Chapter 17

There was a saying amongst the Talpini Raiders of the Panseppi Steppes. The ancient people of the lands, set on the northern peninsular of the planet Myspis, had enscribed a list of laws on the wall of a cave. One of those scratched out warning said

It is better to kill your quarry where they stand. If one is to spare their enemy, then that prisoner and the one who captured him are to be fed to the Anooba.

The meaning behind it was obvious. The Anooba was one of the best trackers, one of the most savage killers, and one of the most relentless hunters. It was obvious that the Talpini across from Zule had heard that saying. His eyes would flicker from her steady stare to the line of drool sliding down the long fur that hung from Budiku's chin. She had brought the Anooba as a way to frighten information out of the man, and it seemed to be working.

So far, she had learned that his name was Nehigh Mir. He was a mercenary, and he had been hired by someone thus far unknown to protect the tomb from anyone except for him employer. Every now and then, the employer would venture down into the caves and study the tomb, before he returned to the surface. Sometimes he left with artefacts, and other times he claimed that knowledge was all that he sought.

But the one thing that Nehigh Mir did not reveal was the name of his employer. She pressed that issue.

"Who was he?", she asked.

"I cannot say!", Nehigh cried out. There was desperation and fear in his voice.

This far into the interrogation, Zule had only brought Budiku as a symbol of what she could release on the Talpini. If he was frightened of his employer though, then she needed to give him more fear to break through.

During her down time in the Coruscanti Temple, Zule had taken to training the Anooba, who officially belonged to Caloc but seemed happy being with every Jedi within the walls. She motioned discretely to the slobbering beast. Immediately, Budiku's ears flattened against his head, and a low growl rumbled from his chest.

The growl lasted only a second.

The sound of clomping teeth repeatedly echoed around the room as Budiku snapped his jaw closer and closer to the Talpini's face. With each clomp, Nehigh's screams got louder and shriller, and his face went from a dark rich cream to a horrific white. After the forth loud clomp, Zule gestured again, and Budiku backed off.

She leant down to the Talpini's level, which was extremely low even of the higher chair they had gotten him. "You control this animal, Nehigh. Do you want him to continue to get closer with those gnashing teeth, or do you think that he could perhaps be persuaded to leave the room entirely?"

"You don't understand, sir.", Nehigh spoke softly, his voice shaking uncontrollably. "If I tell you who he is, he will know. If I tell you what he looks like, he will know. If he knows, I will die. Even the death by a pack of Anooba's would be more gentle that what he could plan for me. You don't know the torturous devices he owns!"

Well, Zule thought, that was interesting. But she needed to tell her Master this. They could decide how to crack Nehigh later.

Jaz Chappa frowned. He had been studying the data for the past three hours. The large hole that had appeared in the caverns below had completely destroyed the nest of Trakulis Orelis. However something far worse had been taken from him as well.

The holographic table chimed rhythmically, and the Kalleran closed his eyes. He felt an overwhelming dread sink into the pit of his stomach. He answered the call. "What can I do for you, Count Dooku?"

"I have heard about a rather distressing situation with our acquisition on Devaron.", the gigantic face of the Count loomed above him, a disapproving scowl on his face, "Who is responsible?"

Jaz flickered across a list of hologram, until he found them. He threw them up to the Count. "These Jedi are responsible, my lord."

The Count frowned as he studied the holograms. "I know these Jedi. That is Tia Sil'o'can. He is definitely formidable, but I doubt that he would be able to bring down an entire cavern. The other is Stass Allie. I have had run ins with her before. What were they investigating?"

"I sent them to stop the worms from attacking our tunnels. It was my understanding that the tomb was hidden and protected."

"It was.", the Count replied, "My Master will be most displeased with this development. Hopefully there will be artefacts that can be recovered."

"Maybe there are, Dooku", Jaz fell back into his chair, "but I wouldn't go near the site for a while. The Jedi have sent both a judicial crew and some sort of Jedi Archaeologist to secure the tomb. They don't want anyone near it."

He casually reached for a mug of kaff and brought it to his lips. He was part way through a gulp of the lukewarm liquid when his throat closed up. He gasped for a minute and clawed at the tubes that fed oxygen to his throat. He gasped, and spun around to see the Count with his hand extended. The fingers were curled into a fist.

"You seem to be unable to grasp the situation, my dear boy.", the man's deep voice echoed around the office, "You are fortunate that the tomb was not entirely destroyed. My Master may allow you to live, if you can tell me one thing."

The Kalleran choked out a reply, but it sounded like a thin gurgle. Again, he tried, and this time he managed to choke out, "What… do you… need?"

"Was there anyone with these Jedi?"

Jaz croaked out, "There… there was."

"Who!", Dooku barked. He released the man, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping and coughing.

"Two kids. One had a tattoo across her cheek and the other had a glove on his left arm."

Another voice came across the holographic video. Dooku was replaced by a hooded head. His features were hidden below the cowl, but two thin lips and a crooked chin were barely visible. The man's voice was a rich accent that was deep and somehow felt dark.

"You disappoint me, Jaz Chappa. Feel glad that today my fury has been quelled by my curiosity. You will leave the Forgotten Lands. Travel to Funatude City. There, you will be briefed and prepare for your next assignment."

Bowing as low as he could, Jaz accepted the rare opportunity to see his true employer. "I understand, Lord Sidious."

So for those who cannot guess, this is kind of a preview into some future works of mine. After this next book, we will be getting into the CLONE WARS!

Good news, tomorrow, I will be releasing a sneak peek of the Storms of Arratak, the next book in the series. For now, I hope that is chapter keeps you entertained. Don't forget to review and don't hesitate to ask any questions.