Mara, Karrde, and Luke were all talking in the control room when Mara noticed that her baby
was gone.

"Luke, where's Arica?" Luke looked around

"I don't know. She was here just a minute ago." he paused.

"Oh no. She's gone down to see Chin and..."

"Sternm and Dernm are with him." Mara declaired heading for Chins chambers Luke
scanned the ship with the Force and soon found his michevious little daughter.

"Arica!" Luke cried through the force following Mara. Talon raced ahead of them down
the hall and burst into Chin's quarters.

"Captain." Chin asked looking very surprised and confused about the captain bursting in
on him like this. Karrde had never done it before. And Luke and Mara joined them.

"Chin, is Arica down here with you?"

"No why?"

"Where are Sternm and Dernm." Karrde asked.

"In their kennel captain." Karrde was about to say something when

"Arica no!!!" Mara screamed running toward the kenel as Luke followed her.

Meanwhile inside the kennel. A michevious red headed two year old had found Sternm
and Dernm and had squeezed through the bars to pet them.

"Doggie! Nice doggie!!" Arica cooed as Sternm stood up and heckled. Dernm joined
Sternm and growled. Arica stepped back and Sternm walked up to her, sniffed, and began to lick
her. Like she was a melting ice cream cone in the heat of July. Loving the attention Arica squeeled
in delight and soon Sternm and Dernm had settled down, protectively wrapped themselves around
Arica and licked her as she fell asleep.

Not a few seconds away Mara, Luke and Karrde were heading toward the kennel when
Mara felt something

"Odd I don't feel any danger or fright coming from Arica."

"Hmm that is strange." Karrde replied as they reached the kennel. Senseing Luke and
Mara's presence Sternm came awake and fiercly growled at Luke and Mara as the came into his
view. Luke and Mara backed off and there resting in Dernms paws cuddled against his soft body
was Arica.

"Ari!" Mara called as she franticly tried to figure out a way to get her daughter out safely
Senceing the Jedi Dernm awoke and growling increased. Realizing that he would be the only one
able to get to Arica safe and sound...

"You better let me handle this." Karrde replied taking the keys from Chin and unlocking
and opening the door. He was barely inside when suddenly he was thrown to his back and was
looking into the fierce face of a very angry vornskier.

"Sternm its me. Knock it off!" Talon yelled trying to fend his pet off while reaching for
Arica.

"Talon!" Mara cried as she slammed the door to the kennel as Dernm made a running leap
for her and smashed into the cage. Luke was in shock

"I've never seen anything like this. Dernm and Sternm have never attacked the boss why
now?" Chin asked trying to figure out away to calm the vorskeirs down without hurting them or
Karrde.

"They're protecting her." Luke replied

"Protecting her why?! Vornskiers hate Jedi don't they?""

" Yes, but to them Arica is their offspring. Senseing and hearing all the comotion Arica
opened her eyes and began to scream

"NO DOGGIE NO!!!" Sensing that Arica was upset Dernm abandoned his ideas for
getting at Mara and began to lick Arica instead. Not liking this situation at all She began to cry.

"Chin!!" Karrde yelled trying to get Sternm off him

"I'm coming!!" Chin replied opening the gate and going inside. Chin was about to grab
Sternm and pull him off when he heard.

"Chin look out!!" Luke yelled as Dernm stopped licking Arica and advanced on Chin. Not
liking this one bit and not wanting to see her friends hurt Arica ran over to Chin and stood in front
of him and said.

"Bad vornskier. NO! Bad boy!!!" Arica scolded Chin picked Arica up and Dernm backed
off. Arica looked at Sternm and called him

"Sternm bad boy! Bad vornskier! NO!" Upset about being scolded Sternm bowed his
head and putting his tail between his legs got off his master and walked over to Arica. Seeing that
she was safe both vornskeirs heckled and began to lick Arica's feet.

"Doggies. Nice doggies!!" Arica cried as Karrde got up and headed toward Arica. Both
vornskeirs growled.

"No!" Arica replied wrapping her arms around Karrde's neck and letting him pull her
close.

"Talon Friend." she whispered. As he carried her back to Mara and Luke. Senseing that
Arica was leaving both Sternm and Dernm started whippering and whining. Arica gave them a
smile and they stopped. Karrde transfered her over to Mara and as soon as she was in her
mothers arms Arica looked at her and replied

"Momma." Relieved that her daughter was safe Mara gave her a kiss on the cheek and
held her baby close.

"Arica Marrie Skywalker don't' you ever scare me like that again. You understand me?!"

Mara cried holding Arica close and heading for Karrde's quarters to clean up. Chin locked up the
vornskeirs and followed every one out the door and to Karrde's private quarters.

"There's not a scratch on her." Karrde replied looking at Arica over making sure that she
was alright.

"I know. Vornskiers hate Jedi and wont hesitate to kill them." Chin replied bringing his
boss some disifectant for his cuts and wounds.

"So why didnt they go after Ari." Luke wondered. Mara looked at her husband and
smiled.

"Luke, I'm almost possitive that Arica has a gift with animals. They trust, understand, and
love her automaticly. Even Vornskiers. "

"Even Vornskiers." Karrde shook his head "Well all be it looks like Sternm and Dernm are
in love with a Jedi. If I hadn't seen it. I would of never believed it." Mara replied letting her
daughter crawl up into her lap and cuddle deep into her chest.

"Mommy." Arica whispered falling asleep.

"Why does she do that?" Karrde asked as he watched Arica nearly burry herself in Mara's
chest. Mara smiled.

"She likes listening to my heart beat. It makes her feel safe and warm and it calms her
down as well."

"She's sure cute." chin replied leaning on the couch and peering at Arica.

"Yeah she is. When she's not giving me a heart attack every five seconds." Mara quitely
replied.

"Oh come on Mara. You love her and you know it. And she wouldn't be your's and
Luke's if she wasn't." Luke laughed.

"True, She's just so curious and wants to play with everyone and everything."

"Isn't that a good thing though. I mean I would give anything to have Jareth be as friendly
and outgoing as she is."

"Give him time Talon. He'll come around. He's only been around you, Shada, and your
crew really so have patience with him."

"Besides Arica only ventures off if she can still see me. If she can't she wont move and
she'll start to cry.