Chapter Two

Tanacca was relieved to only receive a Wookie hug even though the familiarity embarrassed her almost as much. Soon Tarbocca and Naish came and rescued her from her Father's over exuberant embrace. Finally, her mother came into view, her face she remembered more than the others and felt more at ease with the group of strangers once she arrived. Baeza walked calmly over to her and embraced her pushed him back and looked at the child she had allowed to leave and be trained so long ago. Bray: "Well you look, tall and strong you have grown." Bray: "Don't let them embarrass you, wild they are."

This was the voice that she heard at night in her sleep, this was the safe embrace she remembered when she was anxious. Then she realized everyone was watching her and she suddenly felt self-conscious. Bray: "Pleased to see you, Mother."

Baeza introduced her to her brother and sister. Bray: "You're brother Narvik and your sister, Barana." She said pointing to the young Wookies nearby.

Bray: "Welcome to Kashyyyk." The cubs said in a prompted greeting.

oOo

Later that night after watching the adults doting over the Jedi, the younger brother and sister had all they could stand of their older sister's prim and proper ways. Bray: "Follow my lead." Bray: "Barana where is your basket?"

Bray: "I left it below while I was playing down there earlier today." Barana brayed.

Narvik brayed: "Mother will be angry with you if you loose another basket."

Barana brayed: "Narvik would you go with me below to get it, I'm scared of the dark."

Narvik brayed: "I'm not a Jedi I can't go searching for baskets in the middle of the night."

Tanacca brayed: "I thought cubs didn't go below because it was to dangerous."

Narvik brayed: "That is just what they tell visitors to keep them from wandering around below." Bray: "Really it is safe enough for a little girl cub to play down there." Bray: "She is just scared of the dark."

Bray: "I will go with you, I am not scared of the dark and I am a Jedi Padawan." Tanacca said proudly.

"Follow us." Narvik brayed.

Narvik got a lantern and lead them out of the house and down a row of houses to an access point for the lower levels and the ground. Narvik and his friends had slipped down there before and knew the way. Tanacca followed unaware of the dangers. As they went lower the night noises became stranger and louder until finally they arrived on solid ground. Bray: "I left it over there, I see it." Barana pointed toward a clearing at the edge of the light cast from the lantern.

Bray Tanacca called: "Wait here and I'll go get it." As Tanacca got into the clear and turned around looking for the basket the light went out. Bray: "What happened?" Bray: "Barana… Narvik?" There was no answer and no sound of movement except the rustling of something in the bushes behind her. She could smell the putrid smell of an animal getting stronger and his last meal still decomposing on his breath. The dark was closing in on her until she felt like there was no air left to breathe. She reached for her lightsaber this was the first time that she had ignited it except for training purposes. The burr drowned out the sound of the rustling and the pale blue light offered some relief from the oppressive darkness. She turned around looking for the tree she had come down but in this light they all looked alike.

She backed up to one of the trees for protection but wasn't sure what was above her either. She started to climb but realized this wasn't the tree she came down so there would be no opening at the top to get through so there was no use in that. 'I wish I had paid more attention to the lectures on how long a light saber could burn at one time without loosing power.' She thought. Something brushed against her leg and she swiped the blade down and heard something yelp and run off, that really made her nervous. Time was no longer a constant down here because she felt as if she had been down here for a lifetime yet she knew it had to only be a short time.

Finally, she decided to move to another tree and see if she could find the right one to get back to the surface. The light from the saber offered enough light to see to walk but did little to see what was going on outside the faint blue glow. The noises were getting louder and the smell was getting stronger again apparently the light from the saber was no longer scaring off the animals in the bushes. She made it to the next tree and decided not to try that again even if she had to staying here all night. She discovered that if she made swipes from side to side the noises got farther away so she made repeated frequent swipes to scare off the noises and relieve her fears.

She heard a soft thud beside her and was about to make a striking blow in that direction when a green lightsaber burred and she smelt the distinct smell of burning flesh and heard a loud thud. "A walk are you going on?"

Bray: "Doesn't sound like as good of an idea as it did." Tanacca brayed in relief not wanting to tell her Master that her younger brother and sister had tricked her into coming down here and left her in the dark.

"Brave to come alone, you are, even grown Wookies come below alone they do not." Yoda told his Padawan.

Bray: "I thought the reports were exaggerations."

"Exaggerate the Jedi Library does not." Yoda counseled his Padawan. "Alone do not come down again."

Bray: "I've learned several lessons tonight." Tanacca told his Master then thought. 'One, never trust a jealous Wookie sibling.'

On arriving back at the surface Yoda and Tanacca were met by Chabocca, who had come looking for them and was surprised to see them coming up from the surface. Bray: "Why didn't you tell me you were goin' on an adventure I'da loved ta gone with you?"

"Just showing Tanacca around, I was." Yoda said not wanting to embarrass his new Padawan by telling her father that he had to rescue her on her first night on Kashyyyk.

Bray: "She could'a seen more if you had waited 'til morning."

oOo

Early the next morning Yoda started preparing for his new assignment, he had been so excited about seeing his Wookie friend that he hadn't been able to concentrate on the trip to Kashyyyk. Now after talking to Tarbocca the night before he realized that a lot had happened in the galaxy while he had been on Dagobah. Ahanu had recorded some information, a small history lesson, for him to catch up with.

HOLO NEWS RECORDING EXCERPTS


Recording 1

An alliance had been brokered between the Trade Federation and the Galactic Workers Union better goods and services are promised for all. Queen Sachi of Pyotr was opposed to the alliance saying. "It benefits the wealthy and causes hardship on the poor."

The Head of the Federation says. "Nonsense the workers will benefit from more markets to sell their wares. The Queen of Pyotr has forgotten how the market works in her old age."

Recording 2

War broke out between the peoples of Aden and the peoples of Carrere over a boundary world disputed to have belonged to both worlds. "We settled there first so it belongs to us." The Aden representative said to the reporters inquiring into the dispute.

"We move in one hundred years after the Aden abandoned their colonies on Javal and they only protested our settling there when Issru Ironite was found on it. As you know Issru Ironite is used in making hyperspace ships and is much sought after and bring high prices in the markets."

Recording 3

A Dark Jedi has begun causing problems with the peoples in the outer worlds and is using his talents to benefit the smugglers in that area. Some have started to question the practice of sending their children to be trained if this is the by-product of that training.

Recording 4

People on Talan are protesting the resent visit of the Jedi to that planet. The parents of a Force sensitive child were ostracized by their family for sending their child to be trained by the Jedi. Under pressure from family the parents have requested the return of the child. The Jedi have been slow to respond to the request.

Recording 5

A Dark Jedi has set up a school for Jedi on Rustan and is teaching a new kind of Knight one less friendly to the average people. When asked about the school and the new style of Jedi the Head of the Council on Coruscant had no comment.

Recording 6

There has been a record number of Jedi Padawans going Dark as they call it. What they mean is they have failed to train the Padawans properly now they have powerful Jedi running around the galaxy harming and maiming innocent peoples for their own profit and benefit.

Recording 7

The parents of a child on Oroso reported a Jedi entered their home and took their child from them and threatened to return and kill them if they reported him to the authorities.


'Problems I see have developed, much work there is to be done.' Yoda sat watching the holo-recordings with disbelief.

Bray: "Need any help?" Yobocca asked coming in behind Yoda unannounced.

"Yobocca, glad to see you, I am. Brings warm felling to my heart to see you again. Yes, all the help we can get, I fear we will need." Yoda told his friend.

Bray: "I had hoped to get back before you arrived. I hear you have an interesting Padawan."

"Yes, reminds me of another youngling I once knew, she does." Yoda said with a smile.

Bray: "Many things have changed since you left some good, many bad. I called Master Ahanu and asked if I could accompany you to Duken. He said he had hoped I would volunteer."

"Our first mission as Masters together this will be interesting." Yoda grinned.

Bray: "Two Wookies and a … what did you say you were?" Yococca brayed.

"A Jedi." Yoda said with a mischievous grin on his face.

oOo

AN: Thank you all my reviewers, love hearing from you and your suggestions.

AN2: I must fess up, after reading Kelia's review on the Jedi Council Forum I realized I liked the idea of Tanacca being a girl so I gave her an rewrite. Thank you Kelia for the good idea. Blame me for any confusion. See if you review I sometimes use your ideas. Hint hint...