cere whispered, "Saedii," and shoved something across the floor.

Her lightsabers.

The medical bay vanished around her, narrowing down to the single spot on the floor where her lightsabers sat. To the worn handles that were as familiar as the feel of her own skin. To the kyber crystals which beckoned inside.

Salvation.

Sweat poured down her back. Her fingers twitched at her side, molding to the exact shape of her hilts, though they met only air.

For a moment, she hesitated.

Memories of blood and bones, of the blades swung from her own hands to cut down people she loved. People of flesh and bone. People of dust and shadow. The faces of Zatt, Jek, and Cid loomed back at her, each with a glowing lightsaber hole in their heart. Omega's face gaped at her, still and lifeless. The monster with her face stared back. Silver tears on her cheeks.

Kalth raised his lightsaber.

And she made her choice.

Her hands shot up, opening at the same moment the worn hilts rocketed into them. Fingers curling, she engaged both blades at the same timing, crossing them above her head just as Kalth's lightsaber flashed down for her face.

The blades met in an explosion of sparks. Heat danced across her face. Muscles down her back flexed as she struggled beneath Kalth's press – but held. Then, with the power of the Force behind her, she shoved against him.

He crouched low, sliding back. One hand shot behind him, slowing him to a stop only a few feet away. His glittering eyes raised over his blade, accessing her.

Moving on instinct, Saedii slid into the same crouch she had a million times before. Her legs bunched with the practiced burn. Her arms steady with the familiar weight of her blades in her hands.

With exaggerated slowness, Kalth straightened. Eyes glittering as they took in her determined stance. The way her lightsabers were steady in her grasp.

Blade rising before him, he grinned. "Finally a challenge."