❝ some things are best if kept hidden. ❞

―

CARINA HELD HER DAUGHTER close to her side as the unknown woman led them through the back of tents due to storm troopers roaming out and about.

"He gave you the right coordinates. I was on my way when the probes arrived, but you'd already gone."

Carina pursed her chapped lips, "Well, we hadn't expected anyone to actually show up." Leia gazed up at the brunette, "Correction, you two hadn't."

Two troopers walked past the little corner the group was in and Carina instinctively pulled Leia closer towards the wall, behind herself as she watched them disappear from her line of sight.

Tala glanced out before speaking, "The Empire's gone into high alert. They've locked everything down." Obi-Wan held a concerned glint in his gaze, "Can we still get out?"

"I can get you to the port." Tala kept a weary eye out as she continued, "There's a pilot who's agreed to take you, but he's not scheduled to leave for a few hours, so we need to lay low."

Carina knitted her brows together as she intently watched the woman, she wasn't fond of following a person they didn't know. Tala began to walk towards the street before gazing back at the trio, "Wait here. I'll make sure it's clear."

Carina clenched her jaw before looking up to see aircrafts taking off, her eyes darted around, her attention going back to Tala. Her eyes lingered on the woman until she disappeared into a room, a small fluttering noise was made beside her and the mother looked down to see her youngest holding her droid, Lola, close to her heart.

The Algora girl pursed her lips before crouching down to meet her child's height, "It'll be okay, Leia. I promise you I am getting you back home."

Leia's lower lips began to tremble as she softly spoke, "I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't mean to run away. I used to do it all the time. I just— it was just for fun." Carina placed a gentle hand upon her daughters shoulder, "It wasn't your fault, princess. You couldn't have known what would happen."

The ten year old held a saddened look, "I miss home."

"You'll be home soon, I promise."

Obi-Wan glanced back at his friend, "Carina." The brunette's attention went to the male as she stood back up to her full size before slipping into his side to see Tala signaling for them to join her. Carina pressed her lips together, "I don't like this."

"We don't have another choice at the moment."

Carina glanced back at Leia while holding her hand out, "Come on." Obi-Wan walked a little ahead of the two as Carina did her best to look calm and normal as she crossed the pathway before slipping into the small opening of the door, her hand letting go of Leia as the child began to look around the room.

"Droid maintenance. It's all automated. No one ever comes in here." Tala informed the other three who kept gazing around. Carina's eyes fell on a droid that stood before young Leia, her attention going to Tala who spoke in a reassuring manner, "Oh, it's all right. He's on our side. Designation's NED-B."

Leia smiled up at the robot, "Hi, NED-B." The princess gestured down towards her own little droid that laid in the palm of her hand, "This is L0-LA59. Lola, say hello."

Lola let out a few beeps to which Carina watched NED-B simply gazed at the smaller robot. Tala glanced between the two before chiming up, "Uh, he's just a loader. They don't allow them to communicate."

Carina furrowed her brows, "Allow?"

Leia tilted her head slightly in confusion, "But what if he has something to say?"

"Actions speak louder than words."

Carina's attention went to the loader droid who flipped a switch, a secret door creaking open as another room was revealed. Obi-Wan lead Leia into the chamber as Carina looked slightly reluctant before hesitantly moving to follow.

Carina's eyes roamed around the scratched walls before looking back at Tala who had taken her hat off, "What is this?"

Tala turned to face the mother as she began explaining, "We have safehouses like this throughout the galaxy. Trying to link the systems. Some call it the Path. You two not the first Jedi to come through here."

Carina narrowed her eyes slightly, "How did you—?"

"Carina Algora. That is your name, isn't it?"

Leia glanced up at the brunette in curiosity, her eyes taking note of Carina's hostile gaze. Tala watched the mothers body language, taking it as her confirmation as she continued, "Just by the name anyone would know you are one of the strongest Jedi's to have existed."

"Were." Carina quickly cut Tala off, her tone coming off harsh and dry, "That is no longer my title."

Tala nodded, understanding the girls wishes as she continued, "Well, this all leads to Jabiim, and from there, we give them new identities and get them out. There's a lot of good people risking their lives out there."

Carina took note of the engraved names on the walls as her daughter spoke up, "Are they all Jedi?"

Tala shook her head, "Not all. These days, the Empire hunts anyone who's Force-sensitive. Even children."

Carina's gaze immediately went to the princess, her eyes lingering on her only daughter for a moment too long. All the voices surrounding her became drowned out as she thought of what would happen to her children if they ever fell into the Emperor's grasp.

The mere thought of it made Carina still in her spot, there was a reason she wanted her young ones away from such mess and horror's. She knew it wouldn't be long before they tapped into their abilities, that is what the mother feared most.

A hand being placed upon the brunette's shoulder jolted her out of her trance, her gaze meeting Obi-Wan's to see a sympathetic glint hidden in his eyes.

A knock at the door suddenly purged the atmosphere. Carina instinctively reached for her blaster as Tala moved to lean against the door, her weapon in hand as she listened in to the commotion occurring in the other room.

"Open up. Now."

Carina spared her daughter a glance as she adjusted her grip on her blaster, listening to the storm trooper speak to NED-B.

"We need to search the premises. A Jedi was seen entering this camp."

Boots clacking against the hard ground could be heard when all of a sudden the noise stopped, signaling the soldiers had stopped walking, "You seen anyone?"

Silence fell after the droid spoke and not even a second later, the trooper snapped, "Hey! I'm talking to you."

Carina grit her teeth in irritation as the other storm trooper spoke up, "It's just a loader. It doesn't understand. Come on. Let's try the next one."

Their footsteps could be heard getting farther and farther until a door clicked shut. The tension in Carina's shoulders faltered slightly as she slipped her blaster back into her utility belt.

Tala took out her comlink as she began speaking into it, "We've been compromised. We're coming to you right now."

"We're not ready. We need more—"

"I don't care. Get the ship ready, and hurry."

Tala pulled off the uniform she had been wearing to reveal a simple blue shirt hiding beneath it. Carina glanced over at Obi-Wan as the woman spoke, "Someone must have seen us. We're moving up the timeline."

Carina ran her hands through her hair as Obi-Wan approached her, "Carina."

The brunette shook her head, "Something feels horribly off." Kenobi knitted his brows together in confusion, "What is it?" Carina looked up to gaze into her friends eyes, "A feeling."

This did not bode well with Obi-Wan, every time Carina said such words, it meant because something would happen. Nothing particularly on the happy side.

Carina always knew the outcomes to fights, it's what made her such a great fighter. She knew when things would go right or wrong, but sometimes the brunette choose to ignore her feelings.

It was one of the reason Carina blamed herself for Anakin's downfall. She felt it, she felt the dark side consuming him, she knew the atrocities that would occur, but she was also just a girl in love.

Carina wanted to have hope, faith— that her feelings, her instincts would be mistaken. That Anakin would not be swayed by the dark side of the force, but young Carina had been proven right, and for that alone, she would never forgive herself for her stubbornness.

Carina closed her eyes, she had not tapped into her connection with the force since she had broken it, so why could she still sense things? She wanted nothing to do with her abilities, she resented them.

The mother turned to gaze at her daughter, "Leia, come get ready." Tala looked up at Carina, "She'll make a good fighter one day."

The Algora girl took a moment to process her words, her eyes shifting back to little Leia who was putting her robe on. The mother pursed her lips, she knew it was the truth, "You might be right about that."

Carina watched Tala for a moment, "Why are you doing this? Risking everything just to help?" The woman paused her movements for a moment, "I joined up when the Empire stood for something. By the time I realized what they really were, it was too late." Tala closed her eyes as she spoke, "I made some mistakes."

Carina gave the woman an understanding look, "We all did." Tala smiled slightly, "I can't imagine the infamous Carina Algora doing anything wrong."

The brunette shrugged as her eyes became distant once again, "I'm the person you think I am."

Tala inspected the girls expression, "I find that a bit hard to believe."

Carina parted her lips to speak when a chill ran up her spine, her movements stilling as she couldn't understand why an eerie sensation had overcome her.

"Ben?"

The mother slowly turned to see Obi-Wan gazing ahead at the wall, his eyes wide with fear whilst he stood completely still. His breathing suddenly became heavy, his chest heaving rapidly.

Carina reluctantly turned to gaze at the door, she knew whatever had been making her feel eerie, had arrived. What it was? Well, she supposed she was about to find out.

Carina opened the door with Obi-Wan right at her side as the duo approached the main door. The brunette peaked out of the small opening as she gazed at the running figures.

Storm troopers suddenly came into view as distant shrieks could be faintly heard. People pushed each other into the houses as voices became ushered, silence falling over the atmosphere.

Breathing. Heavy, intimidating breathing suddenly broke the silence. The mere sound of it made goosebumps erupt on Carina's skin as her lips slightly trembled, she knew who it was.

Carina felt as if all the air in her lungs had been sucked out of her as she watched the mask that haunted her dreams, appear only a few yards away from her. He looked so different, not a speck of his own self, his own body, could be seen. He was hidden inside that suit.

Carina clenched her hands that wouldn't stop shaking, he was alive.

Carina darted her attention towards her daughter that was watching the man she had not a single clue that was her father, the brunette grabbed her daughter hands before gently pushing her towards the chambers, "Go, back into the room."

Carina quickly turned once she saw Leia disappear into the area, her eyes watching Darth Vader that suddenly came to a stop. His mere presence riled up fear in those around him.

Carina swallowed a lump in her throat as Obi-Wan didn't dare take his gaze off of his old padawan. Carina watched the male she once acknowledged as her husband turn to gaze at a building.

Carina attempted to control her breathing as her pants could be heard, her hands trembling more than before as she watched Darth Vader suddenly extend his hand out, the figure of a man forcefully beginning dragged out of the building as the Sith Lord force choked him.

"Stop! No!"

The voice of a boy could be heard, Carina assumed the man was her father. The brunette watched the young child run out of the building, desperate for his father as Vader slammed the boy back into the wall with the force. His attention going to the son as he reached his hand out towards him, his wrist suddenly moving as the child's neck was broken.

Carina let out an inaudible gasp as her hand reached up to cover her mouth. Eyes wide in horror at what she had just witnessed, the child was dead.

Carina watched his mother run out of the building in tears as she reached for her son, before beginning to cry over his limp body.

Darth Vader continued in his tracks, completely unbothered by what he had just done, unaware of his wife that had been watching from a few feet away.

Tala's voice broke Carina's train of thought, "We need to go, now."

Carina couldn't move her body, couldn't tear her eyes away from the man she loved. In her mind, she couldn't grasp the fact that the person before her had once been Anakin, her Anakin.

She didn't want to believe it.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a moment, the boy he trained had truly died. Kenobi looked over at Carina, his gaze faltering as he noticed the look of terror on the girls expression. Obi-Wan placed a gentle hand on her forearm, gaining her attention, "We need to go."

Carina swallowed thickly before hesitantly nodding, she harshly turned away from the door before stepping back into the chambers where her daughter awaited. Obi-Wan glanced between the two girls just as his friend turned to face him, "Go with Leia, I'll be right behind you two."

Carina immediately knew what the male was going to do, "No, Obi-Wan, no."

"I have to. Get Leia back home, I'll lead them away."

Carina was frantically shaking her head, "No, you can't face him. He'll kill you." Obi-Wan gave the brunette a look, "I will be fine—"

"I'll go with you."

Kenobi pursed his lips, "No. Leia needs you and I know you are not emotionally stable to go face to face with him, Carina. Trust me." Carina couldn't help the tears that began to sting her eyes when her friend took ahold of her hand, she looked down to see his own lightsaber being placed in her grasp.

Carina looked back up before shaking her head once again, "You know I can't—"

"It is for protection. I will not give you your own because I know you do not have the strength to wield it, so wield mine. You cannot win against an Inquisitor without a lightsaber."

Carina knew he was right, a blaster was useless against a dark force user if she was to come across one. She had not fought with a saber in years, a bamboo stick having been the replacement for it.

Obi-Wan took notice of the hesitance in her eyes, he knew it would take much time for Carina to be able to fight with the weapon, since the girl could barely even look at the one she forged.

Kenobi closed Carina's hand, her fingers having to wrap around the saber as her pursed lips began to slightly shake. Obi-Wan nodded, "Watch it for me."

Before the girl could get a single word out, Obi-Wan had already sped out of the room. Carina felt her chest tighten, a single tear rolling down her cheek as she gazed down at her brother's lightsaber.

"Vena?"

The brunette looked over to see her daughter gazing intently at her. Carina met Tala's eyes and gestured towards the hidden pathway, "We need to go."

―

Carina had a hand on her daughters shoulder as they hurriedly rushed down the tunnels, hesitation in her steps suddenly occurred as the mother glanced back towards the chambers they had just come from.

Leia noticed the woman's reluctance and grabbed her hand, catching her attention as she spoke, "Go."

Carina intently watched the princess, "I can't—"

"He needs you. You know he does."

The brunette licked her chapped lips, her choices running through her mind when she looked up at Tala, "Get her to Alderaan. Promise me."

Tala nodded in reassurance, "Okay."

The mother crouched down to her daughters height, "I'll see you soon." Leia softly nodded as the woman stood back up before rushing back the way she went.

Leia watched Carina's distancing figure, a small frown etching itself onto her lips as she did so.

—

Carina glanced around the sand, her eyes searching for any glimpse of her friend.

The brunette pressed her lips firmly together as a breeze flew past, her locks ruffling a bit when the sound of a saber being ignited caught her attention.

Carina turned to see an unknown male holding a red lit lightsaber at his side. The brunette turned towards him as she clenched her jaw, an Inquisitor.

"I didn't quite believe it when I heard you were alive."

Carina narrowed her eyes slightly, "Don't think I'm that easy to get rid of."

Arjun smirked slightly, "You don't have a connection with the force."

"I can still beat some sense into you."

The Inquisitor adjusted his grip on his weapon, "Killing you will prove me to be stronger than the rest."

Carina shrugged off her coat, "Your arrogance consumes you." Arjun grit his teeth, "Don't act so smug. Ten years without fighting a single soul, the years must've made you weak."

Carina rolled her eyes, mentally forcing herself to reach for Obi-Wan's lightsaber. The girl cursed her trembling hands as she took ahold of the metal handle, this would certainly be a challenge for her.

Carina pushed through her troubles, she should be able to hold a lightsaber without feeling panic take ahold of her.

Carina clutched the weapon, putting all her strength into igniting it. Listening to the saber turn on, it's blue light reflecting onto herself as she held herself high.

She promised her daughter she would see her soon, she was not about to break her word.

Carina gazed ahead at the male, "You ramble way too much."

With those words leaving her lips, the Inquisitor had pounced, slashing his weapon. Carina placed all her strength into her arms as she clashed her saber with his.

The brunette had forgotten how heavy and how much force one had to use when fighting with a lightsaber. A bamboo stick was much lighter than the weapon.

Carina stumbled back slightly, breathing heavily as she did her best to adjust to the weight.

Arjun eyed the girl, taking note of her uneasiness, "You have gotten weaker."

Carina licked her lips, "Do you ever shut up?"

The Algora girl shuffled her feet, slicing the weapon upwards as the Inquisitor blocked her hit. Carina's movements were slower then they once were.

She now remembered the amount of training she had to endure to correctly wield and fight with her saber.

Carina walked backwards as she continuously did her best to block each of Arjun's strikes, his force and strength pushing her backwards as she fought to keep up.

Arjun jabbed the metal part of his handle into Carina's jaw. The girl tumbled backwards, feeling a bit of blood flow into her mouth as she breathed heavily.

The brunette used the back of her hand to wipe the blood away, cringing slightly from the stinging sensation that it created.

Arjun let out a sigh, "You risked everything— for a child? A child you don't even know. It's pathetic really, to see how frail such a respected and feared Jedi has become."

Carina grit her teeth together, feeling anger surge through her as she raised her chin. The girl closed her eyes for a short moment before gazing back at the dark force user.

She strained her muscles, using her force as she spun the saber in her grasp.

Carina spat out the blood in her mouth, a determined glint shining in her eyes before moving quickly to clash her weapon with the males.

The brunette took the opportunity to jab her fist upwards with her free hand, hitting his jaw upwards as she returned her own blow.

The girl had to focus the fight on combat, because she knew she would lose if it was purely based on saber fighting.

Arjun gritted his teeth in annoyance and anger before slicing his saber down on the girl only for her to hold hers before herself, catching his hit.

Carina grunted as she pushed all her strength into her hands to keep the red ignited saber from touching her face, that was merely centimeters away from doing so.

The brunette thought out her options in the span of half a second before kicking her leg out to hit the males back, pushing him towards her as his own saber ended up grazing the center of his face.

The Inquisitor let out a groan before stumbling back, saber in his hand as his other went to his face where he had been burned.

Carina spun on her heel and as she did she jabbed her elbow into the males face before stabbing her saber into his thigh.

The Inquisitor crumbled onto the ground, hissing in pain as he laid in his knees.

Carina straightened up, clutching the weapon tightly before shutting it off, "You come after me again, and I won't be as nice next time."

The girl slipped the saber back into her utility belt before turning, picking up her pace as she ran through the sand.

Carina abruptly stopped, feeling a massive weight get pushed onto her as she collapsed onto her knees.

The brunette's eyes began to feel heavy as soft pants escaped her parted lips. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so utterly drained.

Carina fought to keep her head up when a figure suddenly began approaching her.

The mother narrowed her eyes to make out Tala's face, confusion flashed across her expression before taking note of a familiar body laying behind the woman.

If Tala was right there before her, who was with Leia?

But Carina wouldn't be able to receive an answer to her question before her vision went black.

—

AUTHORS NOTE,
this chapter was a challenge to write ngl