KASHYYYK

Diane and Cal had finally met the Wookiee Chieftain Tarfful. After much discussion, Mari told them about an Origin Tree and how Cordova had "found wisdom" from the top of the tree. Cal was hesitant since the tree was massive. In fact, it was so big that it reached above the clouds. But the fighter said that there was a system through the roots that would allow them to reach the top. While he was contemplating, Diane was panicking.

Most of the root system was underwater.

Cal had given her a quick lesson earlier but he hadn't mentioned swimming underneath the waters. Besides, Mari only had one breather and Diane wasn't even sure if she was capable of holding her breath that long. Though she was an angel, she still had a mortal vessel. And she was still new to this dynamic so she had no idea what she was and wasn't capable of. She didn't know her limits.

Cal could see the worry apparent on her face.

"Relax angel, I'll help you."

But Diane did not relax.

She didn't think she could ever relax.

If she wasn't worried about Cal and BD, she was worried about Heaven. If she wasn't worried about Heaven and its angels, she was worried about herself. It was an endless, ruthless cycle.

When she was in Heaven, Diane didn't think too much. But now, her mind was overloaded. This...feeling, was something the angel had never experienced before yet, it felt so familiar to her. Diane hadn't thought too much about that dream she had about her and Daniel. But there was this nagging pull within the depths of her grace that kept trying to tell her something.

"Diane?"

The angel looked up to see Cal staring at her. What for? She couldn't tell you, but she was sure that he was scanning to see if he could read her mind (as if a mortal could).

"Let's go," she said, softly.

They trekked down the muddy slope and the angel stopped to glance down at the murky waters below. Cal kept having to push her onward because, for some reason, her legs weren't allowing her to continue forward.

"You're just nervous," he told her.

"I don't get nervous."

"Right, because you're an angel."

"Yes."

They didn't speak for a while after that.

Diane dipped the front of her boot in the water as Cal took out the breather Mari gave him.

"Ok. New plan."

She looked at him sharply.

"What do you mean 'New plan'?"

"Look, we're sort of on a time budget so for right now we need to put a hold on the swimming lessons. I say, as soon as I get to the other side I'll pray to you and you come to me. Deal?"

Diane bit her tongue. It was indeed, a good plan.

She nodded.

Cal put on the breather and jumped, along with BD-1 who was crouched on his back.

Then, they were gone.

⸻╳⸻

When Cal did pray, Diane found him outside on some sort of wooden circular platform. A few had railings and covers while others were bare, allowing anything, anyone to see. There were a few fallen troopers scattered around him. (She couldn't see their souls anymore.) So she focused on his instead. BD-1 greeted her by transferring himself from Cal's shoulder to hers.

"Why didn't you call me earlier?" she asked, leaning one side of her body downward so the droid could climb her easily.

"Can't always let you have all the fun." He winked.

Diane scoffed.

"Let's go to the top and see what we can find."

They followed the path upward but their plans were foiled when they saw that the rest of it had been destroyed.

"Kriff," he muttered.

Diane tilted her head.

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear wha—?"

A loud humming sound approached the trio. A grey TIE Reaper showed itself to them and the cargo bay door opened.

The Ninth Sister was careful as she took two steps down the ramp. As soon as she took a good look at them, she laughed.

Diane did not like her laugh.

"What's this? Two Bracca scrap rats playing 'hero'?!"

Diane wanted to make a remark that they were mortal beings. That rats are mortal, but they are different than them... But something inside the angel told her that judging by the expression on Cal's face, now was not the time.

"I told the Grand Inquisitor you wouldn't be stupid enough to show your face here again. Especially after we wiped out that feeble resistance... Oh, I love it when I'm wrong."

Cal took a step forward, but Diane held him back.

Not now, she told him in his mind. (Which freaked him out.)

Two shots were fired causing the platform below them to collapse and Diane found herself sliding down a muddy slope once more.

Cal grabbed her with one hand and BD with his other. The droid latched itself on his chest protector and the trio slid down the long path together.

The redhead thought it would never end.

"What's that?!"

Cal looked over and saw the glowing green blob-looking plant. His breath hitched.

A Lung plant.

"Hold on!"

"What for?!"

He grabbed her and held her tightly as the slope ended. They flew in the air in a split second before being catapulted upward. (This was the first time Cal heard Diane's deathly scream, which was not as angelic as he hoped it to be.)

They continued down another muddy slope. The Reaper followed them throughout their entire adventure and kept shooting at them until something swopped in and damaged it enough to ground it.

It was a massive white, feathered...bird?

"What is that thing?!" Cal yelled.

"Be-boo Beep!"

"Cal!"

Before he could glance in her direction, the slope ended and they were tossed into the massive lake below.

Cal and BD-1 saw Diane hanging out on one of the massive tree roots above.

"Mind giving me a lift?"

His voice echoed. (There was a small part of him that was very amused by this.) The duo found themselves leaning against the root as Diane crossed her arms and sat down.

"What now?" she asked.

"Uh," he took a deep breath. "The Ninth Sister's going to be searching for us. We should call..."

He paused before shaking his head.

"No." Diane noticed the change in his voice as he spoke. "On second thought, she listens to their transmissions. Let her find out on her own."

He crouched down to her level.

"As for you. We'll do what we did back there. I get to a safe area and you—"

Within the blink of an eye, they were sitting on an elevated surface.

"—follow."

Diane sheepishly smiled.

"Sorry."

"N-No. It's fine."

BD-1 made a noise which caused the two to glance his way. They followed his eyeline as they looked up. In front of them were many vines, massive roots, and other greenery that looked like it'd wrapped itself upwards.

"More climbing." Cal dryly laughed. "Great."