Writer's notes: UPDATED 11/19/06. We look a little more at Bastila and someone new joins the party. Juhani struggles with her feelings. Calo Nord makes his move. Moving to the Dark Side has some physical consequences for Aerin, but she fights to remain true to the light...for now.

Look into the Eyes of the Dragon – Part III

The Eastern Dune Sea

As the team's speeders flew over the hot desert sands, kicking up dust, Bastila retrieved her own holocron from her backpack. The intricately carved cube had been with her since her elevation to Padawan years ago. She rotated it in her small hand, remembering how Master Vrook had presented it to her and the pride and honor she felt when accepting it.

Small whisps of power flowed from her into the cube, bringing it to life and images and sensations poured into it, recording her experience with her mother…and her regret over her father.

From a nearby seat, Captain Durren pointed to a series of rock formations in the distance. "It must be over there? Are we sure we want to take on this Krayt Dragon? I hear that they're pretty deadly."

"We must," answered Bastila tersely and said no more. She leaned back, deep in thought. Father, how did you come to be in this forsaken place? This…this chance meeting stirred up so many feelings in me. If I can find father's holocron and bring it to Coruscant, maybe I can find some closure with this.

Bastila fidgeted as the kilometers of sand flew by. How did things get so complex? I long for the simple days on Dantooine. Atris, I should have come with you. What happened between us?

The Jedi's thoughts were interrupted when Carth called out and they saw a green Twi'lek waving in the distance. He was dressed in hunting attire, loose-fitting garments in layers over cooling water bladders. Canderous pulled the speeder over next to him and the Twi'lek looked the team over.

"You," the hunter said toward Aerin, "the one from the Hunting Lodge…and didn't you beat Nico Senvi in the Tatooine Challenge Swoop Race? Aerin, right?"

The Padawan shrugged at the reference. "Yes…Komad? Komad Fortuna?"

Komad made a curt bow. "At you service. You ran a fine swoop race. I had a feeling that we would meet again," he said and then took a sip from his hydration pack.

"What are you doing alone way out in the Dune Sea?"

He gave Aerin a sheepish grin. "It is fortuitous that you are here. My expedition was out hunting what seems to be the largest Kraydt Dragon in these parts. We found the beast, but I am embarrassed to say my…foolish cohorts rushed into the lair of the great worm and have been transformed into Krayt Dragon dung. I was returning to Anchorhead empty handed, but perhaps you might be interested in helping me finish the hunt? We still have a lot of daylight left."

Canderous made his, now familiar, warrior grin. "Fortuitous it is. We were just heading that way ourselves," he said in his gravelly voice. "Count me in. I could use a good scrap." The Mandalorian took an immediate liking to the plucky hunter; they had a lot in common.

Mission extended her hand and Komad took it and hopped aboard, squeezing into an empty seat. Canderous then powered the speeder back up and headed for the rocks. They quickly reached the formation and the Twi'lek hunter raised his hand. "Here it is. Let's get unpacked and set up and I'll share my plan with you."

When the speeders came to a stop, the team piled out and removed gear. The big mercenary unloaded his blaster and wiped a sheet of dust off from the barrel. "Damn desert, dust gets into everything."

Captain Durren deployed his marines overlooking the rocks and one marine unpacked a heavy blaster as a support weapon. Ever eager, HK-47 took a position near Padawan Dakar, looking for anyone, who might harm his master.

The team then lay hidden behind a series of dunes, watching several Bantha congregate near the entrance to the lair of a Krayt Dragon, where the hot, dry wind blew dust over the resting place of uncounted hunters.

They debated a plan of attack for some time before Komad shook his head. "Look people, I have an idea. It's not very sporting, but I can't think of another way. This beast is huge, bigger than the one my father slew," he said, making hand gestures to simulate the size of the dragon.

Carth and Aerin nodded. "Okay, let's hear it," said the captain.

After hearing the wild scheme, the team gathered a herd of Bantha while Komad laid mines near the mouth of the cave. Now, all they had to do was wait.

The Kraydt Dragon Lair

As thermal haze distorted the landscape, the team roasted in the hot sun, waiting for Komad's plan to unfold. I wish Mission had listened to me and stayed behind, thought Aerin. I keep putting her in danger. I'm just glad Ensign Helos stayed back to care for Sasha. She's pretty good with kids. Aerin thought back on little Sasha; she began to feel empty without the little girl, but felt reassured that she was in the care of the young intelligence officer.

I'm just glad that insufferable Ergot stayed back too.

As Aerin watched the entrance to the cave, she felt someone crawl up on the sand beside her. She turned to see Juhani putting a cloth down to buffer the heat of the sand. The Cathar then lay down next to Aerin.

"Juhani, I know it has been hard for you since Belaya died. I just wanted to say that you've hung in there and have really helped us to survive."

"It didn't help Belaya though. I should have been there. I should have been the one who was shot."

Aerin shook her head. "No, no one could have foreseen that. It was the will of the Force."

Juhani suddenly seemed to become angry and she bared her teeth. "You were right there, Aerin. Couldn't you have done something?" she said accusingly. She then pointed a clawed finger. "Or maybe, you wanted to be in charge and get Belaya out of the way."

Aerin recoiled and wrinkled her face. "No, that's not it at all. This is the last thing that I wanted. Juhani, listen to me," she said with emphasis, "Did I not spare you and bring you back to the Order? Did I not speak to the masters on your behalf? If I was just in it for my own glory, would I not have killed you?"

The Cathar was waiting to continue her verbal assault, but Aerin's words disarmed her. "I…I did not think about that," she said as her face turned bright red beneath her light fur. "I spoke out of anger and sadness…I was wrong and I am sorry. There is still so much I have to learn about being a Jedi."

"Master Quatra had a lot of faith in you, Juhani. So do I. Let us speak no more of this."

Juhani nodded slowly, still ashamed of her outburst. "I know that the Force has guided me to follow you. Please be patient with me."

"I could be nothing less," Aerin said and then she saw Canderous motioning to the group to watch the cave entrance.

From a vantage point, he scanned the terrain with his electrobinoculars. "Lookit! Here it comes…it must smell the Banthas. Hah, it hit a mine. Foolish beast."

The great worm struck another series of mines, determined to devour the Bantha. In a final roar, it reared its head up toward the bright suns and then pitched over, dead.

Aerin pushed her lower lip out and made a face. "How anticlimactic. All of our encounters should be this easy."

Komad nodded in agreement. "There was no joy in that kill. Perhaps one day, I shall try again…. But for now, we are alive. Let us partake in the spoils."

The Twi'lek hunter rushed down and cut for himself the horns and the teeth of the fallen monster and gave the team the massive pearl from the gullet of the dragon. Despite a mild protest, HK carried the pearl off behind the dunes to the waiting speeders.

"Come, let's explore the lair of the worm," Komad suggested happily. It was his life's ambition to slay a dragon such as this. Although the kill was not ideal, it would have to do for now.

The Republic Marines ventured up to the mouth of the cave and then led the way in. The marines activated their weapon-mounted lights and the dark cavern became illuminated. "Sergeant Worrus, take a position here and secure the cave entrance," ordered Durren.

"The power of the Dark Side is strong here," advised Bastila. "I can see how the dragon grew to such enormous size." Despite her attempts at control, her heart ached in her chest and her face flushed red in anger and regret. This creature had killed her father and she was glad that it lay carved up on the sand outside. Her eyes searched the rocky floor of the great cave, looking for any sign of her lost parent.

Numerous corpses lay in various stages of decomposition and mutilation; an arm here, a torso there. With the arid conditions of the desert, the bodies had become desiccated and mummified. Leathered skin on terrified faces told the tale of death at the hands of a predator without mercy. Now, their belongings were gathered and distributed to those, who could make use of the items.

Aerin kneeled near the torso of a man, bitten in half from the waist. His hands were frozen in a gesture of defiance, while his death mask bore an expression of agony. A sack was slung around his shoulder and Aerin opened it to find a holocron.

"Bastila, come here."

The auburn-haired Jedi's complexion turned ghostly white. Her mouth went dry and she fought to keep the bile from her throat. Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she walked, robot like, to the corpse. Mission came running up behind her.

Bastila reluctantly glanced down at the face of the dead man, as if it would burn her eyes out. Upon seeing the agonized, contorted features, she gagged, sinking to her knees. Mission and Aerin moved to embrace her, but she held them back.

"I'm okay. Please, just give me a moment. I am under control."

Aerin gave her the holocron and stepped back. She ushered Mission away as Bastila powered the holocron with the Force. The image of a young man, holding a female toddler appeared to her and hot tears streamed down her face.

Off to the side, Aerin shook. Through the bond, overwhelming emotions flooded through her body and she braced herself against a wall.

Mission tapped her. "Hey, you're getting some gray hair."

Aerin looked at her in horror. "What?" As she pulled out a mirror, Carth approached.

"We've found the Star Map," he said urgently. "You should come immediately."

She temporarily forgot about her cosmetic defect and rushed to follow Carth. Bastila wiped her nose and leapt after them, regaining control by focusing back on the quest. They ran down to the end of the giant cavern and the lights revealed a familiar metal flower.

As Aerin approached, the petals of the structure opened and lay back, revealing the precious seed held within. A translucent globe formed above the metal base, highlighting points within the known Galaxy. More pieces of the puzzle began to emerge.

Observing the floating holographic chart, Zaalbar moaned. "It is my home world…Kashyyyk."

"You don't sound very happy about that," said Aerin in his language.

The big Wookiee bit his lip and shook his head slowly as if a great weight were on his shoulders. "I would ask that you respect my privacy in this, Aerin Dakar. Please don't pry further into my personal life."

Aerin nodded. "As you wish, Zaalbar. I do have to say one thing, though. If we do travel to Kashyyyk, I will need to know I can trust you."

"Do you not already have my life debt? Please, let it be."

Aerin patted Zaalbar on the back in a show of camaraderie. "Come, let us focus on the task at hand. We'll need to load the Star Map into our database."

Stoically, Bastila loaded the navigational data into her star charts, although her hands shook and cold sweat plastered her face. Aerin looked over her shoulder. "Are you okay, Padawan Shan?"

Bastila nodded mechanically and Aerin added, "There is no death…."

"How ironic…I recently told you that. There is the Force." Bastila tried to force a smile, but it developed into a grimace. She inhaled deeply, letting her nostrils flare. The odor of death was heavy in the dark cave. "I initially thought it was a mistake to bring you, but I was wrong. I have come to rely on you in many ways," she said slowly, as if the words escaping her lips would flee with her soul.

"You make that sound painful."

This time, Bastila allowed a true smile to grace her lips. "It was not easy to say. However, do not let my guarded praise go to your head. We must remain humble in the service to the Force."

Suddenly, the sound of blaster fire could be heard at the cave entrance, followed by the crack of a grenade detonating. They rushed over to a series of boulders near the cavern mouth to see Sergeant Worrus shredded by a blast. Viscera coated his ruined body as he stared, unblinking, into space.

They took cover behind the boulders and Aerin peered around the corner. Her awareness touched numerous hostile minds, each and every one of them intent on doing them harm. Then, a distantly familiar voice called out.

"Canderous and Aerin, you're trapped and hopelessly outnumbered. Surrender to me now, and I'll let you live. You're both worthless pieces of Rancor dung, but you're worth more to me alive."

Calo Nord had come to collect his bounties.