For the Love of Fear

The young girl leaned back against the wall of the cantina. She looked strange surrounded by the hazy smoke and dust. She was only ten years old, yet her presence was felt by every alien and human alike who sat in the musty old cantina. From where she stood she could hear the murmuring of shady deals. Ord Mantell was known for its smugglers and black market traders. Yet even on such a black planet, the girl was given wide berth. No one questioned her being here, and she could hear the whispers swirl around.

"The child... granddaughter of Bobba Fett... said to be the best pilot in the Mid Rim... wonder where her parents are."

As the girl heard the last words, she felt a painful sting in her heart. Her parents. She knew where they are, even if no one else did. They were underground, hiding on Sullust. The numerous caves of the planet had been chosen as the best spot for the young couple. For they were wanted by the Empire. The girl shivered at the thought of the mundane white storm troopers and red guards. She had grown up with the Empire and their cold, black hearts. Her father had been an influential senator and her mother one of the Emperor's best advisors. But after her birth, the Emperor had realized his advisor was not what she seemed. The girl flinched. Her own mother and father had been working with Bothan spies for the Rebel Alliance. And they had disappeared. Tired of foster families, the young girl ran off to follow in her grandfather's legendary footsteps. For her mother's father was the infamous Bobba Fett.

As midnight came, the cantina did not die down. But ten minutes past the hour, the girl abandoned her post at the wall. With the eyes of all following her, she left the cantina and stepped into the icy rain falling outside. The cold didn't bother her. The Emperor had tortured her worse when she had been interrogated for her parents' location. A little cold and water wouldn't bother her now. She walked silently to the end of the street. She stood on the corner for a few minutes before a figure began to approach her. As the figure came closer, he was revealed to be a man in his late twenties. He had the stereotyped smuggler look, complete with a large blaster looming at his side.

"You Celeste fa Toren?" he asked gruffly.

"I am," she replied with a cold look. The man began unwrapping a large package he was carrying. He glanced nervously from side to side as he did. He mumbled something about how it had better be worth a lot.

"Here it is. Stolen from right under the nose of the Emperor himself. It was in a top security vault." As the wrapping fell clear, a lightsaber was visible. "I want a thousand credits for it," the man said gruffly. Celeste smiled.

"Deal," she replied airily. "Give it to me," she said firmly as she handed him a check.

"Why is it so important?" the smuggler asked, examining the check.

"It was my mother's. She was a Jedi. The Emperor may believe he killed off all of them, but he is quite wrong."

The smuggler just shrugged. "Still don't seem worth a thousand credits to me." Celeste gave him another understanding smile. Then she showed him the weapon.

"The handle is pure diamond, and the core is the finest Ithorian pearl. I say it's well worth the money." Celeste ignited the blade. It was silver gray and hummed with the energy of the lost Jedi. The smuggler backed away.

"Whatever. It was nice doing business with you." He turned quickly and walked away. Celeste turned off the blade a bit sadly. She turned the smooth handle over in her hands. She had finally found what she was looking for. Carved in beautiful writing on the bottom of the blade were three very distinct words. Celeste smiled happily as she read them. She turned and walked to the shipyard. She would leave Ord Mantell when dawn broke. Her footsteps echoed down the street in a gentle rhythm to the words on the lightsaber. Mitsuko Kiyo Fett.

Celeste woke with a start. She was covered in sweat and was shaking from head to toe. She jumped up and tried to run. As her vision returned and her senses cleared, she began to calm down. There was no Emperor and no chamber of pain. She had simply fallen asleep on her ship. She sat back down in the pilot's chair and checked her course. The ship was on automatic pilot to Courscant. She sighed. She must have fallen asleep during the flight.

Still breathing hard, she slowly ran her finger down the ship's sleek controls. The Storm Watcher had never failed her. It was her most prized possession and had been with her forever. It had been a gift, ironically from the Emperor himself, on her fifth birthday. A chill went down her back remembering her affection for the old man, who treated her like a granddaughter. Her mother had been deep in the Emperor's inner circle. Too deep. Celeste banished the thoughts from her mind. She had no more respect for the Emperor, only a deep hatred. But she felt similarly about the Rebel Alliance. It was both sides' fault that her parents were gone. And now she would take matters into her own hands. She knew where the Emperor's secret base was. Her hands slid down to the lightsaber on her belt. She would use her code clearance to enter the base, and she would kill the Emperor herself. And this time, no one would stop her.

Celeste watched as the distant planet of Courscant came in to view. The sight always fascinated her, no matter how many times she'd been here. The sparkling lights of the planet glittered like fireflies. She smiled dreamily, thinking of her old life. They had lived on Courscant before her mother had been uncovered as a spy. But she wasn't going back for old memories. Celeste had a plan this time. A high pitch squeak pulled her back to reality. A dusty voice was speaking over the radio.

"Storm Watcher, we have you on our screens now. Please state cargo and destination." Celeste fumbled at the radio for a minute.

"Secret military information for the Emperor himself." The voice was silent for a few minutes.

"Please transmit entrance code to the Imperial base."

"Transmission commencing," Celeste replied. She knew her code would work. It was a top-secret code, given to the privileged few in the Emperor's closest circle. Once again, the radio interrupted her thoughts.

"Storm Watcher, your code checks out. Clearance has been granted to the Imperial base. You may land at platform 51-8B. A ground landing crew will meet you there." Celeste smiled. The plan was perfect. By nightfall, the Emperor would be dead.

Celeste slowly touched the controls to the door. The base was unusually quiet, and the door had a thick layer of rust. Celeste frowned. There was no way the Empire would abandon a base like this. Surely it had cost thousands to build. She poised her fingers on the buttons and began to type in the entry code.

"Going somewhere, sister?" a voice echoed from behind her. Celeste jumped and spun around. A gray-haired girl stood six feet away, and had obviously been watching her the entire time. Celeste let out a slow breath.

"I didn't think you'd bother coming after me," she snapped at the girl.

"You're my sister; I'm obligated to. Besides, you're worth more to the Haven than you think. Cousin Oame wishes you would stay." Celeste glared at her sister coldly.

"Taini, you can tell our creepy cousin I have no wish to stay part of the organization. So there." Taini shrugged but then smiled. Celeste felt a shudder go through her. Taini's two canine teeth were longer than her others, clearly marking her as a vampire.

"So, you got what you wanted after all," she said, still horrified. Taini gave off another grin.

"I always was jealous of our cousin. The vampires will rise to power again; even you must know that. I stayed and worked with the Haven, and I got my reward."

"What reward? You became a vampire! What would Mother say?" Celeste shrieked. Taini's eyes clouded, and her face turned sour.

"Still believe mummy-dearest will come back, don't you? I have news, sister - she won't. Mother abandoned us; get with the program. If it weren't for Oame, we'd both be dead. You and your stupid fantasies! I hope you never come back!" Taini screamed at her sister. Celeste gritted her teeth.

"Don't... you insult... our mother!" she cried and tackled Taini to the ground. Celeste bashed Taini against the hard platform, anger flowing through her. She didn't hear the soft sound of wind chimes creeping through the air until it was too late. Almost instantly, she was thrown back against the wall. A metallic voice filled the air.

"Don't... you... hurt... my... most... loyal... supporter... traitor..."

Taini stood up and brushed herself off. She stuck her tongue out at Celeste and hurriedly bowed the figure in front of her.

"Dark Princess, I'm so glad you came. I do believe my sister would have killed me," Taini said sweetly.

"Liar!" hollered Celeste.

"Am not! You're the liar!"

"Stop... this... pointless... bickering!" Oame yelled at the two of them. Taini glared at her sister and bowed to Oame again.

"Sorry," grumbled Celeste.

"Taini... did... you... deliver... the... crystal... to... your... sister?"

"Sorry, my Lady. I was going to, but she attacked me first," Taini said, blushing. "I would never disobey." Oame nodded and waved her hand as if it didn't greatly concern her.

"Why... I... should... waste... my... energy... on... you... I... don't... know," Oame said, now speaking to Celeste. She then looked toward Taini.

"Give... it... to... her." Taini frowned but stepped forward and placed a large black crystal in Celeste's hand. "It is from Mother. The Haven intercepted it a few days ago. It is yours, for I have no need of it. No one can figure out what it does anyway." Celeste nodded.

"Thank you, sister." She then turned toward Oame. "I offer many apologies, Dark Princess. You may dispose of me as you wish." Before Oame could speak, Taini steeped forward.

"The Haven has already decided upon your punishment. You will go to the past and help Tera and Kyuu. Perhaps you will be of some use there. If you are to figure out what the crystal does, you are to report here immediately," Taini said gleefully.

"Since when do I take orders from you?" Celeste asked her sister coldly.

"Since... now," Oame responded. "Your... sister... and I... will... be... keeping... an... eye... on... you."

Celeste bowed but shot an angry look at her sister. Oame raised her hands and a large, silver circle appeared.

"Go... cousin." Celeste nodded but turned to look at Taini once more. Taini smiled, showing her vampire teeth. She looked strangely happy next to Lady Oame. Celeste quietly sighed and closed her eyes, content to wallow in self-pity. As the sunlight faded into silver shadows, the last thing she heard was her sisters silky voice.

"Careful, sister. This time, there's nowhere to run."