CHAPTER II

Incident on Kashyyyk

A few weeks before the Battle of Geonosis, one of the major issues in the Galactic Senate had been the escalating hostility between the worlds of Trandosha and Kashyyyk. The bones cause was straight forward enough. Under mysterious circumstances, yet to be fully understood by most of the parties involved, two hundred and fifteen Wookiees on board a transport ship en route to Kashyyyk were killed near one of Trandosha's moons. The matter was worsened when, for reasons known only to them, the Trandoshan government refused to return the bodies of the dead to Kashyyyk. After pleas and treats from Kashyyyk had gone unheeded, the Wookiee Senator Yarua had ordered a blockade on all trade to Trandosha. He then declared that his people would secede from the Republic if reparations were not made to them. Jedi Master Oppo Rancis stepped in at that point and had been negotiating peace talks when the Clone Wars started. Since then, relations between Kashyyyk and Trandosha had taken a back seat in the effort of winning a galaxy wide war.

Senator Padmé Amidala had been steadily following up on the case for weeks before the Jedi had abandoned it. She had enlisted the aid of Bail Organa of Alderaan and the impressive network of Alderaani Intelligence to gather more information. In her efforts to prevent the Military Creation Act from being effected, she had sought the means to bring back the Separatists through diplomatic negotiations as opposed to weapons of war. Keeping a keen eye on the worlds that were threatening to secede had become part of the duties of the Naboo Senator's office. Her handmaiden Cordé had been directly responsible for that before she'd been killed in the line of duty on Coruscant. Dormé had since inherited her duties.

Now the war had started. In Anticipation of the Jedi's preoccupation, Amidala once again took up the cause of Trandosha and Kashyyyk, assuming a mediator's role by going into several holo-vid meetings with both parties, trying to help them negotiate some sort of compromise. The situation proved to be more complicated than it seemed at first sight. While Senator Yarua was trying to resolve the matter diplomatically, the fiercely spirited Wookiees on Kashyyyk insisted on a more tangible form of justice – revenge.

On the Trandoshans' part, Representative Hadocrassk informed Amidala that the Wookiees had been killed in an act of self defense. The Wookiees were part of the dangerous Kalmec cult and intended to terrorize the inhabitants of the moon. It was a miracle that they had been apprehended the way they had been. Finally, according to Trandoshan culture, the bodies of criminals were the properties of their victims and would be remitted to them.

Senator Yarua had decried this outrightly and passionately. Five of the Wookiees killed on that ship were sons of some of the highest ranking members of the Kashyyyk ruling class. Two of them were the sons of World Chieftain Zarrarocca himself. Hadocrassk's accusations were outrageous; the Trandoshans were grasping at straws to cover up for their blatant and characteristic xenophobia. That, insisted Yarua, was the reason why they launched an unprovoked attack on the Wookiee vessel.

Bringing the two parties together proved impossible. Neither trusted the other and refused to meet outside the confines of the Senate Dome on Coruscant. In fact, Representative Hadocrassk had returned to his world shortly after Geonosis and could give no definite time of his return.

After countless entreaties and communications, Amidala set aside the hope for a joint summit and decided to pursue a meeting with each party separately.

At first Senator Yarua refused, claiming that his people were highly opposed to negotiations of any kind. Sentiments on Kashyyyk after the issue with Trandosha were decidedly anti-Republic – especially given that the Jedi appointed to the matter had not completed his negotiations. He even went so far as to say that Amidala would be putting herself at great risk to come to Kashyyyk.

With her characteristic determination and intelligence, Amidala had knocked down each and every one of his arguments. If there was no anti-Republic hostility, she would not have needed to be involved in the first place. If this meant she would be walking into a dangerous environment, she was willing to take the risks.

When she finally departed from Naboo, it was done in the middle of the night with the utmost secrecy. Apart from a handful of close associates, no one on Coruscant, not the Jedi or the Supreme Chancellor, was aware of Amidala's mission.

The Royal Naboo shuttle had entered Kashyyyk air space over three hours ago. Only now were they finally given permission to land.

"We are to land a few kilometers from the capital city," Captain Typho informed Senator Amidala after receiving the message from the ship's crew. "Authorization came directly from the World House. We will transfer controls to their auto-pilot and it will fly the ship to our destination."

"Very good, Captain," said Amidala, looking up at him from her desk. "I will be coming to bridge shortly."

If the frown on his face was any indication, the Captain was not pleased. "My lady, if I may speak freely - "

"No, you may not," Amidala interrupted him, promptly but not impolitely. "I have already heard your views on this matter, Captain. We proceed as planned."

The Captain replied with a curt bow. Displeasure at his mistress' decision was evident in every line of his formal exit out of the Senator's private chambers.

Amidala closed the large tome she had been studying. This was her first visit to Kashyyyk and she had spent most of her trip researching as much about the planet and its Wookie citizens as she could. One never knew what information would prove useful to her during her stay.

Two handmaidens gathered around her. Dané held open her cloak while Dormé carefully re-wound her Mistress' hair into its coils of intricate braids. Dané was newly employed in the Senator's service and her face was dutifully passive. On the other hand, there was thin line between the brows of Dormé's usual serene face.

"You may speak freely, Dormé," Amidala asked of her long-serving assistant as she slipped her hands into the sleeves of the cloak.

There was a short pause as Dormé's hands stilled on her mistress' hair. Then she said, "The Captain has good reasons for his worry, my lady. There have been rumors of Kalmec presence on Kashyyyk."

Of course, Amidala realized, the rumors about the Kalmec. One of the most successful criminal organizations in the galaxy, the cult was made up of a group of exiled Wookiees who shaved the hair off their shoulders in an effort to prove to other beings that Wookiees had actual skin beneath their fur. Headed by a leader as famous for his ruthlessness as for his complete anonymity, they were violent and brutal in their dealings with all those who crossed their path. Lately there were rumors that this group of apparent social activists was funded by the Separatists who used them to execute their more underhand tasks. Their presence on any world meant trouble, their own included. In the days leading up to the Naboo Delegation's departure to Kashyyyk, rumors of the presence of the Kalmec on Kashyyyk had tripled.

Amidala could have cared less. There could have been rumors of Count Dooku's presence on Kashyyyk for all the difference it was going to make to her plans. She got to her feet now.

"That's hardly surprising, isn't it?" she replied, in answer to Dormé's remark. "The Kalmec organization is made up entirely of Wookiees."

The pause that followed was longer. Perhaps Dormé was replaying her mistress' words and checking for sarcasm. Unfortunately, she had good cause to.

"Dormé," Amidala said, very gently. "The Kalmec organization is part of the reason why it is imperative for me to be here."

"I only care for your safety, my lady," Dormé said quietly, putting some of her own personal equipment together. Dané was already ready and she stood silently at the door, Artoo by her heels.

Amidala walked to the door and Dormé followed. Before they entered the corridor, she said to her handmaiden: "I only care for the safety of the Republic."

Her tone of voice effectively ended the conversation.

Minutes later, the ship came to a smooth landing on-planet.

From the bridge, the Senator and her intimate group of assistants watched the approach through the thick greenish clouds that melted away to reveal an ocean of trees.

Living on Kashyyyk would be like living in the sky, Padmé thought. The tall wroshyr trees that covered more than three quarters of the planet were so tall that their tops pierced the clouds. The landing platforms were hewed out of chopped trees and so they were isolated flat patches of wood surrounded by walls of trees. Navigation of space vehicles was a tricky business, barely aided by the perimeter of lights that marked each platform. It was a good thing that the Wookiees had seen it fit to have an auto-pilot guide the ship to its destination.

The platform where the Senator's ship landed was particularly isolated, several layers below the tree canopy, yet still above the city itself. Most of the lights were switched off or burnt out and the surrounding trees, swaying in a gentle breeze, cast eerie shadows over the ship so that even though it was mid-noon, daylight was dimmer than an evening on Naboo. There was no welcoming committee.

The crew on board the Senator's ship was visibly uncomfortable. Out of the corner of her eyes, Amidala saw Dormé and Dané exchange strained glances.

"There's no one here, ma'am," announced the ship's captain, stating the obvious. There were small murmurs at that.

Captain Typho walked up to his Mistress. Amidala watched him suspiciously as he leaned close to speak privately to her. "If we take off now, we would be in the air in five minutes and in hyperspace in another ten minutes."

"Open the hatch doors," Amidala said loudly. "My handmaidens and I will be disembarking."

What had looked like a gentle breeze from the ship's bridge turned out to be a stiff wind outside. Amidala and her handmaidens held the hoods of their cloaks firmly while the rest of the cloaks flapped violently. Artoo had wobbled so badly that Amidala had ordered him back into the ship. Typho winced as he and his men looked around for what should have been their welcoming party.

Dormé kept on sneaking glances at her mistress and Padmé was beginning to wonder herself what she hoped leaving the confines of her ship would prove when with a swift whistle of large bodies flying through breeze, their welcoming party arrived.

Too suddenly for Captain Typho or his men to have done anything if there had been a real threat, three Wookiees dropped out of the branches above them.

Five seconds late, the Captain and his guards had blasters open and trained on the new arrivals.

One Wookiee, a black-furred individual with a bow-caster belt around his neck growled fiercely.

"Put down your blasters, Captain," Amidala said, and her voice almost gave away her amusement. "Do not insult the World Deputy Chieftain by pointing a weapon at him in his own world." Not waiting for the Captain to obey, she walked right up to the Wookiees and raised her arms in the customary greeting.

"You honor me by agreeing to see me," she said. "Pardon my escorts. Your arrival surprised them. We have been waiting for a long time."

You honor us by asking the invitation, Kashyyyk World Deputy Chieftain Rwallra. His Wookieespeak was standard and Amidala followed it easily. Pardon our delay. We needed to be sure that you came alone, as we agreed, without the presence of the Jedi.

"I am dishonored that you would consider me capable of breaching our agreement," Amidala retorted fiercely. The Wookiees would be unimpressed with anything less. That the association had touched a nerve only served to make her anger more authentic. That was all.

The other Wookiee growled something at her, in a dialect that was too thick and fast to understand. Rwallra growled back in the same dialect. Then he said to Amidala, It is not you that we do not trust but we are aware that the Jedi can sometimes persuade people to act against their inclinations.

If only...

Before Padmé could compose an appropriate retort, Rwallra spoke again, and his voice was unmistakably tinged with laughter. Besides, you owe us no apology for your men. We could have killed each one of you before they had even unholstered their weapons. Then his voice became serious again. Come, we can talk later. Time is of the essence. We must be on our way.

"How?" asked Typho a little nastily. Rwallra's remark about his skills had obviously stung. "There are no vehicles in sight."

Swiftly, one of the other two Wookiees ran to the edge of the platform and launched himself onto one of the overhanging branches. There was a shocking pause of seconds while he was suspended in the air. Amidala could hear Dané's gasp. Then his large claws grabbed hold of a long strand of kshyy vine and he pushed himself into the air. In a few minutes he was out of sight.

Each of us can carry two of you. Senator Amidala select three companions quickly and let us be on our way.

Captain Typho's objections and recriminations were the most insistent that Dormé had heard in a long time. They had made no difference in the end to their mistress. Dormé was only grateful that the ride with Padmé on Rwallra's back had been extremely short. Even now, she shuddered at the memory of flying from tree to tree, with only the Wookie's thick fur as her handhold and a rope of vine supporting both of them.

They had been taken through a trap door into a small enclosure with walls made entirely of the branches of trees that had somehow twisted and coiled round each other. They were extremely high up in the city, if the thick clouds that could be seen through the gaps in the wall were any indication. The two Wookiees that had come with Rwallra were standing guard beneath the trap door. An oval table dominated the room and half a dozen Wookiees and Senator Amidala stood around it. Dormé, Dané and Typho stood at a corner and watched the proceedings.

Present was Senator Yarua, one of Amidala's colleagues and easily recognizable to Dormé by his matted reddish brown hair and distinctive zana-tooth necklace. World Chieftain Zarrarocca in his traditional arm bands of blue and red was also there. By his left was Rwallra. From the information manual, Dormé easily recognized the others present as high-ranking citizens of Kashyyyk.

The information manual said that the World House where the World Chieftain of Kashyyyk and his cabinet resided was located at the heart of the capital city. All meetings and decisions were made there. She had seen pictures of the elaborate board rooms with exotic decorations from all manner of Wookiee culture. This place was just a very large nest. Nothing about it had ever been mentioned in that manual. Dormé had a strong suspicion that it was here in this hidden fortress that the real decisions of rule on Kashyyyk were made.

Formalities were observed and dispensed with. Dormé watched her mistress launch into the opening speech she had spent the better part of their journey preparing.

Padmé addressed the Chief Zarrarocca directly, keeping the statements in her speech blunt but polite, brief but factual.

"Intelligence has received reports that three meetings have been observed to have taken place between Count Dooku of Serenno and two high ranking officers in your cabinet. There is strong evidence that you are seeking Separatist aid over the Trandoshan crisis."

There was an immediate outcry. Chief Zarrarocca leapt up from his seat and roared a question in his native tongue to Senator Yarua who merely shook his head in negation. Padmé fell silent as she watched them passively.

The World Chieftain spoke to her first: These accusations are serious. I am assuming that they are made with the evidence to back them up.

"By all means, Your Excellency, I have it enclosed here," Padmé removed a datapad from her filofax and placed it on the desk. Both the General and the Chieftain reached for it. She placed a hand on it. "But first, am I to understand that you are unaware of these correspondences?"

First, you show us your evidence and we can decide if you have the right to an answer! snarled Zarrarocca.

There was a split second of fear when Dormé thought her mistress would hesitate. That would have been disastrous. The Wookiees were a proud, fierce race and they despised nothing as much as they did indecision and fear.

Her fears were unwarranted. With a flick of her wrist and a face filled with confident composure, Padmé tossed the pad to Zarrarocca.

He and his cabinet, with the exception of Rwallra and Senator Yarua clustered round it. Dormé already knew what it contained: holo-vids and transcripted holo-net conversations. Evidence good enough to stand up in the Supreme courts. All courtesy of Naboo and Alderaan Intelligence.

Dormé studied her mistress. Her face was as calm as ever but Dormé thought she had seen the subtle play of surprise in Padmé's eyes.

The Chieftain was searching down the datapad for the particular information. Another Wookiee leaned in beside him and was gesticulating with his paws. Padmé used the opportunity to speak directly to Senator Yarua.

"Senator, am I to understand that the information we discussed a week ago concerning this matter was not relayed to the Chieftain?"

Yarua lifted his paws beseechingly. The expression on his hairy face was indecipherable.

This is a highly sensitive matter, as you can see. The last thing I wanted to do was to return to my home and throw unfounded accusations... especially considering the stressful climate we already are in. He said smoothly. A seasoned intergalactic representative, Yarua spoke Basic almost flawlessly. According to Wookiee culture, that meant that he had a speech impediment.

The World Chieftain let out a roar. The Republic has gone too far, now! This information could only be obtained by breaching our highest level of security.

"Your Excellency," Padmé retorted with the correct amount of polite outrage, "is that an admittance? Were you aware of these meetings?"

These are my officers, Senator, growled Zarrarocca. Wookiees appointed by me under the recommendation of highly placed government officials. Of course I was aware about these meetings!

He confessed this with the complete arrogance of someone who knew he held all the cards. Senator Yarua's head jerked violently in his Chieftain's direction but he stayed silent. Padmé kept her composure but barely. Dormé saw that flinch, even if no one else had; she knew the reason for it, too. Padmé had considered the possibility of the World Chieftain being aware of those meetings; he had strong and personal reasons for enacting vengeance on the Trandosha. But she felt that his longstanding loyalty to the Republic made him unlikely to ally with the Separatists for whatever reason. It was more likely that a lesser member of the ruling council was the Separatist's contact on Kashyyyk. Now, with Zarrarocca's complicity confirmed, a resolution in favor of the Republic would be more difficult to attain.

And the presence of a Republic senator on Kashyyyk would be more dangerous.

Dormé fisted her palms to prevent them from shaking. Beside her, Dané exhaled sharply and Dormé threw the younger girl a cautioning glance. In this situation, any show of weakness may prove fatal. Besides it was not done for a handmaiden to show emotion in public. Dané blushed slightly and tried to form her features back into serene composure.

"When we saw this, we were convinced that these meetings were taking place with the full approval of your office and that in fact, the government of Kashyyyk was contemplating secession from the Republic," Padmé said finally. "The question I need an answer to is why."

Dormé blanched, unable to restrain herself from staring at her mistress in shock. Did she really need to ask? It was public knowledge that two of the 215 Wookiees killed near Trandosha were sons of Zarrarocca.

Or was this a ploy of some sort? To shame the Wookiees or back them into a corner?

If it was, it did not seem to be working. The Chieftain leaned back and tapped his claws (Dormé started when she realized that the Wookiee had unsheathed them unnoticed) against the table. Senator Yarua was studying his console.

"You were aware of this, Senator Yarua," Padmé said suddenly.

All heads swiveled to look at Yarua.

He looked up with some mild puzzlement. Aware of what?

"About your government's involvement with the Separatists. You told me on Coruscant that you had strong fears about your people's attitude towards the Trandoshan crisis, but even as you insisted your Chief and rulers were still loyal to the Republic, you knew already that they were having talks with Dooku."

Yarua thought you could persuade us with your colorful speeches and empty promises, one of the Wookiees, an army general retorted. The Republic has done nothing for Kashyyyk since we reported this incident. They sent a Jedi and took him back before he could even achieve anything.

"We are in the middle of a war, General Raldorin!" Padmé shouted. "Surely, you can understand that resources are stretched thin as they are."

And why are they fighting? roared the Chieftain. Because the Republic wants to hold onto worlds that she has never protected!

"Joining the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guild would achieve nothing! You would only be exchanging one level of injustice for another!"

So you admit that an injustice has been done? one Wookiee snarled.

Padmé turned exasperated eyes at each of them in turn. "Of course, I do! But I can assure you, Honorables, that joining with the Separatists is no guarantee that it would ever be corrected. The Commerce Guild is a business organization, not a charity service. Whatever protection Count Dooku promised you in exchange for you seceding, you will pay back with interest." Her eyes finally rested on Zarrarocca and she seemed to speak directly to him. "Blood interest."

The room erupted into angry roars and barks. Most of it seemed to be directed to Yarua who fended them off with a placid, almost unnaturally serene series of growls. They had reverted entirely into native dialects, speaking too fast for any translator to interpret. However, if their tone and gesticulation was any indication, they seemed to be blaming Yarua for arranging the audience in the first place.

At a point in time, one Wookiee unsheathed his claws with a sharp slicing noise and raised it at Yarua. As one, Dormé, Dané and Typho took three large strides to Padmé's side.

Silence!

With a loud roar that shook the branch walls of the room, Zarrarocca's fists smashed into the oval table. It shattered cleanly down the centre. Everyone moved back just in time to avoid it smashing on their feet.

There was absolute silence.

The Chieftain turned to Padmé and spoke to her in a voice that was almost a gentle purr. Senator Amidala, on behalf of my people, allow me to express our gratitude for your coming. However, it remains obvious to us all that your presence here is neither needed nor welcome. Consequently, you will be escorted back to your ship and you would be expected to return to Coruscant immediately.

There was a tiny twitch working in Padmé's jaw. She was not inclined to quit without a fight.

"You have not given me an opportunity to make my case known, Chief," she said loudly.

I have given you every-

"Not according to the Wookiee laws of obligation to petitioning strangers. A stranger is allowed to have an appeal if he feels he has been heard wrongly."

There was a grumble amongst the Wookiees present. It was obvious that none of them had expected the foreign senator to quote their own law against them. Even Yarua looked surprised.

Zarrarocca recovered quickly. You are not on trial here, Senator.

"As a legislator, I represent the Republic. And clearly, on Kashyyyk the Republic is on trial."

Another silence followed this. Dormé heart almost burst with pride in her mistress and she felt a smile tugging at the edge of her mouth. She forced it down and stared at Dané until the other handmaiden did the same.

An appeal must be heard within a maximum of 48 Kashyyyk hours, Yarua said.

A Wookiee barked at him: Silence! The Chieftain has not decided if there will be an appeal!

He dares defy the Laws? Yarua retorted. Sharp teeth pressed against his lower jaw. He looked like if he was smirking.

Zarrarocca ignored him and beckoned to Rwallra who had been silent throughout most of the proceedings. The Chieftain and his deputy whispered to each other for long moments while the others waited.

Finally, Zarrarocca raised his head and gave his decision.

We honor our Laws. You may remain on-world and rest in your ship. Exactly 48 hours from now, we will send escorts to you.

Padmé bowed deeply. Her handmaidens followed. A half-second later, so did Captain Typho.

"Thank you, your Honor."

Your gratitude is misplaced. Nothing can happen between now and then that will make us change our minds.

Padmé climbed through the trap door with her head held high. Before she disappeared, she threw one final baleful glare at Senator Yarua of Kashyyyk.

The Wookiees snarled as she left.

"I need your help, Bail."

The small holo-image flickered with the power connection. Still the concern on Bail Organa's face was unmistakable. "Where are you, Padmé? You have been away from Naboo for several days now."

"How did you know I was gone?" she asked, surprised.

"Chancellor Palpatine informed me."

In her private office on board the ship, Amidala tensed with shock. Her departure from Naboo had been conducted with the utmost secrecy. How could the news have reached Coruscant so quickly?

She had exactly 10 hours to compose an appropriate appeal to the Council of Wookiee Chiefs. Her handmaidens had been scouring the tomes and Holonet for information but nothing was forthcoming. The idea of facing Chieftain Zarrarocca and his lot with the same impassioned speech she had already used did not sit well with her.

"Where are you, Padmé?" Bail asked again.

"Kashyyyk."

"Kashyyyk!"

"Bail…"

"You're taking risks again, Padmé. Geonosis before, now Kashyyyk…"

Well, someone must take them! "Listen to me, Bail," she said sharply, "I don't have much time. I need all the information Alderaani Intelligence discovered on Chieftain Zarrarocca."

He paused. All his features drew into a frown. "I thought you said you were not going to use it. That it might backfire on you and alienate the Wookiees further."

"I wasn't. And I won't unless I absolutely have no choice."

The holo flickered again and she almost thought she had lost the connection. Then she saw the red data light blink. A few moments later, she was holding the data crystal containing the information from Bail in her hand.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Padmé." He was still frowning as his image flickered and died.

Considering the sacrifices I've made to be free to do this, I had better, Padmé Amidala thought bitterly.

"I hope so, too."

Nine hours later, the message came from Deputy Chieftain Rwallra. The Wookiee escorts awaited the Senator and her delegation outside the ship. The Naboo craft had been berthed on the landing platform since their arrived; their resilient force field shield was their only protection against the aggressive wild life of Kashyyyk.

"That's an hour early," Padmé said at once when the message reached her.

"You will start at the appointed time but you must be there before then," Dormé relayed back to her.

It really made no difference. Padmé had been rehearsing for the past three hours and they were only marking time now. After she gave the order to lift the shield, Dormé and Dané started preparing for the unorthodox appeal.

"Make sure there's a back-up of all the senator's files on Artoo," Dormé told Dané.

"Already done," Dané replied promptly.

Dormé was pleased. She had personally recruited the new handmaiden and Dané's performance was a direct reflection on her competence. As common in their elite profession, the two women had been acquainted with each other long ago. Dormé remembered Dané as a promising junior during her own training years. So far, she had not marred that impression. Though still far from the standards of Cordé and Vespé, her general proficiency was gratifying.

The two handmaidens dressed their mistress now, placing the thick velvet cloak over her shoulders. It was so heavy that they would need to hold up the edges for Padmé to walk properly. Beneath it she wore a matching uni-suit with the lines and fluidity of a soldier's uniform, similar to what the handmaidens also wore under their own simpler cloaks. They were taking no chances: the women of Naboo were dressed for the occasion.

Captain Typho stepped to unlock the door. It fell open under his hand. Literally. The thick durasteel caved in and landed inches away from his boots with a loud thud.

There was no reaction time. Battle-honed instinct took over at once. "Handmaidens!" he shouted, "secure the Senator –"

A tall Wookiee with black, longish fur suddenly filled the doorway. Captain Typho's blaster was already covering him.

"No!" Padmé shouted. "Don't kill him!"

"What?" He gasped as his finger squeezed the trigger. Typho just managed to jerk his hand so that he missed his shot. The laser hit the edge of the door and debris fell beneath it.

The sheer luck that the first person the Wookiee had encountered was an armed human was an advantage – one they had just lost.

One second after Typho's missed shot, the Wookiee grabbed him, lifting him off his feet. In a movement that was too fast to understand, Typho lay in a crumpled heap on the floor.

Dané was pushing Padmé behind her. Dormé had slipped out the blaster she kept in her sleeve. It was already set to stun and for a moment she regretted the minimal setting. She would not have let Padmé's cry distract her.

She barely had time to note that the Wookiees's shoulders were clean shaven before her shot hit him cleanly in the chest. He roared and kept coming. A stun shot for a human did not have the same effect on a Wookiee. Dormé shot again, then again, all the while backing into the room with Padmé behind her and Dané at her side. The other girl had brought out her weapon and was firing as well.

The Wookiee roared with every shot, flying at them even as the energy pulse from the last bolt penetrated his thick hide. He fell on them with a thump and was completely still.

Padmé ran to pull out her handmaidens. "Are you alright, Dormé?"

"I'm fine, my lady." She said, coming out from underneath pounds of large Wookiee. "But you might not be. He is Kalmec." She pointed at his shoulders.

"I noticed."

"We must secure you at once."

"They got in with Rwallra, didn't they? How many of them are on board? " asked Dané, getting to her feet.

"No idea. Let's just concentrate on getting the Senator to somewhere safe." Padmé was already removing the unwieldy cloak. Dormé took her by the arm and started running towards the second exit door.

"Somewhere safer than this ship?" Dané said from behind them.

Dormé turned around to answer and screamed. She could not help it. Standing behind Dané, with the heavy tome of Kashyyyk raised high in the air, was the Wookiee they had just stunned.

The book came down on Dané's head before she could move. She crumpled like sand.

"My lady, run!" shouted Dormé, pushing Padmé through the door.

Then she saw the tome flying at her and tried to dive out of the way. Her foot tangled in Padmé's cloak and she landed hard on the metal floor. Her blaster flew out of her hand. She lay on her side, stunned. The last thing she remembered was the Wookiee suddenly looming over her, her blaster in his paw.