"GAH!" I jerked awake, sheets soaked in sweat, product of another Force-inspired nightmare.
We were taking an Academy-owned freighter that was equipped with several sleeping compartments, one of which I had been sacked out in. It was a ten-hour trip from Ossus to Kashyyyk and in an attempt at discretion we had left late at night. Rosh and Satori divided driving into five-hour shifts while the rest of us crashed. I didn't want to, feeling slightly guilty for making them stay up while we slept, but everyone told me to get some rest; Atris had practically drugged me.
Admittedly I was pretty tired. I had been pushing myself far too hard in training the last month and had been worn down. Adding on to that, the last couple of days had been trying to say the least. After a month of secluded training, ruminating over the Sith who seemed to be targeting me, everything was moving now.
There were so many things unknown. Who were these guys? Why were they after me? Where were they? Up to now, all this had been academic. Now it was becoming real and it was starting to scare me. And then there was that other thing.
My nightmare, another "gift" from the Force, wasn't helping. It left me feeling more tired than I was already and there was no way I was going to get back to sleep now, which was annoying to say the least.
Throwing on a nice brown Jedi robe, I padded out past the other sleeping chambers and the common "tactical" center up to the cockpit. Rosh was sitting by himself, dozing lightly as the ship powered through hyperspace on autopilot. Not knowing what else to do, I slipped into the co-pilot's seat and watched the star lines streak by.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" my master asked tiredly as he stirred.
"Nightmares," I curtly answered. "When do we get there?"
Rosh checked one of the displays. "Two hours," he reported. "Tell me about the nightmare."
"I'd rather not," I replied as I continued to stare out the window.
"Come on," Rosh said. "I'm your master; it's my job to help you out. Besides, I've been around the block a few times. I might be able to offer you some wisdom."
I studied him carefully for a moment. I didn't particularly get along well with most of the Jedi. Not that I disliked or was disliked by anyone, I just didn't really make friends for multitude of reasons. Partly it was because I'm an introvert and partly because everyone in the Academy knew what happened on Dantooine.
That had made me a lightning rod for debate: half the students thought I was a victim while the other half were convinced I was a traitor. Everyone regarded me with a level of suspicion, including my own teammates. I'm not a trusting person by nature to begin with and being under everyone's microscope didn't help. Atris and Jaina, by force, were really the only ones I felt comfortable talking to. Jaden too, but our relationship had become strained over the last couple of weeks.
This line of thought brought me back to Rosh. Between him and Jaden, I got along with Jaden much better. I couldn't put my finger on what it was, but there was something off in our relationship. We just didn't click. But he was my master and I should trust him, right? And maybe he could help me figure out what it all meant and show me what to do.
Oh, what the hell.
"It was a vision about the Star Map I'm looking for, I think," I told him. "At least I think it is; it looked like the Star Map I saw in Dantooine. Anyway, it was in a forest surrounded by a bunch of vines."
"Of course it was," Rosh cut in. "The entire planet is a forest, not counting the ocean and a huge forest at that. It's like a nature version of Coruscant with trees instead of buildings kilometers high. In fact, the Wookie villages are built in the trees, not on the forest floor. They call it the 'Shadowlands' and only the bravest warriors and hunters ever go down there on account of it being filled with huge, deadly beasts."
"Let me get this straight," I leaned back in the chair, crossing my arms, "I'm supposed to look for an ancient Star Map that could be located anywhere on a planet that is infested deadly creatures?"
Rosh winced. "Pretty much, yeah," he admitted. "Sorry."
"It's just icing on the cake," I shrugged.
"What else did you see?" my master pressed.
"A battle," I leaned my head back and closed my eyes as the images replayed unbidden. "There were Sith there, attacking us. I don't know how many; it was too hazy to see. What freaked me out was that they weren't attacking me; they were attacking the others."
"Did you see how the fight turned out?" queried Rosh.
"No," I shook my head. "I woke up before I could find out."
"I suppose the Force wouldn't show you those things," Rosh sighed. "The Force never shows you anything concrete about the future because the future is constantly in motion. Visions don't show you what will happen just what could happen."
"Then what the hell is the point?" I demanded. "If they don't show you the future, then all they do is just confuse you. I'd be better off without them."
"I had the same sentiments for years," chuckled the older man. "I used to hate getting the damn things. The thing that I really hated about them was that they would show me that Jaden and I would get into some horrible mess but not how we would get into it. They would paralyze me, forcing me to second and third guess every single thing I do because it might lead to what I saw in my vision. Sometimes doing that got us into the mess; sometimes it didn't. It was maddening."
"You say used to," I noted. "What changed?"
"After one particular mess during the Vong War that nearly got Jaden killed, I refused to meditate anymore," Rosh leaned back, putting his hands behind his head. "I just couldn't take the craziness of the visions. That's when Master Skywalker told me the secret of Force visions."
"What is it?"
"You keep track of Life Lessons, right?" Rosh asked, looking at me. I nodded. "Okay then," he continued. "Here's another one for you: While Force visions don't show you the real future, they do show you what you need to know to prepare for the future."
"Huh?" I cocked my head.
"One of your Life Lessons is that few things are as difficult to grasp, or important, as the obvious, right?" Again, I gave him a nod. "There's a lot of wisdom in that," he concurred. "But it's the subtle details that make the picture."
"I'll make that 117," I dryly remarked. "What do you mean?"
"Things are rarely, if ever, announced with a big sign," Rosh replied. "Often you have to piece together the picture from the small details that all around you.
"Let's take your vision for example," he continued. "Okay, it doesn't exactly tell you the future, but it does tell you some important things to keep in mind as you prepare for the mission."
"Such as?"
"Let's think about what you saw," Rosh was in full teacher-mode. "One, you saw the Star Map. That tells us that you are meant to find the Star Map, which is encouraging."
"How?" I questioned. "I have absolutely no idea where to start."
"Listen to the Force," Rosh answered. "What the Force is telling you is that it wants you to find the Star Map and it will guide you, if you're willing to listen."
"Okay then," I acknowledged. This was actually making sense. "What else?"
"On the less encouraging side," Rosh went on, "you saw the Sith, assumedly from Revan's Empire."
"Sith Empire," I corrected coldly. "Don't associate me with them."
"They are what they are," Rosh shrugged. "At any rate, you did see them in your vision which unfortunately means you will encounter them here so that's something you have to be aware of. They are waiting for you."
"What about them targeting my friends but not me?" I queried.
"It's your turn," Rosh turned the tables. "What do you think it means?"
I bit my bottom lip and squinted as I considered the question in context of the rest of my experience. "It means they're going to get involved," I concluded slowly.
"Good," Rosh nodded. "What else?"
"It also means that the Sith still want me to lead them," I supposed. "Obviously they still need me to find the rest of the Star Maps but they'll try to take out my support too, force me to join them."
"Excellent," smiled Rosh. "The Sith do want you, that much is certain. They tried to seduce you with power and that failed. So now they'll try fear, force you to join them to survive by cutting you off from your friends and getting you alone."
"Good luck with that," I snorted derisively. "I've been alone my entire life so that won't be a problem."
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Rosh looked concerned. "That's how Tavion got me years ago. I was alone and scared and felt like I had no choice," he shuddered. "Don't underestimate the power of fear to warp you."
"What's the plan for when we get there?" I asked after a couple moments of silence. "I mean how do I go about poking around the Shadowlands or whatever they're called?"
"Good question," Rosh quickly ran his eyes over the control panel. "I was brought here to settle a dispute between two of the larger villages so that's where we'll start."
"Isn't that odd?" I wondered aloud. "I mean, don't people prefer to deal with these problems 'in-house'?"
"Typically yes," Rosh agreed. "But the Wookies got beat up pretty bad by the Vong and they've had a long appreciation for Jedi. Still it does seem strange and the timing is unusually convenient. But it's a chance so we jump at it."
"How do I find the Star Map?" I asked again.
"That's up to you," Rosh replied. "There aren't any records about that, as you know. No surprise there; it's what, 30,000 years old?"
"Something like that," I shrugged. "So what do I do?"
"Didn't you listen to the lecture?" questioned my master sharply. "You're not going to get a map to the Map. So look for the little details. Investigate, poke around, ask questions, explore. The negotiations will take a couple of days which should give you plenty of time for some detective work. If it'll help, meditate. The Force wants you to find the Map; let it lead you."
Pausing, Rosh checked the chronometer again. "We have about an hour and a half left before we get to Kashyyyk. Why don't you go meditate until we get there?"
Meditation wasn't my strong suit. Sitting still and blocking out the world got you killed on Nar Shaada. Granted Ossus wasn't exactly the 'hood' but old habits die hard as they say. Still, Rosh did have a point and I didn't have anything better to do. So I went back to my room, sat on the floor cross-legged and let the Force wash over me.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Did it help?" Rosh asked an hour and a half later when we landed, snapping me out of my attempts at meditation.
"No," I sourly replied stretching and clipping my belt with both lightsabers around my waist. "Just static."
"Bummer," Rosh shrugged. "Come on, everyone else is in the common room."
The other four were waiting for us, standing around the holographic table. Reeko looked the same as always, I still couldn't really tell the difference in his body language. Satori glowered at me while Salty was chipper as always. Atris looked miserable her white hair still frayed everywhere.
"Okay Padawans, here's what's up," Rosh rubbed his hands together. "On the surface, we're here to diffuse rising tensions between two villages. That's my responsibility so follow my lead and maybe you'll learn some things about diplomacy on the way.
"But more importantly you're here to find the Star Map," Rosh continued. "Last night Revan had a vision that indicates there are probably Sith here so keep your eyes open. Got it?" We all nodded. "Okay then, let's go," Rosh motioned for us to follow him out of the ship.
We stepped out and I was immediately slammed with the cacophony of noise and smells. Our ship was landed on a platform suspended between several massive trees so high up that I couldn't see the forest floor below. Neither, for that matter, I couldn't see the sky as the trees continued up, their branches forming a thick canopy that blocked out the sun. Around us, birds and animals were screaming to the point that the jungle sounded like an out of tune choir.
"I hate nature," I quietly snarled as I tried to tune out the nauseating noise.
"How can you say that?" Saltanna snapped at me, her green lekku dancing excitedly. "It's so beautiful here. Listen to the life around us." Salty closed her eyes. "The Force is so vibrant here. Can't you feel it?"
"Oh I can feel it," I retorted, the Force practically tingling around me. "I can feel billions of predators who would love to make a snack out of me."
"Yeah," Rosh commented from behind. "Someone once described Kashyyyk as 'a layered deathtrap.' An accurate as a description as I've heard."
"That's comforting," I sarcastically shot back.
The truth was I was really freaked out. Thugs I could handle. Mob bosses I could handle. Security guards and police I could handle. Nature? Not so much, like at all. And now I was surrounded by it and that wasn't counting the Sith that I knew were waiting for me.
"Come on," Rosh told us, "let's go meet the natives."
We walked down the ramp to where a half dozen Wookiees were waiting for us. A couple of them were older, flanked with younger aides. They were tall and powerfully built, as all Wookiees are, with light brown fur dusted with gray.
"(Greetings Jedi Rosh, thank you for coming)" the one on the left stepped forward with a slight bow. "(I am Kryylior, chief of the village Aarklyr. With me is my assistant Rysluur)" He pointed his paw/hand to a smaller, younger associate with darker brown fur.
"(And I am Chraankur of the village Rwookrrorro with my associate Anduur)" the other chieftain stepped forward with his assistant.
When I saw the aide, I froze. He was young, maybe ten or so years older than myself with jet black fur and fierce dark eyes.
"Thank you," Rosh replied. "These are my students: Satori-Amd, Saltanna, Reeko, Atris of the House Katara, and Revan from Nar Shaada. They are here to observe diplomacy in action."
"(Greetings young Jedi)" the black Wookiee greeted, his eyes locked on me in a way that was eerily familiar.
"Uh yeah, thanks," I answered.
"Shall we begin?" Rosh questioned.
"(Yes, if you will follow us)" returned Chraankur.
"What's wrong?" I heard Atris's voice sound in my head.
"What do you mean? I asked.
A telepathic sigh crossed our link. "Why do you always try to dodge me?" she queried tiredly. "I know what you're feeling. So what's wrong?"
"I don't know," I gave up and replied. "There's something about that Wookiee, Anduur, that's really familiar. It's almost like…but no, that's impossible."
"Huh?" Atris wasn't following.
"It's nothing," I shrugged off, "just old memories; that's all."
"Sure?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Let's focus on our job, okay?"
"Okay," Atris withdrew a little from my mind.
"How do you always know what I'm feeling?" I asked her.
"You're my friend and you're under a lot of stress," Atris told me. "It's really unfair what has happened to you. Ever since I've met you, all you've done is serve everyone else. You've been our leader, kept us focused when we panicked, put your life on the line for us and Reeko's family, and put up with our general nonsense. And now you're the target of this new Sith cult and now everything has been dumped on you. Someone needs to keep an eye on you and be there for you; so I am."
"Thanks," I was truly grateful. For the last month, it felt like the whole galaxy was against me. It was nice to know that someone was in my court. "Does this work both ways? Can I feel your emotions?"
"I don't see why not," Atris responded.
That made me feel guilty. Here was the closest thing I had to a friend who was making it her mission to be there for me and I had completely ignored her. Granted I was under a ton of stress with the whole Sith and find the Star Map thing, but that wasn't an excuse for ignoring her.
The Wookiees led us to a large hut/building built into the side of one of the massive trees, Wroshyr I think Reeko said they were called. They were huge. Reaching out with the Force, I sensed the vibrancy of life that filled just this one tree. I could feel predators hunting down their prey and the prey trying to scuttle away. It was as if an entire city were contained just in this one tree. Suddenly I began to understand why Salty and Reeko were so excited; it was pretty cool in a freaky sort of way.
Now I just had to keep away in the meeting.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
The negotiations weren't as boring as I thought they would be: they were worse.
The issue on the table was some nonsense about landing rights or something equally pointless like that. I'm not saying that it was beneath us Jedi to stoop down to mingle with mortals, but the issue seemed simple enough to be settled in-house. I didn't make much sense as to why the Wookiees, a traditionally insulated society, to bring in a Jedi to mediate such a trivial matter.
And the negotiations were murderously boring. They would go back and forth and back and forth and around and around over the same damn point ad nausea. If I didn't understand Shyriiwook, I probably would've killed myself. How the other four stayed sane initially was a mystery to me until I realized that Reeko and Salty were meditating on the life around us and so mentally checked out; Satori was playing with some small mechanical device, and Atris…well I couldn't tell what Atris was doing. Meditating, it seemed like.
I was also wasting time. Somewhere hidden in this vast jungle was a Star Map that I was racing against the Sith to find and all I was doing was sitting here, listening to a couple of giant furballs bicker about landing rights.
Maybe Rosh was reading my thoughts, maybe he had noticed our boredom, or maybe he was feeling the same misery the rest of us were, but as the negotiations continued reach to impasse, he called a halt.
"Gentlemen, I think we would be best served if we took a recess for an hour," he announced rising.
"(I think you are right, Jedi Rosh)" Kryylior agreed. "(We could all use the break)"
"(Perhaps we could break for lunch)" suggested Chraankur.
All of the delegation spilled out of the conference room, which has to be the most rustic conference room in the galaxy, outside. It was around lunchtime and we were led by a gaggle of Wookiees to where Chraankur's people (we were in Rwookrrorro) had set out lunch. Interesting would be the most polite way to describe the food, but I'd eaten worse on the streets.
"Now would be a good time to investigate," Rosh quietly suggested as we went through getting our food.
I grabbed my plate and found a couple of older Wookiees sitting by themselves. They looked surprised to see me sit down beside them, even more so when I started speaking Shyriiwook.
"(Hello gentlemen)" I started. "(My name is Revan and I am a Jedi student here with the Jedi delegation. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?)"
"(You speak Shyriiwook?)" both of them blinked hard.
"(Amongst other things)" I answered. "(My best friend growing up was a Wookiee and he taught me Shyriiwook. May I ask you some questions?)"
"(Please do)" the Wookiee on the left replied. "(We are always glad to answer questions, especially to an outlander who learns our language. Ask your questions)"
"(How does one go about getting to the forest floor?)" I inquired.
"(Why would you want to do that?)" questioned the other Wookiee. "(The Shadowlands are very, very dangerous. Only our bravest warriors and hunters ever go down there and outlanders never go down there. Or at least never go down there and come back. The predators down there are the most dangerous in the world)"
"(I am looking for something)" I told them. "(The Force has shown me that there is an important artifact here, an ancient Star Map, on the forest floor. I must find it)"
"(A Star Map?)" the Wookiees looked uncomfortably at each other. "(We've never heard of such a thing.)"
"(Are you sure?)" I pressed. "(A Jedi named Revan visited here about 4000 years ago and found the Star Map)"
"(We've never heard of this Revan)" one of the Wookiees sharply shot down.
"(Okay)" I said slowly. "(Could you tell me how to get to the Shadowlands, anyway?)"
"(No)" they firmly replied. "(We don't what to see you killed)"
I frowned. They were lying, I could tell; what I couldn't figure out was why. But I decided to let it go with them and move on.
All through lunch, I went from group to group of Wookiees with the same results. I would ask the questions about getting to the Shadowlands and the Star Map only to get shot down, repeatedly. At first, everyone was eager to talk with me since I was an outlander that spoke their language, which was a bit of a novelty. But then once I started mentioning the Star Map and Revan, everyone would clam up and give me the cold shoulder. By the time lunch ended, I had gotten nothing except more questions.
"How'd it go?" Rosh inquired as we headed back to the conference room.
"I got zilch," I sighed. "They know something but no one is willing to talk."
"Hmm, interesting," Rosh stroked his chin. "Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off and do some more poking around? Besides, it's not like you're learning that much from hanging around these negotiations."
"Gladly," I answered with relief.
"You're welcome," Rosh smirked and ducked back inside, leaving me alone.
"(I heard you asking about the Shadowlands and the Star Map)" a voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to see Anduur standing there. "(Yeah, I'm supposed to find it. It's kind of a Force thing)" I answered. "(Know anything about it?)"
"(Yes)" Anduur nodded. "(We all do. It is one of the most important and most closely guarded legends in our village. It isn't something we are fond of sharing with outsiders)"
"(I gathered)" I sardonically noted. "(Are you going to share it with me?)"
"(Are you sure you've been led by the Force?)" Anduur asked.
"(Trust me, I wouldn't put myself through all this crap)" I snorted. "(Yeah, I'm pretty damn sure)"
"(Very well)" Anduur agreed. "(I will take you to the Shadowlands)"
"(Thanks)" I replied. "(Let's go)"
"(Do you want to get your friends?)" the Wookiee queried.
"(Are the Shadowlands as dangerous as people say?)" I questioned.
"(More so)" Anduur answered. "(Some of the most dangerous predators in the world live down there)"
I looked over at the conference room. It was bad enough that I was dragging them into these suicidal situations; I'd be damned if I was going to take them into the Shadowlands, especially Atris.
"(No)" I shook my head. "(Let's go)"
"(As you wish)" Anduur shrugged.
"(Tell me this legend)" I demanded as we trudged down the suspended wooden walkway.
"(Our world was introduced to the rest of the galaxy about 4100 years ago by the Czerka Corporation. Czerka was a massive interplanetary conglomerate of the Old Republic)" Anduur explained. "(Czerka saw our species as chance for exploitation and began enslaving them. At first, it was abductions and occasionally some of my own people would sign up to help. Into all of this, one of our own, a young Wookiee named Chuundar, usurped the chieftain from his father and then sold his people to Czerka)"
"(I can see why this isn't a popular story to tell outsiders)" I remarked, earning a sharp look from my companion.
"(Yes, it does make sense)" Anduur continued. "(Anyway, Freyyr, Chuundar's father, was exiled to the Shadowlands were he met an outlander hermit named Jolee Bindo. Bindo was a former Jedi who had left the Order for reasons that only he knew and took up residence in the Shadowlands. He helped keep Freyyr alive until Revan arrived)"
"(Revan?)"
"(Yes, Revan)" confirmed Anduur. "(Your namesake came to Kashyyyk searching for this Star Map, like you. He was sent to the Shadowlands by Chuundar to kill Freyyr but when he got there, he did not. Instead he met Jolee and together they saved Freyyr and found the Star Map. Then they came back to the surface, killed Chuundar and drove Czerka off the planet, freeing us. Revan is always regarded as a hero and because you bear his name, I will help you fulfill his quest)"
"(Thanks, I really appreciate)" I thanked Anduur. "(Do you know where the Star Map is?)"
"(No)" Anduur shook his head. "(The location is lost, although we do know that it is northwest of Bindo's hut and we do know where that is. It isn't far from where the elevator touches down. Speaking of the elevator, here we are)"
It was a wooden platform operated by a hand pulley. Tipping my head down, all I saw was the line disappearing into the gloom.
"(How far down is the floor?)" I queried.
"(1.47 kilometers)" answered Anduur as he stepped onto the platform beside me. "(It'll take us 40 minutes to get down. Ready?)"
I looked almost longingly down the walkway to where my friends were. Part of me wished Atris and the others were here, but I knew that I couldn't bring them into this. Straightening up, I faced Anduur and nodded. "(Let's go)"
xxxxxxxxxxxx
True to his word, we got to the Shadowlands 40 minutes after beginning our descent. It was dark, almost night dark. The sounds down here were different, quieter and more menacing. I didn't need the Force to tell me that the animals down here were bigger and meaner than anything I'd ever met. With the low mist emanating from the ground, it gave the area an eerie feel.
"Creepy," I shuddered in basic.
Beside me Anduur laughed. "(It is always a little disconcerting the first time. But I believe you to be a warrior)" Anduur told me. "(Do not make me a fool for bringing down to where only our bravest go. Come, Bindo's hut is not far)"
I followed him through maze of trees and vines. "(Be careful with the vines)" he admonished as I brushed one away. "(Not all of them are really vines. Vine snakes can be very deceiving and are very deadly.)"
I froze in place, staring at the vine dangling in front of me. Reflexively, my hands went to my twin blades and I tentatively picked my way through them after my guide.
Have I said that I hate nature?
"(We're almost there)" Anduur told me in a strangely subdued voice. "(Just around the corner)"
Anduur took up position behind me as when turned the corner and—
"Oh shit," I breathed.
Sitting on two logs, waiting for us, were a half dozen individuals wearing black robes and with chrome cylinders strapped to their belts.
The Sith.
I had been led into a trap. They knew I was coming, I could tell that much by their body language. Behind me Anduur dropped any pretense of friendliness. Instead I felt unadulterated hatred pour out of him.
There was nothing I could do so I calmly walked forward to them. On cue, they stood in greeting. An older gentleman was clearly their leader, flanked by his subordinates one of whom included Malak, sporting a new metal jaw to replace the one I had severed.
"Good to see you again, Malak," I greeted. "Nice jaw." He just mechanically growled at me.
"It is good to see you again Revan," the leader replied.
That caught me off guard. "Have we met?" I cocked my head.
"We have, my son."