Yes, I'm starting another story. Shame on me. But I couldn't help myself; it begged to be typed. And this will only be until the end of Kashyyk. I'll probably make a sequel if this gets any good, being the rest of the game.
Summary: Carth gets attacked in the Shadowlands by animals, to be saved by one of his own race. This woman who doesn't speak Basic, doesn't walk on her legs, and has an uncanny hate of new Jedi Salvi Jenkins can help them find the Star Map. But will she want to leave Carth once it's all said and done?
Disclaimer: I own Salvi Jenkins (AKA male Revan) and Deigo, but nothing else.
Chapter One: Jolee and the Deigo
"Well, dear brother, it certainly is a surprise to see you here again. I thought you would have stuck to your mad-claw sentence." Chuundar growled. Zaalbar spat.
"Don't toy with me, brother! You've been enslaving Wookies for years! Where is Father?" Zaalbar glanced around the room uncertainly.
"We haven't seen him since he went to the Shadowlands. I bet the Deigo got him." Chuundar chuckled. Zaalbar roared, rearing up and throwing his fists into the air.
"You're lying! The Deigo wouldn't nab him! He—"
"I'm sorry, I missed something." Salvi held a pointer finger into the air. "The Deigo? What is that?"
Chuundar stared at Salvi, a toothy grin unnerving the new Jedi. "Not what: Who."
"What're they saying?" Carth whispered.
"They're talking about Zaalbar's father being taken in the Shadowlands by something called a Deigo." Bastila translated, a smirk on her face.
"Taken as in brought down there or taken as in—" Carth was silenced by Zaalbar's roar.
"He was not taken!" The Wookie screamed.
"Not that it matters," Chuundar shrugged. "I have a task for your Jedi friends."
"I wouldn't do anything for you if you paid me!" Salvi called, stepping back.
"Well, it is your choice, but note that my dear brother shall not be able to grace you with his presence until you fulfill this task." Chuundar didn't wait for a response. "In the Shadowlands is a crazed Wookie, also a mad-claw. I want you to kill him."
Salvi stood in silence, thinking out the situation. Going into the Shadowlands wouldn't be anything bad for him, since he was a "natural fighter". Yet going through the Shadowlands without a Wookie would seem hazardous.
"I'll need Zaalbar for a guide." He negotiated, raising an eyebrow slyly.
"The other Wookies will guide you. You cannot have Zaalbar back until the mad-claw is taken care of."
Beaten.
"I—I'll be back, Zaalbar." Salvi turned around to leave, feeling the other two follow suit.
"Wait—" Zaalbar said. "Please, don't tell Mission what's happened to me. She'd have an anxiety attack. And please, don't harm the Deigo."
-----
Salvi looked around the dark, dank forest floor, pursing his lips in disgust. This place wasn't very sanitary.
"Alright, where's that mad-claw?" He asked, looking around.
"Now would be a good time for you to hone in on your Force." Bastila suggested, smiling. Salvi nodded. They sat cross-legged on the floor. "Feel the forest around you, the living things surviving around your mind. Look for the Wookie…." Bastila's voice faded away as Salvi sought the Wookie through his mind.
Carth paced the ground impatiently. Now wasn't the time for a Force lesson. They could be attacked at any moment. Just in case, Carth kept a hand on his vibroblade. He didn't like surprises actually taking him by surprise. The last time that happened, he held onto his dying wife and….
Salvi stood, breaking Carth from his thoughts.
"He's on the other side!" The man whined. "This is going to take a while."
"Well, then we might as well get started," Carth said, venturing forward.
"Wait!" Bastila laid a hand on Carth's shoulder. "Hear that?" Carth listened intently.
Lightsaber noises.
Glancing at each other, Salvi and Bastila ignited their sabers and ran toward the sound. Carth barely caught up.
One man, four animals surrounding him. That doesn't seem like good odds. The man took his time swiping at each and every animal, ducking when needed to. Finally, they all crashed to the ground.
"Damn animals," The man grumbled, facing the trio. His dark skin sweat profusely as he placed his lightsabers back. "They make living in this cesspit even harder."
He was an old man.
"Who are you?" Carth asked, pointing a finger blatantly at the man.
"Name's Jolee, Jolee Bindo." The man held out his hand, allowing Salvi to take it. "We can talk more at my hut, it's not far off."
"Are you a Jedi?" Bastila asked, ignoring the man's last statement.
"We'll talk at my hut." Jolee reinstated. "There are intelligent ears about that could be listening." He turned and began to walk off in another direction. "She won't be happy about that mess."
"Are you talking about the Deigo?" Carth questioned, taking two steps in Jolee's direction.
The man stopped moving. He turned around to face Carth.
"That's a name you can only say at my hut." He said darkly. Then he turned once more and walked away as if he'd never stopped. "They attacked me first; she can't blame me for that one…." He murmured, as if in reassurance.
-----
"Well, welcome to my humble home, for what it's worth." Jolee led the trio inside his hut. The single room was constructed of all wood, and was lighted by a small flickering candle in the window. The room basically consisted of a bed, a fireplace, a desk and a window. The orange-ish color flicked on and off in a smooth rhythm to the breeze, making the room seem as if it had a see-through disco-ball on the ceiling.
Jolee shut the door and locked it. He then proceeded to the window, took the candle out of it, and placed a large wooden block in front of it. He placed the candle on the desk.
"Now," He said, sitting on his hard bed. "Pull up a stump and be comfortable. Dinner's almost ready. Anyone up for gizka legs and mushroom stew?"
"Uh—no thank you," Salvi sat down with Bastila and Carth, holding up a hand in a polite rejection. "We ate."
"Suit yourself." Jolee shrugged, pouring himself some stew and putting the gizka legs on a plate. He began to eat.
"Now," He said between bites. "What was it you were asking me?"
"We asked first if you were a Jedi." Bastila stated. Jolee groaned and lurched forward.
"Was a Jedi, was." He said. "I'm not officially anymore."
"So what are you doing down here in the Shadowlands?" Salvi asked.
"Don't you think you should introduce yourselves, first?" Jolee bounced, raising an eyebrow. "I was polite enough to offer mine."
"Pardon us," Salvi said. "I'm Salvi Jenkins, this is Bastila Shan, and this is Carth Onasi."
"Nice to meet you." Jolee nodded to the two.
Carth's curiosity got the best of him. He had to ask what was on his mind.
"Who is the Deigo?" He asked, softening his voice incase Jolee snapped at him again for speaking too loudly.
Jolee stopped eating. He set his plates aside and stared squarely at his lap.
"That, Carth," Jolee started, looking up at the soldier. "Is something I can't tell you for the sole fact that I don't know totally myself."
"But do you know what race it is? Have you ever seen it?" Salvi asked too, sitting up on his stump.
Jolee laughed.
"That's something you're going to have to figure out for yourself."
-----
Carth, Salvi, and Bastila had come back from the poacher's site and informed Jolee of their success.
"Yes, I don't smell the stench of death on you. You spared them? Very passionate, or very foolish." The old man pondered, rubbing his chin. "No matter. I owe you a force field. Let's head over now."
Salvi turned to Carth.
"Carth," He started. "We only need three people in our group. You head back to the Hawk, and we'll call you when we're finished. Alright?"
Carth sighed. It would be like Salvi to choose Bastila over Carth. Nodding, Carth turned around and made his way across the Shadowlands.
He was fifteen yards away from the lift to the Uplands when a swarm of animals attacked him.
A swarm. At least twelve of those huge monsters surrounded him. He pulled out his sword unsteadily, his grip faltering. Never had he needed to take on so many. Carth wiped nervous sweat from his brow before entering his fighting stance.
He ducked as the first animal lunged at him, claws bared. Then he whirled around and slashed at another's feet, cutting the ankles.
A cry arose from the animals, who became enraged. Their attacks were so organized, so precise, no usual animal could have arranged it.
Carth was getting beaten. They always seemed to attack when his back was turned, slapping him forward. He'd stab at a few of them, but their skin was so thick it hardly did anything.
Carth was about to give up when it happened.
A shrill cry arose from the trees, causing all twelve animals to look up. The branches shivered with weight as something moved with amazing speed toward the brawl.
The animals ran.
All twelve beings scattered across the Shadowlands, fearing the screech that erupted from the thing coming toward Carth.
Silence.
Carth looked around, trying to find something in the darkness. He could see nothing.
"Who's there?" He called, his knees knocking. A twig broke behind him. Whirling around, Carth eyed it.
He should have said "her".
It was a woman, standing on her balled fists and crouched feet. Her knees stood up to her chin, tucked neatly next to it protectively. The robes she wore were obviously not hers, since they were too big and looked as if they were to fit a man.
"Who are you?" Carth asked her, backing up. The woman lurched warily as he moved, like she was ready to sprint in her position if need be. She cocked her head sideways, letting her greasy, clumped-up brown hair fall into her face.
"Hmm?" She hummed. She moved her right fist forward, followed by her legs foot, then her left fist and right leg. She was walking toward him.
Carth now stood straight, staring at the woman. Something was definitely strange about her.
"Who are you?" He asked, replacing his vibroblade and holding his hands up in the air. He had no weapons in his hands.
The woman once again took a "step" toward Carth, stopping abruptly.
"Hmm?" She repeated. Carth sighed.
The soldier crouched down to her height, making her jump back slightly. He held his hands out to her.
"It's ok," He cooed. "I'm not going to hurt you." The woman stared at his hands. She moved forward, her eyes never leaving his hands. She got close enough for her comfort and sat on her haunches.
"Hmm." She nodded her head suddenly, as if assuring herself Carth was an okay man.
"What's your name?" Carth asked slowly, sounding out each word. He stared into the woman's blue eyes intently.
"Naim—watz—yoor—naim." The woman repeated awkwardly, frowning at her own inability to speak. Carth sighed.
"What—is—your—name?" He said slower, so she could repeat it. She stared at him.
"Wat—iz—your—name?" Her voice came out chopped up, like she wasn't used to speaking.
"What—" Carth spoke the word. "What."
"What." The woman repeated. She smiled at her accomplishment.
"Is." Carth said the final word she needed. "Is."
"Is." The woman nodded. "Is. What—is—your—name."
"Good!" Carth smiled. The woman once again tilted her head.
"Gud?" She questioned. Carth sighed.
This woman couldn't speak Basic. Even worse—she might not have been able to speak at all!
Carth did the only thing he could think of doing. He pointed at himself, pressing his finger into his chest.
"Carth." He said.
"Carth." The woman repeated.
"I am Carth." Carth pointed to himself. "Carth."
"Carth." The woman pointed at Carth's face.
"Good!" Carth repeated the word from before, exactly as he had. The woman smiled.
"Good!" She repeated.
"What—is—your—name?" Carth pointed at the woman. "You? Name?"
The woman seemed to understand enough. She stuck out her right thumb and jabbed it into her upper chest.
"Deigo. Ai am Deigo."
THE END!
It took me a whole day to come up with this. Please review! If people like this I'll update quicker.