Chapter Text
Kata knew what the dark armor meant. Papa had warned her before.
Was warning her now... Whispering to her...
The baby...
She looked down at the small toddler next to her. Hand trustingly curled around the older's fingers.
The brat, Kata thought as the whispers continued to blow around her. Everything was great when I was the only child! They just had to have another.
Their own... said the whisper, taunting.
They don't deserve it. She doesn't deserve them. Not after they killed my papa.
It was so easy to walk the young thing right up to the Inquisitor. She still remembered the secret codes Papa taught her. And she always hid her own abilities, so the Inquisitor saw her as just a smart, knowledgeable child.
And the added gesture the girl threw to the youngling's parents was enough to convince the dark armored sister to take the babe and run.
The daughter of Cal Kestis was a great prize after all.
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Merrin saw Kata skipping down the road back towards them and smiled. It was nice to see her happy, she thought, as she turned to guide a young couple onboard.
And then she stopped. Slowly turned back. Smile drifting off her face as Kata reached her.
Alone.
'Kata...where is your sister?'
'Sister...?' Kata shrugged. Then paused, as if listening to something. And then - 'Oh! It...it was the bad lady!' Her face crumbled as she stuttered out the words in a small, baby-like voice.
'Cal!' Merrin called as she crouched down in front of Kata. 'What happened, child? What bad lady?'
Kata continued to sniffle and stutter as Cal reached them.
'What's...what's going on?' He stopped, stunned by the emotions of the two.
Kata ran to him, clutching his leg. 'Yana! The Inquisitor took Yana!'
Everything stopped. Suddenly there was no sound. No movement. Color was fading. Air was restricting.
Cal and Merrin shared a look. He knew the distressed and crushed look on her face was surely mirrored on his own. But there was also...determination.
'Go.'
And that's all he needed. He ran back to the village, following the force as it directed him through to the other side. He barely noticed when BD-1 jumped off his back, chirping at him to stop.
But he couldn't stop. The trail was already fading.
When he reached the open field, his heart finally succumbed.
It was empty. Barely a hint a ship had even been there.
His daughter - gone.
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He ran back towards the Mantis. Maybe it was still nearby. Maybe they could trace it.
BD-1 chirped louder at him as he started to pass. The urgency in that noise had Cal stop to find the droid standing guard over a small stuffed toy.
A bogling. It was Yana's.
BD-1 gave a sad trill as Cal reached for it. The droid went to move aside and resume his usual perch when he realized his master was very still. Hand hovering over the toy.
The force echo had hit him hard. Practically barrelling into him. What he saw... What he heard...
His hand gripped the toy finally, as his head dropped.
'Come on buddy,' he said softly to his best friend. 'Let's see if we can follow the trail.'
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Cal ran up the ramp into the ship and looked around. Merrin was on the bench next to the holotable, comforting Kata who was now just quietly whimpering.
Greez rushed up to him, frantic. 'Got a lead? A hint? Anything?'
Merrin knew the look on Cal's face. She'd seen it before. Knew what it meant. But...somehow she also knew...it wasn't just the Inquisitor.
'Everyone is onboard and ready to go', she said, putting as much strength as she could behind the statement.
'We need to get up there. See if we can find a trace.' He wasn't looking at her. After a pause, he looked down. 'Greez?'
'On it. We'll find 'em. Just you watch me kid.' The Latero rushed to the cockpit.
Merrin gently nudged Kata off to her bunk and came to stand next to him.
'Cal...don't...'
'I-' He turned, as if he was going to tell her something, but stopped himself. 'Let's see if there's a trail.' And he moved towards the cockpit, Merrin following after a beat.
The Mantis hit atmosphere, and then stars. And...nothing.
There was a painful silence, with switches being flipped and buttons pushed. Dials turned. Scans checked. It went on...and on...and on... And then...
Cal and BeeDee shared a look. The droid just shook his head.
Merrin collapsed into a chair with a singular sob. Cal was up and kneeling in front of her.
'I'll find her. Merrin- I swear to you. I'll-'
'And what will happen to you in the process?' She met her eyes. 'This isn't some key or bit of data, Cal. It's our daughter.'
'I know!'
She reached up and grabbed his face, holding him from jumping away.
'There is something else. I can see it. And you won't tell me. But...I know that look. You promised me. You promised you wouldn't lose yourself.'
He reached up to clutch at her hands, his face crumbling and seeking the support. After a beat, he brought them down between them, still her hands in his.
'We have a ship of folks looking for a safe home. We have to take them where we promised. And then...we'll plan. There are folks who have information that could help already on Tanaloor. We start there.'
Merrin released one of her hands to gently caress his face. They leaned towards each other, heads touching.
'I will find her Merrin. I...I have to,' he quietly swore.
'I know you will.'