Hey all! Sorry it took me so long! I have had a busy couple of days! Anyway, here is chapter 14. It's kind of a monster, but I think you all will enjoy it. When we last left Mady, she had a really tough choice to make. Should she leave her home and return to her old life with Axol and Ben, or should she stay on Kashyyyk with the family that has cared for her for the past three and a half years? Anyway, here goes...
Mady shook her head. She couldn't believe herself what she was about to say, but she seemed to have little choice. The galaxy called to her. A missing piece of her heart ached to be returned. Her friends longed to have her back. The life she had led in the past years had helped her and even saved her, but there was little more it could do. It was time…
"Okay." She said softly. Axol, who actually was slightly drunk, clapped his hands and pumped his arms.
"YES! I knew you'd come back!" he said excitedly. Ben only sat back in his chair and looked at Mady with a strange little smile on his face. She didn't seem nearly as happy as Axol. Certainly she was excited for the change of scenery, but she still had reservations about returning to the life that had seen the demise of so many close to her. It had nearly seen her own on more than one occasion. She prepared now to return to the life that nearly dragged her without mercy into the darkest pit of horror imaginable. She certainly was excited for the change of scenery, but something still seemed to catch uncomfortably inside her. Axol didn't notice any of the expressions that graced the girl's face.
"This calls for a drink!" Axol announced as he walked quickly outside without even looking back. He closed the door behind him and Ben and Mady both could hear him whooping and cheering through the door. The two sat alone then and stared into the crackling fire. They sat there for several minutes without a word. The silence only grew awkward for Ben. Mady was lost somewhere in her own thoughts.
"I'm very glad you're joining us, Mady." Ben finally said. Mady glanced up quickly nearly having forgot he was there. She flashed a small and unconvincing smile.
"Oh, yeah. I'm glad, too." She said as she looked back into the fire. Ben sat forward in his chair.
"But something is holding you back…" Ben insinuated.
"No…I-I need to come and help save the galaxy…I need to. I have no problem with that." She said, again slightly unconvincingly. She stood from her chair and held her hands on her hips as she slowly paced a tiny path in the small room.
"Mady, I haven't forgotten what it looks like when you lie." Ben said. Mady walked over to the mantle and rested her arms on it. She rested her head then on her arms and sighed. Her eyes grew misty as she tried to hide them from Ben.
"It's okay to tell me, you know." Ben said, sitting back in his seat. Mady reached slowly over and took the lightsaber off the wooden mantle. Her trembling hands held it gently and her thumb ran slowly over the buttons and grooves of the hilt. She looked up at Ben, sadly.
"It's okay." He said. Mady pressed her lips together for a moment and shook her head. Her eyes then, once again met his. They glimmered against the fire.
"I'm so scared." She said simply staring back down at the lightsaber. Ben stood then and walked over to her.
"Oh, Mad." He said, wrapping his arms around her. She just stood then and let him hold her. Usually his very touch was enough to send her to fight a rancor with her bare hands, but not this time. Her fear stuck to her and held on tight.
"I don't know if there's anything I can say to make this better, Mady. I just know that there's not a day goes by that I'm not scared." He said. He pulled her back.
"But now that you're here…well, I don't think that will be the same." He finished. She looked up at him as he smiled. She smiled slightly then, too as she shook her head.
"You grew up in a hurry." She said softly.
"Years of fighting the Sith'll do that to you." He replied. He had grown considerably since they had last seen each other. The clothes he wore had grown either faded or darker from the constant wear and his boots had been long since replaced. His face had changed very little other than his chin and upper lip which now donned a light goatee. He was no longer a boy or a tag-along. He was a warrior in his own right and he had grown so because they had been apart. Mady had been right…it was for the best. Now this was for the best. The two separated and sat back down.
"Thank you, Ben." She said. Ben sat back and smiled.
"I think I will quote a great warrior when I say,'you don't owe me a damn thing.'" He said. Mady laughed at the impression of herself. The laughter slowly died and the two were back where they started. They stared into the fire and said nary a word. Once again, Ben broke the silence. It was strange how they were able to pick up right where they left off considering how much they had changed. Ben's life since Mady's crash had been loud. Constantly running, constantly fighting and then waking up the next day to do it all again. Mady's life since her crash had been much more peaceful. The life of the planet she lived on was enough to soothe the heart and soul of those with no Force affinity at all. While her life since then had surely contained its obstacles, she had had a place to sleep every night where she could be fairly certain she would see again in the morning. Ben had not had such a luxury. Mady was able to sit with Ben in silence until the end of time. Ben was not so easily gratified.
"One thing is still bothering me." He said.
"What's that?" Mady replied.
"Our source said there was a practicing Jedi on Kashyyyk and he seemed so sure." Ben said. Mady looked down and winced slightly as she realized what she had done out of pure reflex. She had to tell him the truth.
"Ben, I'm sorry. I was untruthful with you before." She said.
"Do you still feel the Force inside you?" he asked.
"No, no. Not about that. It's just…well…I've been protecting him for so long." She said.
"Him?" Ben asked with curiosity.
"Come with me." Mady said standing and making her way to the door. He followed her along a few of the paths that stood high in the trees. Finally, they came to another small door which Mady walked into. They walked carefully through the darkened dwelling and into a room near the back which was lit slightly with some glowing mushrooms. There in the small bed lay a nearly adult yet still youngish Wookiee. Mady leaned down and growled softly to him. Slowly, the Wookiee awoke and leapt out of bed grabbing Mady in a headlock in mock anger for waking him up. Ben was concerned for a moment as the two wrestled. He was relieved in the next moment to head Mady laugh slightly and growl playfully to the Wookiee that held her. She managed to push him away.
"Will you light a torch in here? I can't see a damn thing." Mady growled. The Wookiee did so and was slightly shocked as he did to see the other man in the room.
"Who's this guy?" he growled.
"His name is Ben. He's the one I am always telling you about." Mady replied in perfect Wookieese. The Wookiee looked slightly more accommodating now. Mady looked at Ben.
"Ben, this is Lakaar. He's my brother." She said as she smiled at the growing Wookiee next to her.
"Your brother?" Ben asked.
"Yeah. His family adopted me when I was in the infirmary. They said that they wanted to be the first ones to welcome the human that couldn't die." She said.
"And the rest is history." Ben guessed.
"Exactly. They took me in, fed me, healed me once I was well enough to leave the infirmary, made sure my clothes were always in decent repair. They even gave me a Wookiee name." She said.
"What is it?" Ben asked.
"It's Pykiito." Mady said.
"What does it mean?" Ben asked.
"It means 'unbreakable'." Mady said.
"Well, that fits." Ben said.
"Aw, I don't know. All I cared about was that I had a family and a home. I was so happy…and then I met this oaf." Mady said jokingly in Lakaar's direction. He pushed her playfully in the shoulder. He then said something to Mady that made her laugh. Ben didn't understand. She looked at Ben and saw his uncertainty.
"He called me a name." Mady said.
"What?" Ben asked again with equal curiosity as before.
"He called me 'ye of little fur'." She said, still laughing slightly. Ben laughed then, too. The Wookiee smiled at Ben and extended his had to shake it. Ben did so and smiled back. Lakaar said something to Ben then who quickly turned to Mady for an explanation. Mady smiled.
"He says that he'll teach you Wookieese if you'd like. I'd take him up on that, too. He's a great teacher. Once he got a hold of me I had it down in two weeks." Mady said. Ben looked up at the giant who still shook his hand and nodded. Lakaar seemed to smile wider as he released Ben's hand.
"This is what I came to show you, Ben." Mady said. She said something to Lakaar who walked over to his bedside table and pulled out what looked like a crude lightsaber with some wooden components. Meanwhile Mady had gone to a cupboard and grabbed a seeker drone from it. She tossed the thing into the air where it hovered. The Wookiee then activated the green lightsaber and stood poised to block. The seeker shot fifteen rapid-fire bolts in Lakaar's direction, all of which he blocked expertly. He then stretched a great paw towards it and it went flying against the wall after which it crashed back to the floor with a thud. He deactivated his lightsaber and looked over at Ben. Mady looked in the same direction. Ben was open-mouthed.
"I think he's the Jedi you're looking for." Mady said. Ben gaped as the Wookiee walked over to him. He was so big. Ben had never heard of a Wookiee holding such powers. Lakaar stood over him only looking down at him for a moment, before he bowed to Ben and said one short Wookieese word. Ben looked at, Mady.
"What'd he say." Ben asked. Mady smiled.
"He called you 'Master'." She said. Ben looked down at the Wookiee who was cautiously holding the bow. Ben reached forth and placed a hand on the massive furry shoulder. Lakaar stood and Ben looked up once more. Ben spoke to him exaggerating his gestures in the hope that at least some of the communication barrier could be broken.
"Will you come with us? Fight Sith?" Ben asked. Strangely enough, Lakaar seemed to understand for as Mady began the translation he held his hand in the air to stop her. He dropped down then to one knee as he kneeled before Ben. Neither of them said any words, yet both of them knew what Lakaar's answer was. He would be a great ally. Mady smiled and pointed a thumb at the door.
"I'd better go let the chief know what's going on." She said. Ben agreed as Lakaar stood up.
"Lakaar. Teach Ben some of the Wookiee speak." Mady growled. Lakaar nodded and walked to get a piece of parchment and a char-pencil.
"Ben, learn some Wookieese. He'll teach you some common words first so you can communicate a little and before you know it you'll be roaring away." Mady said as she walked toward the door.
"Alright." Ben agreed as Lakaar sat down and began writing a few words in Galactic Basic and roaring them at Ben. Ben's first try sounded more like he was seriously injured, but he was a fast learner and he would soon be fluent. Meanwhile, Mady walked down the wooden path to the chief's dwelling and knocked on the door. His bodyguards escorted her into the room where she was greeted by a friendly growl as she kneeled.
"Pykiito, what can I do for you, my dear? The hour is late." He said.
"I understand, my chief. Pardon my intrusion." She said rising.
"Not at all, child. What do you desire this evening?" he asked.
"My chief, I have served you loyally for many harvest moons." She said.
"Indeed you have, my little friend." He agreed.
"After all you have done for me, I feel that I am in a great debt to you." She said.
"The debt you think you owe has been long since repaid, child. I assure you." He said.
"My chief, I am forever grateful to you and the tribe for all you have given me." She continued.
"For Bacca's sake, child. Spit it out." He said finally.
"Chief, I feel that I must take my leave of this place. I am needed elsewhere." She said, regretfully. The chief looked at her with saddened eyes.
"Why are you needed?" he asked, trying to appear strong.
"My chief, the galaxy is in peril. Long ago, before you knew me, a betrayal cursed my life and all who seemed to be in it. I had thought the betrayal long since avenged, but I have learned that this is not the case. I must set this right." She said with conviction. The chief only looked at her for a moment. It was hard for Mady to read his expression, but then he spoke.
"Your words fill my heart with pride, Pykiito. Your sense of honor is that worthy of a Wookiee. You have learned much here…" he started. Mady looked up at him, eyes beginning to shine. The Chief stood for him final words.
"And I pray that you take the knowledge and honor with you wherever your journey takes you." He said. Mady walked up to the throne and bowed again. The chief placed his hand on her shoulder and lifted her from the bow. He put his arms around her and pulled her close to him. Mady returned the embrace. Eventually, the two parted and Mady smiled up at him as she stepped back.
"I will miss all of you." She said.
"And we you, dear. We should be lucky to have another foolish human like you crash into our village." He said. Mady laughed. She turned then and walked out of the hut. The Chief looked over at one of his bodyguards and smiled.
"How one so small can have a heart so big is unknown to me." He said. The bodyguard seemed to agree. Mady had been so big a part of their lives for so long now. She had been a trusted hunting partner and a cunning warrior. She had been a skilled farmer when the season came for it and she even had become a teacher of the young children, teaching them all she knew about hunting and such. Before even a month had gone by, hardly anyone even noticed anymore that she was not a Wookiee. She was a tribesman and that was all that mattered. She would take all she had learned with her…tribesman status included.
Mady walked back towards her hut as she decided that it would be a good idea to get some sleep. On the way back, she ran into Axol. He was leaning forward onto a railing and looking out at the forest. She joined him.
"Hey, kid." He said, without turning.
"Hey, Axol." She replied.
"I can see why you decided to stick around here. It's so alive and peaceful at the same time." He said. Mady nodded and wiped away a few tears on her sleeve.
"I know. I'm really gonna miss it." She said simply, voice cracking. Axol turned now, not having noticed that she was crying.
"Aw, kid." He said reaching over and pulling her into a hug. Mady finally broke down and cried into Axol's chest. Axol hugged her tighter. He didn't know how to feel anymore. So much had happened to her over her life. She was twenty two years old she had suffered the heartache of someone thrice her age. He was so happy to discover she was alive, but it killed him inside to see her this way. She had been so happy until they showed up. She had been a part of something. She had had a home and love and purpose. These were things she had rarely experienced in her life. Now, they had come and they were ripping it all away from her. His eyes became misty as well.
"I'm so sorry, kid. If I had known about all this, I swear by the Force I would have stayed clear of this planet for the rest of my life." He said.
"Bacca's teachings say that all things happen for a reason." She said, still holding tight to him.
"Maybe I wasn't meant to spend any more time here." She added. Axol lifted Mady's chin so their eyes met.
"I don't give a shit what was meant for you anymore, kid. I want you to be happy." He said pulling her in again.
"For the love of the Force, I was you to get a damn break." He said.
"Some people don't get breaks, Axol. It make us stronger." She said. Axol pulled her back again and smiled down at her.
"Since when did you get so grown up?" he asked.
"Since I realized that life shouldn't be spent thirsting for revenge. Life is too short to waste on anger and hate…" she said leaning back on the railing and staring out at the trees.
"But most of all, I have realized that life can't be spent running either. Bacca says 'he who doesn't face his problems will likely be shot in the back.'" She said. Axol smiled and shook his head.
"You can't ever leave us again, kid." He said.
"As long as you need me, I'll be there, Axol." She said.
"I'm glad." He said.
"Me too." She replied. She pushed herself off the rail and began her walk back to her hut to try to get that sleep. As she would later discover, trying was about all she would do that night.
The next morning, the entire village had gathered at the landing pad where the ship had been moved. Tearful goodbyes were wished to Mady and Lakaar as they prepared to board the ship that would take them far from their forest home. Mady bid adeu to the Chief, the children that she taught, and a few close friends. Finally, then, she came to her family. Her adoptive father, Kuunda stood with his arm around his wife, Kiishki who appeared to be getting teary eyed. She bowed to him.
"Kuunda, I thank you for all you have given me, from the bottom of my heart." She said. Kuunda bid her to rise. She obeyed.
"Pykiito…Madylyn…daughter. We have given you much, child, but you have never been a taker. Your presence and spirit is the only payment you have ever needed to pay. Wherever you may travel, little one, know that there are many…many who love you." He said. Mady struggled not to break down in front of everyone. She smiled.
"Now, I have something for you…" Kuunda started. He beckoned a small child out of the crowd who carried a black bowcaster that was nearly too heavy for him to manage. Kuunda took it from him.
"You have become part of my family and also a part of our tribe. We never send one of our own out into danger without means of protection. Your brother only wanted that lightsaber of his. I know you have one as well, but you choose not to use it. Therefore, I beg you to take this." He said, presenting it to her. She took it cautiously and held out to check the sight. This was the best-crafted bowcaster she had ever seen. She noticed on the stock was Kuunda's family seal. She looked up at him and he smile as he saw that she noticed it.
"Remember all you have learned, Pykiito. Never forget that a Wookiee is judged not by passersby and not by those who deem themselves superior because they have been around longer. A Wookiee is judged by their deeds and their honor. Honor our family, Pykiito." He said. She threw her arms around him.
"I will Kuunda, thank you." She said. She hugged Kiishki and wished her the same thanks. Then, with one great cheer from the Wookiee crowd, she boarded the ship and they blasted away.
"What course should we set, Axol?" Ben asked, from the co-pilot' seat.
"Dantooine. The Council there is aware of and opposed to the High Council's corruption and may be willing to help us. Plus, they know about—" Axol cut himself off.
"Know about what?" Ben asked.
"Nothing, just forget it." Axol said. Ben had come to know over the years that when Axol told him to forget about something that he had better just do it because he was not going to give up one ounce more information after that. Ben said not another word and set the course for Dantooine. Once they were away, Mady rose from her seat near the cockpit rear and ventured about the vessel.
She showed Lakaar where he could sleep and as he settled in she walked slowly through the ship and tried to remember where everything was herself. It was strange to her to see this place again. As she walked, she found that she remembered almost perfectly each doorway and corridor. It was nearly as if she had never left. She walked into one room to realize that Axol had turned into his own personal quarters. The order, or lack thereof, of the room told her it was Axol's. Beside the bed lay a datapad that was activated. Mady decided to shut it off for him lest the power be drained. She picked the thing up and found that the information on the screen was that of an ancient Jedi prophecy of the "Grey Warrior". As she quickly, skimmed through the ancient tome, it slowly dawned on her why Axol had been reading this. She looked on fear slowly setting in, as each new sentence seemed to more and more perfectly describe her.
"Mady." Came the voice from behind her. She jumped slightly and whirled around to face him. It was Axol. He noticed the look on her as well as what she had in her hand. He just looked at her for a moment with no particular expression on his face. Mady looked at him in disbelief. Neither of them spoke. They only stared. Finally, the silence was broken.
"Axol, what is this?" she asked, voice cracking. He tightened his lips slightly and didn't say anything. He knew that she knew perfectly well what it was. She knew what he was thinking, as well, but she didn't want to believe it.
"What is this?!" she asked more forcefully taking a small step towards him. Axol stood his ground.
"It's an old Jedi prophecy." He said, softly. Mady's eyes flashed anger.
"I haven't forgotten how to read, Axol. I know what it is! I meant why do you have it?" she asked.
"I think you know, kid." He said in a calm voice trying to bring Mady's frustration level back down. Mady's face showed incredible hurt.
"I think so, too, but I want so badly for you to tell me I'm wrong." She said.
"I think that that prophecy might be referring to you, Mady." Axol said as gently as he could. Mady nodded and shifted her weight about nervously crossing and uncrossing her arms, putting her hands onto and off of her hips uncontrollably.
"Is this the only reason you took me from Kashyyyk?" she asked.
"Mady, of course not. We need you with us. I'm no Master, I…I don't know what you are or aren't as far as this stuff goes. I know that without you we weren't the same and it was a difference for the worst. We love you, kid." He said. Mady looked at him slowly feeling her emotional walls begin to reconstruct themselves.
"Is this the reason we are going to Dantooine?" she asked.
"Not if you don't want to, Mady. You say the word and I will stop the ship in its tracks." He said.
"If you think that I am this prophecy, then why give me that choice?" she asked.
"Like I said, kiddo. Everyone on this ship cares about you a lot. We would never make you do something you didn't want to do." Axol said. Mady smiled as the rising walls halted. She could feel that they loved her and she felt at home. She trusted them and until just now she had forgotten just how much. It was good to feel this way again.
But now a new problem had arisen. She was unsure how she felt about this whole prophecy thing. For one thing, she hadn't practiced the Jedi ways in years. Another qualm she had was die to the fact that even if she had been a practicing Jedi, could she be so great as to be a prophecy? It was certainly a suitable time for a prophecy. The High Jedi council was corrupt and event the Jedi who knew couldn't breathe a word for fear of sullying the entire Order. The Sith were slowly rising to power and the Republic was growing more and more outgunned with each passing day. It would be an excellent time for a prophecy.
"It's up to you, kid. Where to?" Axol asked. Mady looked at him and was unsure. Should she go to the small Council of Dantooine and tell them what Axol believed or should she lay low? If the Council knew, they might be willing to help them, but if word of her not only living, but also of her possibly being this "Grey Warrior" were to ever get out, it could mean the end of all of them. Axol looked at her awaiting her decision and she looked at him awaiting an answer to come to her mind…
So FicFreaks, where to? Should they go the small Council on Dantooine and risk her becoming known, or should she lay low and forsake the assistance that the Council would likely give? If she does go to Dantooine, what should she say to the Council? If she doesn't go to dantooine, where should she go? Leave your review and take your part in writing the next chapter of "Choices from a Dark Past"!