|
Only through the power of the Force was Callista able to keep herself alive...within the computer banks of one of the Emporer's deadly weapons! Callista lived with her family on the watery world of Chad, sharing the planet with the fun-loving, mousy Chadra-Fan. They herded sea cows in a deep-water ranch, moving with the herds along the Algic Current. Callista had strong powers in the Force, but wasn't aware of them until she instictively used them one winter to free herself from a flow of pack ice. Years later, Callista met Geith, another who was strong in the Force. Drawn to the Moonflower Nebula, Geith and Callista found one of Emperor Palpatine's experimental weapons; a space station known as the Eye of Palpatine. Geith and Callista were killed trying to destroy it. But through the Force, Callista did not allow her spirit to die. Her essence resided in the gunnery computer, preventing anyone else from activating the deadly weaponry, and the project was abandoned. She existed in a dreamlike suspension for nearly 30 years, her memories becoming fainter. Throughout the galaxy, Palpatine's Jedi purge had been completed, and a Rebellion had sprung up to fight the evil Empire. Many more superweapons were developed, and the Jedi slowly began to rise again. Eight years afte the destruction of the Second Death Star, Callista was awakened by new stirrings in the Force. Luke Skywalker had come abord the Eye to destroy the Emporer's weapon forever. Sick from an earlier attack, Luke saw Callista in his dreams. Callista felt a connection to the Jedi Master, and reached out to apologize for not properly disposing of the battle station in the years past. Though Nichos Marr and Cray Mingla, two of Skywalker's former students, had accompanied him to the Eye, only Luke sensed the prescence on the station, but he was unable to make contact on his own until she communicated with him through the ship's computer system. Callista aided the trio in the destruction of the Eye, explaining the weaknesses to Nichos and Cray, who planned to sacrifice themselves. Luke could not bear to say good-bye to the woman he now loved, but the only way to save her computer-generated life was to leave the station intact. Shortly before the explosion that destoyed the Eye, Luke and the droid 3PO jettisoned away in a shuttle, leaving behind Nichos, Cray, and Callista. The shuttle rendezvoused with Mara Jade's ship, The Jade's Fire, where Luke was welcomed by Leia, Han, and Chewbacca. Mara picked up one more passenger, intercepting an escape pod from the Eye. Luke opened the pod, expecting to see Cray, but as his once-student smiled up at him, he recognized Callista! Callista and Cray had utilized their last strength in the Force to put Callista's essence into Cray's body. Still with her Force powers, she was reunited with Luke at last! |
|