SOMEWHERE IN SPACE

"Cal. Cal, can you hear me? Cal?"

Cal slowly woke up, and the first thing he saw was a pure white light. It took his eyes a while to adjust. He blinked and saw Diane hovering over him. A bright light emitted all over her body.

He shot up and gave her a desperate look.

"Cere."

"She's okay," the angel told him. "She's alright."

"Boooooooop! Booooooop!"

BD hopped on his stomach, and the redhead chuckled.

"You too," Cal said.

"You did it," Diane told him.

"We did it? We did— Ah!"

"Careful, you hurt yourself. Broken shard. I healed all the major wounds, but this one, I'm afraid, I can't do too much without draining myself of energy."

"It's okay," he winced. "Thanks. Where are they?"

She sighed and grabbed his arm, slinging it over her shoulder as she walked him out. When she did, Merrin tackled him in a hug before pulling away.

"Sorry," she said. "I'm glad you're okay."

She glanced back at Greez, who looked tired on the couch.

"That one wouldn't leave your side. And neither would she."

Cal glanced at Diane who purposely looked away. He looked over at Cere and limped to her, sitting beside her. Diane followed suit.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"So now what?" Greez asked.

"Well, Captain," Cere started. "This is the end of my charter. Your contract has been fulfilled. Thank you Greez."

"W-Well if it's all the same to you, I was thinking that maybe I would stick around here and take you wherever you need to go," he said, before talking lower. "Besides, the kid kind of looks up to me."

"What about that?" Merrin asked, sitting beside the angel.

She was referring to the dormant Holocron that sat on the low holotable.

"We use it," Cere replied. "To rebuild the Jedi Order."

Cal stood up, grabbing the Holocron before unlocking it. The Holocron opened and it floated in mid-air. The names were in language that Diane did not understand nor did she understand the markings that were floating about.

"The next generation of Jedi," Merrin said.

"The Empire will be after 'em," Greez added. "Just like they're after us."

Diane looked at Cal. She watched as a switch flickered within him and knew he'd come to a decision.

"The lives of every child on that list will be changed, forever," she added.

He shook his head.

"Not by us," he said.

He unclipped his lightsaber and looked around the room.

"Their destiny should be trusted to the Force."

He ignited his lightsaber and sliced it in half. It stopped glowing and fell to the floor. He turned it off and looked at Diane.

"So," he said, "are you gonna tell them or do I have to?"

"Tell us what?" Greez asked. Merrin looked confused and Cere had an idea.

"Heaven," Diane said. "They're after me. And this time, they mean business."

She glanced at the angel sword that was leaning against one of the ship walls.

"While you were with Trilla," the angel said, looking at Cal. "Michael and Gabriel spoke to me."

"What?! Again?!"

"'Again'?" Cere repeated.

"They've given me less than twenty-four hours to agree to kill Archon."

"Whoa, whoa, what's going on?" Greez asked.

"Or what?" Cal challenged.

Diane pondered on whether or not she should tell him.

"Or someone dies."

"So they want you to kill someone or they'll kill another person?" Merrin asked, bluntly.

"An angel or a mortal," Diane muttered.

"Be-boo boop."

Diane nodded her head and looked at Cal.

"You're kidding right?" Greez said, finally understanding.

"Diane," Cere started.

"Don't," the angel said. "I've made up my mind."

She walked over to the center of the ship and looked up.

"Okay, Gabriel! Fine! You win!"

Diane grabbed the silver angel sword and waited.

"Let me come with you," Cal said. "This is a C&D problem, remember?"

"Cal," she said. "You may be a Jedi Knight, but an Archangel's power is beyond anything you've ever seen. They can turn worlds inside out and shape whatever they want, whoever they want...even erase memories of other angels."

Cal's face softened as he remembered when she told him about her dreams. They were memories after all.

"So as much as I'd love to have you with me I cannot risk losing you. Not again."

Before Cal said another word, a flash of pure white light beamed and within seconds she was gone.

"W-Where'd they take her?" Greez asked.

Cal felt a lump in his throat form.

"Heaven."

⤠⤟

SOMEWHERE IN HEAVEN

Diane blinked and found herself in an empty white room. She turned and saw Gabriel standing there, hands clasped.

"So, you've decided to make the right decision?"

Diane hesitated to respond, knowing it was probably going to be snarky.

"Cal Kestis should not be punished for Heaven's actions. He is an innocent soul in this situation."

"I don't care about him," Gabriel said.

Diane realized something. Something she missed.

"You were using him as bait?!"

"Heaven will not be corrupted by this aberration!"

"Look I don't like him either, but that doesn't mean I'm going around preaching about murdering him."

"I'm not 'preaching'."

"Where's Michael?"

Gabriel's eyes shifted.

"Michael's preoccupied at the moment."

Currently, the Archangel was locked behind a secure door until the event was over but Gabriel had no means of telling the other angel about this.

But Diane didn't need telling. They knew.

"You put him away didn't you?"

Gabriel winced. "Let's not use that phrase."

Diane groaned, angry and frustrated at the Archangel.

"Okay, you know what. Fine. I'll do it."

Gabriel looked smug with himself.

"I knew you'd come around."

"But I want to change the terms and conditions," she quickly added.

Gabriel nodded his head.

"Okay."

"And you have to bind it eternally."

He sighed.

"You do realize that if we do that..."

"I know," she replied. "Not even you can break it."

But that's the point, Diane thought.

"What is it you wish to change?"

She smiled.