Woot, another chapter! The only thing I'm going to apologize about this chapter is lack of any actual alien language since the Felucians don't really use words to talk, the speak in guttural barks and to clarify the Felucians are the jungle kind not that ones introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Chapter 21
The gunships flew over the lush surface of the planet before arriving at the abandoned outpost. The outpost looked completely abandoned and, if it wasn't for the destroyed lookout tower and gate, the outpost looked to be untouched by battle.
The gunships circled the outpost a couple time before landing. Alpha and Charlie team's gunships landed on the outpost's landing zone while Bravo team's gunship landed just outside the destroyed gate. Once the gunships had landed the clone troopers jumped out with their blasters ready and quickly began to search the base.
Captain Rex and Master Florarmoa where the last to set foot on the ground, hands on their weapons just in case there was danger, Commander Tech was waiting patiently for them.
"Things seems a little too quite here, captain," Tech told him
Rex nodded his head in agreement as the three began to head to the main building.
"The base also seems to be in prime condition," Rex stated
"Yeah you know except for the whole smoldering ruins of that lookout tower and the huge hole in the gate," Jester said joining the three.
Rex ignored him and continued "If the base had been attacked there should be more signs of battle, burn marks on the walls from blaster fire, fragments of rumble and armor from explosions set off by thermal detonators, but there is none of that,"
"We've found no bodies either, sir, clone or droid," Shadow said, as he and another shadow trooper joined the group.
"Now that is unsettling," Jester said with a shiver.
"But what does it mean?" Tech asked
"It means Emotion needed the bodies, alive or dead, and that is never a good thing," Rex answered.
The group finally reached the main building and began the walk to the control room. As they walked down the hallway to it, Rex took note of several destroyed security camera as they reached the control room. The blast door to the control room had been closed to seal the control room, but the large hole cut in the middle of the blast door showed that whoever wanted to get in got in anyways.
A couple of clone troopers were already in the control room, searching it for anything that could be salvaged. Tech went straight for the main control panel and began to bring it online.
"Jester, I want you and Shadow to go back out and help Pyro and the others secure the base and then set up a perimeter around the base. Make sure none of the local wildlife are running around the base and make sure no one leaves this base without my say so," Rex ordered the two.
They both left with a nod before beginning their ordered tasks. As the two left, Rex noticed three strange, saw blade looking droids lying next to the blast door.
"Tech do you know what kind of droid these are, I don't think I've seen them before," Rex asked, as he took a closer look at the droids.
Tech looked up from his work to see what the clone captain was talking about before explaining, "They look to be saw droids, namely used to cut down vegetation and clear a path for advancing armies on densely forested planets, and apparently to cut through blast doors,"
"So much for the no bodies count," Rex said to himself as he stood up
"Captain, it looks like the outpost was able to send a distress signal, the bad news is it didn't get very far," Tech told him from the control panel.
"Figures, anything on there about where the base might be?" Rex asked
"Negative, sir," Tech answered
"Of course, well keep searching and let me know if you find anything out" Rex told him before speaking into his communicator "Troopers I want a constant watch on our perimeter, there are more dangerous things on this planet then droids and I don't want to lose anyone before we make a move on Emotion's base. So nobody goes anywhere without a buddy and nobody leaves this base until I say so. Those who aren't on watch try to salvage what you can from the base and get some sleep; we have a big day ahead of us,"
"Captain?" Floraroma asked
"Yes, General?" Rex asked turning to face her.
"With your permission, I would like to seek out the Felucian village that is close by. They are bound to know where Emotion's base is and if we find the location out now we will be more than ready for the assault come tomorrow," Floraroma stated.
Rex thought about this before saying "It's bound to get dark soon and I don't want you wandering around out there when it does, you're a valuable asset to us and I can't afford to lose you, however you are free to leave at first light,"
Floraroma was about to protest but didn't say anything and left the control room.
Later, in the dark of night, Florarmoa, snuck past the guards and began to head towards the Felucian village. As she walked through the jungle and past the unique plant life of the planet, the Jedi slowed her breathing and began to feel with the Force. Immediately she was hit with presence of every creature and plant life that dwelled in the jungle. She relaxed herself as she familiarized herself with the feelings of the planet and the Force energy the flowed through it. The Jedi suddenly halted in her tracks, as she sensed something.
"There is no point in hiding, I know you're there," She said aloud.
Steeping from behind a large mushroom-like plant, Commander Shadow approached the Jedi.
Floraroma turned to face the shadow trooper and asked, "How long have you been following me?"
"Since you left the base," He answered "I saw you leave and took it upon myself to make sure no harm came to you,"
"I can take care of myself, thank you though commander. I am more at home here than in Coruscant and the Force protects me," She told him.
"That may be, ma'am but Captain Rex said nobody goes anywhere without a partner,"
"Then where is your partner, commander?"
After the Jedi said that another shadow trooper stepped out into the open. The Jedi was surprised by the appearance of the other troopers but smiled and continued on her way.
"Very well, you two can accompany me, but stay close and keep your weapons at your side, the Felucians don't take kindly to armed strangers," Floraroma told them.
"Good, because we would have kept on following you even if you ordered us to turn back" Shadow said "Shade here is the best tracker of all the shadow troopers, next to me of course."
Florarmoa walked quickly ahead of the two shadow troopers as they followed behind her in silence. They hiked about a mile before the Jedi came to a halt, the troopers stopping in unison behind her. The jungle became an eerie quite as the group stood there, waiting.
Suddenly the jungle came to life and a large rancor with fluorescent markings painted on its body charged out of foliage. Both shadow troopers quickly raised their blasters and moved to protect the Jedi only to be halted by the Jedi's raised arms. The rancor continued to approach the group before halting in front of them. The two troopers kept their eyes on the rancor until three Felucian warriors appeared behind them. The troopers quickly spun around and aimed their blasters at the approaching Felucians. Two more Felucian warriors then appeared at their sides completely surrounding the group.
"Orders, general?" Shadow asked, keeping a close eye on the Felucian warriors that surrounded them.
The Jedi didn't answer, but instead reached a hand out to the rancor. The giant beast lowered itself until the Jedi's hand touched its nose.
The Jedi smiled and began to pet the creature. "It's alright, boys, you can lower your weapons they won't hurt us,"
Shadow, reluctantly lowered his weapon as the other shadow trooper did the same.
"There see, they aren't going to hurt you or the others, you just startled them that's all," Florarmoa told the rancor.
Shade gave commander Shadow a confused look, which he responded to with a shrug of the shoulders.
A larger Felucian with red markings appeared from behind the rancor and approached the Jedi. Florarmoa bowed to the red Felucian and it returned the bow before saying something to her in Felucianese.
Florarmoa then replied in Felucianese, making occasional gestures to the two shadow troopers who stood watching. The red Felucian said something else before jumping on to the back of the rancor.
"They have agreed to escort us to their village and they apologize for the misunderstanding, they thought you two were a threat to the village," Florarmoa explained to the shadow troopers.
The group followed the red Felucian as it rode atop of the rancor and guided the group to the village, the Felucian warriors following behind.
"I must say I'm impressed, general, I never seen anyone come face-to-face with a rancor like that," Shadow told her.
The Jedi smiled and said "While I was training with the Felucians they taught me how to tame a rancor and how not to fear them. They are actually quite intelligent and caring creatures once you get truly know them,"
Shade shook his head in disbelief as they entered the village. The village was surprisingly large with several hut-like structures set about the area and among the plant life. The village was set in a clearing at the base of a small plateau. Along the sides of the plateau were several makeshift walkways that indicated the village continued to the top of the plateau.
The red Felucian dismounted the rancor and lead the group to a large hut where two Felucian warriors stood guard. The red Felucian began to speak with the guards as they group waited.
"Who's the one with the red markings?" Shadow asked.
"He is one of the village's chief shamans. He and the other shamans will teach the young Felucians who show great skill in the Force about it and how to use it properly. He even taught me while I was training here," Florarmoa answered.
The shaman returned to the group and said something to Florarmoa.
She nodded and turned to address the troopers, "He says we are welcome to speak with the chieftain, but you two will have to remove your helmets and leave your weapons with the guards,"
"With all due respect, ma'am, we'd like to keep our weapons with us," Shadow told her.
"We are guest here in the Felucian village and they have been kind enough to cooperate with us and help us with our mission, in turn we should obey their laws and respect their customs. Plus it will show that we are not the enemy and willing to do as we are told, it will make them trust us more,"
Shadow was about to protest but decided against it and removed his helmet, Shade following his lead. With their helmets tucked under their arms the troopers handed their blasters to the guards, who then set them against the walls of the hut. The shaman then gestured them inside as Florarmoa handed her lightsaber to one of the guards.
The inside of the hut was large and lined with a verity of pottery, tapestry and other household items that were fashioned from a verity of different things common to the wild of the Felucian jungle. Sitting in front of a fire was a tall and massive Felucian with yellow markings. The shaman moved and approached the yellow Felucian to introduce the group before sitting next to it.
Florarmoa approached the yellow Felucian before bowing and saying something unknown to the shadow troopers to it. The Felucian replied and gestured to a place in front of the fire.
Florarmoa smiled and said "The chieftain recognizes you two as warriors of the Republic and invites you to sit and enjoy the warmth of his fire,"
"Well, umm thank you chieftain," Shadow said, with a small bow.
Shadow moved and sat in front of the fire as Shade joined him. Florarmoa then sat to the left side of the fire so she could easily speak to both the chieftain and the troopers. The chieftain then began to speak, using his hands and large arm movements to help tale the story. Florarmoa translated the Felucianese for the troopers.
"He says that several cycles ago the metal men arrived and began to build a large metal hut in the center of Death Valley, a valley surrounded by steep cliffs at all sides of it except for the small, narrow passage used by creatures looking for death. Along with the metal hut the metal men created a tall one that reaches for the heavens and one that creates more of the metal men. The chieftain of the metal men, the one with the four faces, left a metal spider in charge of the hut before he left. Then seven cycles ago the Four Faced man returned and brought death with him. This death is an evil creature whose presence has disrupted the flow of the planet," Florarmoa translated.
"Creature? Ask him to elaborate more on that," Shadow told Florarmoa.
Florarmoa did as Shadow asked and translated when the chieftain answered.
"He says only one has seen this creature, a lone Felucian who caught a glimpse of it when it was battling an acklay for the Four Faced man's entertainment. The creature is as black as the night and as dangerous as the bull rancor. The metal men made sure to keep the creature imprisoned in the metal tower. Yet another creature escaped and was responsible for the death of two young Felucians. This creature was never seen, but its presence was the same as the one spotted by the lone warrior. The creatures have since multiplied and are imprisoned within the metal tower and the metal hut within Death Valley. If the creatures were to escape their prison the planet would fall into chaos,"
"If Emotion has an entire base filled of those things, then we are in big trouble," Shadow stated.
The chieftain continued as Florarmoa translated again.
"He says that six cycles ago the sounds of battle could be heard coming from the hut in Death Valley and that ever since then the valley had been shrouded in silence and mystery and the metal men making hut has gone silent as well,"
"That can't be good" Shadow stated "Ask what happened to the men that looked like us at our metal hut,"
Again Florarmoa did as asked and translated the reply.
"He says your brothers were attacked by the metal men and the Four Faced one yet none of their lives were taken until they entered the metal tower. That was when the presence of the creature increased,"
"So, Emotion took our brothers alive and then killed them in order to create more of these creatures. Whatever these things are we need to get rid of them and the droid bases before any more lives are lost," Shadow stated, standing up.
"Agreed, I remember the way to the Death Valley so I'll be able to guide us there once we are ready," Florarmoa said
"Then it's settled once we get back to the others we are taking those creatures and everything else Emotion has in that base down" Shadow said, before turning and bowing to the chieftain "Thank you for your help chieftain, we will do all we can to protect you and your village,"
Florarmoa translated this to the chieftain before translating his reply to commander Shadow.
"He thanks you for assisting in ridding the planet of the Death Creature but also warns that few people, even those with the strongest of wills, come out of Death Valley alive,"
"Thanks for the warning but we clone troopers and shadow troopers alike are use to these kind of life and death situations," Shadow stated before leaving the hut.
Shade followed Shadow out while Florarmoa took the time to properly thank the Felucian chieftain and shaman for everything before following after the troopers.
Armed with the location of the droid base and idea of what they might have to face there, commander Shadow, Jedi Florarmoa and Shade returned to the Republic outpost to prepare the others for the assault on the droid base.