Dathomir wasn’t far from the planet that Teya had named Murakam, and at maximum speed, my former home drew closer with every passing minute. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of dread and anticipation. The shadow of our pursuer loomed in the back of my mind but so did the memories of the place I had left behind.

  “Teya!” I called out, trying to get her attention as she studied the console beside me. “That Sith Lord who grabbed us before will be tracking our thruster signatures. He won’t be far behind.”

  “So, Retra, what’s the plan, then?” Teya asked, turning to face me. Her tone was edged with doubt, but she hid it behind a cool expression.

  “He won’t dare come after us on Dathomir. Even the Sith fear witches,” I assured her, hoping the confidence in my voice would hide my uncertainty.

  Teya smirked, a touch of sarcasm slipping into her voice. “What about after?”

  “That... let’s hope Roan or his secret master has a solution,” I replied, averting my gaze.

  Her eyes widened with disbelief. “You don’t have a plan?!”

  I frowned, a flash of irritation breaking through my composure. “I don’t have a solution for everything, and neither do you. I’m working with what we’ve got, and if you have a better plan, go ahead.”

  Teya’s expression softened, and she let out a sigh, running a hand through her dark hair. “That’s fair. It’s just... I rely on Roan too much. I’ve already put him in great danger. He was doing fine on his own with his shop on Jedha.”

  I reached out, intending to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but stopped myself before making contact. “He chose this, Teya. Never second-guess his choices. That’s like trying to erase a warrior’s scars.”

  Teya nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks. I don’t fully understand what you mean, but I appreciate the attempt to cheer me up.”

  She gave me a sweet, genuine smile, and I felt my face flush with warmth. Embarrassed, I turned back to the control panel, focusing on preparing the ship for landing. I timed the descent carefully, calculating the trajectory and adjusting our speed to bring us down smoothly through Dathomir’s thick atmosphere. As the ship’s wings curled inward to reduce friction, we began our descent.

  The landing was smoother than I’d expected, taking less than twenty minutes to touch down on the rocky surface of Dathomir. As soon as the ship settled, the hangar door opened, revealing a group of my sisters waiting outside. I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and stepped out to meet them.

  At the front of the group stood Drela, a face I recognized all too well. She crossed her arms, her expression hard. “Retra. Hoped you were gone for good.”

  I forced a smile, trying to keep my tone light. “Nice to see you too, Drela. How’s Mother Alima?”

  Drela scoffed, her eyes narrowing. “If you cared, you wouldn’t have left.”

  “You don’t want me here, but you resent that I left?” I shot back, a bitter edge slipping into my voice. “How like you.”

  Drela turned away, signaling the others to follow her back toward the village, but she lingered, her posture tense. Teya, who had been watching the exchange with a frown, leaned closer to me as we walked.

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  “What did you do?” she asked quietly.

  I shrugged. “Exist.”

  Drela rolled her eyes but said nothing, leading us through the dense, twisted forest toward the village. I caught glimpses of Teya pushing Roan’s hover stretcher behind us, her expression growing more concerned with every step.

  Finally, we reached the edge of the village, where Mother Alima stood waiting. She had aged since I last saw her, but her presence was as formidable as ever, a calm yet unyielding strength that radiated from her.

  “Child, it’s been too long,” she said, her voice a low hum that seemed to resonate through the air.

  I offered a tentative smile. “Mother Alima.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “You know you can just call me ‘Mom,’ Retra.”

  Drela, still standing beside us, let out an exaggerated groan. “Ugh, Mom!”

  I hesitated, feeling the old, familiar discomfort twist inside me. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, but... I’m not your blood.”

  Alima shook her head, her expression softening. “Nonsense, child. Like it or not, you are family.”

  “Only because she asked for it in exchange for saving my life,” Drela muttered under her breath, earning a sharp look from Alima.

  “Go to your dwelling, Drela. I’ll deal with you later,” Alima ordered, her voice taking on a steely edge.

  Drela scowled but obeyed, disappearing into the shadows of the village. Alima turned back to me, her expression softening once more. “Now, how can I help?”

  I gestured to where Teya was carefully guiding Roan’s stretcher closer. “The man you predicted would be my match is mortally wounded. I came seeking your help.”

  Alima’s gaze moved to Roan, her eyes narrowing with a keen, appraising look. After a moment, she placed a hand gently on his chest, closing her eyes. When she opened them, her expression was serious. “He is extremely weak. Are you sure he is the one?”

  I pulled off my gloves, exposing the metal hands beneath. “I am certain.”

  Her gaze shifted, noticing the golden flower that clung to Roan’s neck. Her expression changed subtly, a flicker of recognition passing through her features. “Take him to my tent. I will have the others prepare for the ritual. This one will be different than most. You must pray that he can choose his path without preparation.”

  Teya, who had been listening intently, stepped forward, her brow furrowed. “Preparation for what?”

  Alima turned to her, speaking with a patient but firm tone. “He will have to accept power, and the way he chooses to wield it will shape his connection to the Force. If he accepts the power to protect others, he will be drawn to the light. If he chooses for selfish reasons, he will be drawn to the dark. But if he finds balance, he will remain unaligned, as we aim to be—so as not to be manipulated by the will of the Force.”

  Teya swallowed hard, her voice wavering. “Then... I hope he chooses the light.”

  Alima’s gaze softened, but her words were sharp. “How selfish, to wish for him to follow your path rather than the one meant for him. You would rather he not be alone in his choice, even if it means denying him what is best.”

  Teya’s face flushed, and she looked down, her hands clenching. “I... I didn’t mean—”

  “You are not alone, even if he chooses a different path. If you love someone, you are never truly alone. Just as you would not abandon him, he will not abandon you,” Alima said gently.

  Teya bit her lip, blinking back tears as she nodded and stepped away, leaving Alima and me alone with Roan.

  As soon as she was gone, Alima’s expression turned serious. “This boy... he should not be Force-sensitive. And yet, he possesses a rare power. For him, I would offer something more permanent than our usual empowering by Mist. A ritual that could increase his Midi-chlorian count. The cost is higher, but the changes will be deeper and more lasting.”

  My heart clenched with worry. “As long as it helps him and saves his life, it’s worth it. But... what’s the price?”

  Alima’s voice softened, a sad smile tugging at her lips. “I will lose a few years of my lifespan.”

  “That’s too much!” I protested, the words spilling out before I could stop them.

  Alima reached out, gently cupping my cheek. “Silly girl. When you came into my life, you saved Drela. When I asked what you wanted in return, you wished for true love, holding a storybook-like a child. I saw the hope in your eyes, and I could not help but love you too.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I bit my lip, struggling for words. “But... Mom—”

  “No buts, child. Mother knows best,” Alima said with a soft laugh. “Now, go. Check on your Morelian companion.”

  She shooed me away, leaving me standing on the threshold of the village, my heart heavy with gratitude and fear for the trials that lay ahead.

  "So Retra, what's the plan then?" The Morelian asks.

  "He won't dare come after us on Dathomir. Even the Sith fear witches," I assure her.

  Teya smirks, "What about after?"

  "That... Let's hope Roan or his secret master have a solution," I reply.

  "You don't have a plan?!" Teya shouts.

  I frown," I don't have a solution for everything and neither do you. I am working with what we got and if you have a better plan, go ahead."

  Pondering for a moment Teya responds," That's fair, it's just I rely on Roan too much. I've already put him in great danger. He was doing fine on his own with his shop on Jedha."

  I reach out my hand to place it on her shoulder but stop myself." He chose this, never second guess his choices. That's like trying to remove a warrior's scar."

  Teya nods." Thanks, I don't get what you mean but your attempt to cheer me up is appreciated."

  She smiles at me sweetly and I feel my face start to flush. So I turn back to the ship's control panel ready the ship for landing as soon as we get close enough.

  My timing was almost perfect with our ship being only minutes away. I calculate the trajectory set the course and convert the ship into landing mode. The wings curl in a little to decrease friction from atmospheric entry.

  The ship's descent and landing are no ruffer than usual taking less than twenty minutes. Immediately our ship is met by a group of my sisters. I activate the hanger door and walk down once it's open.

  One of the females leading the group surrounding our ship I know," Drela long time."

  The woman scoffs," Che! Hoped you were gone for good."

  "Nice to see you two, how's Mother Alima?' I ask.

  "If you cared you would not have left," Drela spat.

  "You don't want me here but resent that I left? How like you," I reply.

  Drela scoffs again turning her head to the side and signals the others to head back to their village.

  "What did you do?" Teya asks.

  I shrug," Exist."

  Drela groans but doesn't argue with my statement," What do you want?"

  " The man Mother Alima predicted would be my match is mortally wounded. I came seeking her help," I answer.

  " You wish for the ritual of empowering? I doubt even for you, Mother would do such a thing." Drela laughs.

  "Let her speak for herself but even if she won't do that she can save his life some other way." I see Teya following us pushing and moving Roan on a hover stretcher.

  "Child it's been too long," hummed the voice of a middle-aged woman.

  Turning I saw Alima greeting me at the entrance to our village," Mother Alima" I smile.

  "You know you can just call me mom," Alima lectures.

  "Ugh! Mom!" Drela complains.

  "I am very thankful for everything you've done for me but I am not your blood..." I say.

  Alima shakes her head," Nonsense child, like it or not you are family."

  "Only because she asked for it in exchange for saving my life," Drela complains.

  "You're mistaken but I'll deal with you later. Go to your dwelling until I come for you," Alima orders eyes fierce like a viper's.

  "Now how can I help?" Alima smiles.

  "You see those two," I point to Teya and Roan.

  "So they are?" Alima says meeting my gaze knowingly.

  "Yes," I reply.

  Placing her hand on Roan she closes her eyes and focuses. After a moment she turns to me," are you sure? He's extremely weak."

  I take off my gloves covering my robotic hands," I am certain".

  Alima appraises Roan again this time noticing the flower causing her expression to change and she nods seemingly satisfied by something," Take him to my tent. I will have the others ready for the ritual. This one will be a little different than normal and you will have to pray that he can choose his path without preparation."

  "Preparation for what?" Teya questions.

  "He will have to accept power and how he does so will change how he uses the force. If he accepts the power to protect others then he will be drawn to the light side but should he choose selfish reasons then he will be drawn to the dark. If he can balance between the two he will remain unaligned which is what we usually aim to do since doing otherwise means getting manipulated by the will of the Force," Alima explains.

  "Then I hope he chooses the light," Teya responds.

  "How selfish of you wishing to not be alone by having his choice taken away instead of wishing for what's best for him," Alima lectures.

  "I... " Teya stutters.

  "You are not alone even if he doesn't share your way of the force. If you love someone then you are not alone. Just as you wouldn't abandon him, he won't abandon you," Alima adds.

  "That's very wise," Teya bows taking her leave.

  As soon as Teya was gone Alima said," We'll talk about her later but right now this boy shouldn't be Force-sensitive. Yet he possesses a force ability beyond rare. For him, I don't want to do empowering by Mist but something more permanent. He needs Midichlorians and I can modify the ritual to do that. The cost is higher and the overall effect less but it will have a larger qualitative change for him."

  "As long as it will help him and save his life then it's perfect but what's the price?" I ask.

  "I will lose a few years of my lifespan," Alima.

  "That's too much!" I exclaim.

  "Silly sweet girl you came into my life and saved Drela. You could have asked for anything but when I asked what you wished for you said true love while holding a storybook. At that moment as a mother seeing a girl who had never known love wishing for it, I couldn't help but come to love you too," Amelia adds.

  "But... Mom," I complain.

  "No buts Mother knows best now Go check on your Morelian," Alima says shooing me away.