Chapter Twenty

Behind me, the door to the Ebon Hawk slid closed. Zaalbar stood near Juhani as she argued with a Selkath Czerka employee about docking fees. As I approached, the Selkath said.

"Here on Edean, trade designation G5-632 docking isn't free. It is perfectly legal for us to charge you a docking fee and if you don't want to pay it you may leave."

Juhani countered.

"Why should we pay you for docking? It's not like you had to do anything…"

"Czerka built this docking station and we do offer services that are free after you pay the docking fee. You will be allowed to stay at the official Czerka inn, which is the only place availably really. Also for an extra fee we will provide you with a translator fluent in the Wookiee language."

I interjected.

"The translator won't be necessary. As you can see we already have a Wookiee among us. However I will pay the basic docking fee, how much?"

"Only one hundred credits."

I pulled out my datapad, interfacing it with the Czerka employee's datapad. In seconds the transaction ended. Pleased, the Czerka Selkath said.

"Now you're free to do as you please. If you are interested in slaves I can get you the best deals."

I felt outrage. Juhani and Zaalbar looked angrily at the Czerka employee. In a barely controlled tone, Juhani said.

"We are not slavers."

"I thought the Wookiee was your slave…"

I said.

"He is our friend and not a slave. My personal views are very much against slavery of any sort. If you Czerka keep rubbing it in my face, I'll end you!"

I held out my lightsaber withits blue beam already at full power. The Czerka Selkath visibly shivered at the sight of my deadly weapon. In a trembling voice he said.

"I won't mention it again and I'll warn my colleagues. The last thing I want is trouble with a Jedi."

He scurried off toward the Czerka office built into one of the colossal trees. I began walking with Juhani beside me and Zaalbar close behind. Zaalbar gave a few Wookiee growls then said.

"Thank you for defending me back there. I didn't want to say this but there's a reason why I fled my village twenty years ago. I was running from slavers."

"Wait, why were the slavers after you?"

"I was exiled because my brother made a deal with the slavers. As an exile I lost all Wookiee respect and protection. I was on my own and fair game for the slavers. My brother betrayed the Wookiee people. The deal he made with the slavers was secret, and I was the only one who overheard it. I couldn't accept it. My anger got the best of me and dishonorably I fought him using my claws. Our father found out about the fight but didn't believe me about the slavers…"

"Now I know why Mission called your brother a bastard and was eager to kill him. If I meet him it'll be hard not to use him for cutting practice."

Zaalbar suddenly stopped walking then looked down at his sharp claws as he spoke.

"For fighting my brother with my claws I got called a madclaw and exiled. Madclaw is the worst derogatory term for a Wookiee to be called. Seeing my people again won't be easy for me."

Juhani pitched in.

"I have not gotten to know you very well Zaalbar, but both of us will be there for you. You will not be alone."

He looked up at us.

"Thank you. It means a lot to have others stand with me."

The Czerka office was the only information center. As much as I lathed speaking to Czerka drones I had no choice. When the automatic doors slid open what I saw disgusted me. In rows of cages there were Wookiees, some laying on the cold floor, others curled up and unconscious. Ever since childhood I considered slavery to be disgusting. On my home planet Deralia, slavery was forbidden on ethical grounds and planetary delegates often took on legal battles against it.

As we walked I caught Juhani's expression. She had a look of sympathy when glancing at the Wookiees and when she glanced at the Czerka employees her eyes reflected hatred. Zaalbar could barely control his rage at the sight, instead he away as much as possible. The same Czerka Selkath we spoke with earlier stood at the head of the room while speaking to a human Czerka employee. The Selkath stopped midsentence when he saw us approach, dismissing his colleague then managing to look composed. Stepping in front of him I said.

"As much as I don't want to speak with you again I have questions. Tell me where the Wookiee village is from here and how to get there."

"It would be bad business for Czerka to give you that sort of information. Unlike out there you can't threaten me here unless you want to be putdown with blaster fire."

He had a smug look on his face. I was about to demand he answer my question when Juhani gave me a light jab with a quick wink. Before I had time to talk, Juhani spoke to him in an authoritative tone.

"You will tell us about the Wookiee leadership and where we can find the village."

For a moment his face was blank though I wasn't an expert on Selkath expressions. Juhani kept firmly eyeing him until he started talking.

"Czerka prefers there to be a profitable and agreeable leader kept in power. Right now company interests are being met with Chuundar in power. He is perfect for Czerka interests. We have a constant supply of Wookiee slaves as you can see. The village isn't far from here. There are wooden platforms built into the trees that will lead you there. The village is north of this building. Do you have any other questions?"

Juhani said.

"No we do not. This conversation never happened and you did not meet any Jedi today."

"Yes this never happened. Now I will resume my work."

The Selkath walked behind the counter then sat in a chair and looked down at a took my hand in hers, nodding for Zaalbar to follow as she led us out of the Czerka building. After we were a good distance from the building she let go of me then said.

"That was the first time I tried that on an actual mission. I did not think it would work so well…"

"What are you talking about? The way he answered you and not me, is that it?"

"Yes, I used Force persuasion. If a Jedi is skilled enough, the Jedi can make someone do just about anything. I normally would not use such an invasive method, but don't you think it was necessary?"

"Yeah, it was more than necessary. To be honest it was quite fun to watch. I can't wait to see you do that again."

Juhani grinned.

"I will do it again only if it is necessary. Invading another person's mind is not something I want to make a habit of."

"I understand, but especially on Korriban it'll be useful … asking Sith sensitive questions isn't a good idea when we're working to destroy them. Can you teach this ability, Juhani?"

"Force Persuade is not a simple skill to master. I have no experience in teaching others but I am willing to describe to you how it works."

"I'll hold you to that."

We walked north past huge trees extending even further into the sky which were thicker than the circumference of the Ebon Hawk. Since we spoke to the Selkath, Zaalbar appeared uneasy as he tried to make his presence negligible. We neared a tall wooden gate guarded by two scruffy human Czerka. The higher ranked man blocked my path as he said.

"I recommend you turn back. Czerka's outpost comes to an end here."

"Get out of our way. I paid the docking fee and the Selkath that welcomed us said we get access by paying the fee."

He snorted.

"Fine then, I won't stop you, but whatever happens out there isn't on Czerka's jurisdiction."

He moved to open the gate then after we walked through he closed it. The walkway was sturdy beneath my feet. I assumed it to be Wookiee built but I wanted to confirm with Zaalbar.

"Hey, Zaalbar, who built this walkway?"

He didn't seem in a talkative mood but reluctantly he answered with the usual Wookiee growls that were comprehensible but impossible for a human to emulate.

"The walkway was here as far back as I can remember. I don't know who built it. My clansmen would often repair it, but that's as much as I know."

Zaalbar looked even more uneasy at every step we took in the direction of the Wookiee village. I said.

"You've been acting like something is bothering you. Czerka pisses me off too, but I don't think it's the only thing bothering you…"

"There are a lot of things bothering me, such as the shame of returning to my village and seeing my brother again. I worry about how things have become since I left. So far everything is a disgrace compared to how it used to be."

"I think I can understand. It's like if I returned to Deralia and it was overrun with slavers, Mandalorians, and Sith. I'm not sure how much I can do but I'll help if I can. This Chuundar needs to be overthrown but we'll have to cooperate until we learn the Star Map's location."

Zaalbar gave a Wookiee growl of agreement then added.

"Thank you, Lena Rouen. You are an honorable human, unlike this Czerka scum. I didn't want to say it, but Chuundar is my brother."

His brother being the chief sent a jolt of anger through me. The traitor who subjugated his own people under Czerka was the Wookiee leader. I knew I would destroy him the first chance I got. First I needed to obtain information, but I fully intended to find a way to put Zaalbar's brother out of power. The sound of crawling in the distance snapped me back to the moment. There was a group of light green insectoids blocking the path to the village. Zaalbar growled.

"Lena Rouen, those are Kinrath. They attack anything that approaches them. As a young Wookiee I fought them on a daily basis. Get ready for a fight!"

I drew my lightsaber at the same time as Juhani. Zaalbar ran ahead of us, aiming his bowcaster at the creatures. He fired, knocking back two Kinrath. Juhani and I took advantage of the moment, cutting through the creatures. The first two insectoids were in pieces, their greenish blood splattered over the platform from the bowcaster hits. The last one lunged at me, grazing my arm with a claw. Before it could cut deeper Juhani pushed it away from me with the Force. She sliced its head off, which landed with a thud, its eyelids blinked before freezing in place. The cut on my arm stung so I put up my lightsaber then with my other arm, placed pressure on the minor wound. Juhani walked over with medical gel and gauze in hand. I let go of the wound, letting her examine it. As she fixed me up she said.

"I noticed you don't use your Force powers very much, well except for channeling your lightsaber."

"I haven't trained using my powers for long on Dantooine. Making a Force field would've been useful, huh?"

"Well I wouldn't need to patch you up! Just promise me you'll use it the next time we're in a fight. I don't want you getting hurt."

I gave her a charming smile then nodded, thought I winced the moment she started applying the gauze. In the distance I swore I heard the rolling of wheels and the clacking of metal against wood.

"Juhani, do you hear something?"

"There is plenty of chirping…"

"Do you hear something rolling?"

"I do not … wait yes; it is coming from behind us. Zaalbar, could you please check what is making the noise while I finish patching her up?"

He gave a growl of agreement then left. Juhani turned her attention back to me, tightening the final layer of gauze.

"Lena, do you know much about Kashyyyk?"

"I know as much as I've seen."

"Well as a little girl I heard stories about the surface of Kashyyyk. It was said no one returned from the lower layers, for the beasts were merciless and deadly. Maybe they were just stories or maybe there's truth to it, I mean we're still pretty high up and that Kinrath grazed you. If we have to descend to the surface…"

I interrupted.

"I'll have a Force field around me."

"Well if you do not, I'll have to share mine."

She gave a wink as she finished applying the gauze.