Twin Suns
Their training sabers clashed, causing sparks to fly as Juhani and Ashla sparred in the cargo bay of the Ebon Hawk while en route to Tatooine. Ashla grunted from effort as she reached for the Force, her training saber blocking the Cathar's. She extended her hand with a push, sending a wave of force energy at Juhani, which caused the Cathar woman to tumble backwards.
Juhani rose with a groan. "I think, perhaps that is enough for one day." She stretched to the side to release the kink in her back.
Ashla smiled as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "Agreed. I'm noticing that you are focusing more on staying calm while in combat, Juhani. That is good."
"You have my thanks, Ashla." Juhani said with a slight bow. "Your use of form three is excellent. Tomorrow, I would like you to help me improve my own."
"I would be happy to do so, Juhani." Ashla said as she stored the training sabers on the rack in the corner of the cargo hold.
"How is it that you are so well trained in all the forms, Ashla?" Juhani asked curiously.
Ashla looked up from the saber rack to the Cathar woman. She thought back to the day while training with Zhar when she had asked a similar question. "Master Zhar said it was because I already had such a strong background in the art of sword fighting. He said a lot of the techniques are similar."
Juhani nodded, as she sat down on a crate and opened a pouch of water.
Ashla sat down beside her. "So, how are you holding up since your trials?"
Juhani shrugged. "It is a struggle still, at times. I feel… surprised that the council would allow me to leave the enclave. I feel I should apologize to you for how I behaved in the grove."
"No apology is necessary, Juhani." Ashla said.
"It was wrong of me, and I apologize." Juhani stated.
Ashla nodded. "Apology accepted."
Juhani smiled. "Thank you. I do miss Dantooine, though. It's been my home for many years."
"Where were you from before? Were you brought into the order as a child, like Bastila?" Ashla asked.
She nodded. "I was young when I was brought into the order. I am originally from Taris. I heard it was recently destroyed." Juhani said with a frown.
"Yes, Malak ordered its destruction as we were trying to get Bastila off the planet." Ashla said.
A look of anger swept over the woman's features. "My home was destroyed… because of you?"
Ashla sat in stunned silence. "Juhani, it was Malak, who called for the destruction. We were merely trying to escape. To survive."
Juhani stood stiffly as she tried to get her anger under control. "Ashla, forgive me. I… I seem to still have trouble controlling my emotions. I should not blame you for something you could not control."
"It's alright. It will take time. Remember and trust in the code," Ashla said.
Juhani nodded as she walked quietly from the hold.
#
Ashla dreamt.
The suns beat down on her. The heat was intense, almost suffocating under her mask. She frowned as she focused on reaching the cave, where it would be cooler. Malak grumbled beside her, about the heat… the sands… She struggled to ignore him.
"Be silent, Malak." Her voice coming from inside the mask sounded odd to her ears. Mechanical. Cold.
She sighed inwardly with relief as they entered the coolness of the cave. She drew her lightsaber and held it aloft so that when she ignited the blade, the violet glow illuminated the path in front of her. There at the back of the cave was the star map. As she approached, the arms opened and the map flickered to life.
Ashla sat up, shaking from the dream. 'No, it was a vision,' she reminded herself. She wasn't surprised when the door opened with a swoosh and Bastila entered the cargo hold, where Ashla had set up her sleeping area.
"I've had another dream, Ashla. Did you have it as well?" Bastila asked as she pulled her robe tighter around herself and sat down on one of the crates.
Ashla pulled the blanket up around her. She nodded. "The star map appeared to be in an old cave. Although, I'm not sure where on Tatooine."
"Yes, I saw that too." Bastila was silent. "Ashla. I feel we should continue our conversation from before."
Ashla closed her eyes and sighed. "About my relationship with Carth?"
"Well, no, but since you mentioned it. Did you give what I said any thought?" Bastila asked.
"Of course, I have, Bastila. We're taking things slow."
"You didn't end it?" Bastila said, shaking her head. "You didn't listen to me at all!"
Ashla rose and grabbed her brown padawan robe and slipped it around her. "We both agreed to put the mission first."
Bastila shook her head. 'Stubborn as always.' "Fine." She rubbed her hand over her eyes. "I wanted to discuss your progress. I've been studying you very closely since you're training with Master Zhar."
Ashla froze, her hands tightening on the sash as she was finishing tying the knot. "My progress?"
The younger Jedi nodded. "You have shown considerable restraint and poise while being tempted by the dark side. It's very commendable, but I worry that you might stray from this path."
"I appreciate your concern, Bastila, but I don't need another lecture right now." Ashla grumbled as she dug through her footlocker searching for her white pants. 'Especially coming from someone almost half my age.'
"Well, unfortunately, we must have it. If you had had longer training with Master Zhar, I would not have to be the one going over this with you. Yet, it has fallen to my shoulders to try to teach more about the temptation the dark side can have on you." Bastila frowned. "It is not simply giving into anger or temptation, but it's a slow seduction. It begs you to give in to it and release all its power. It becomes harder and harder to resist. Once you stop resisting, it's often too late. It twists you into a former mockery of former self and what you once stood for."
"And, you worry my… feelings… for Carth are going to make me, what? Turn to the dark side?"
"Perhaps not your feelings for him, no, but what you are willing to do in order to protect him. You might think you are doing the right thing, because the dark side has misconstrued your feelings and your perceptions."
"I couldn't see myself doing that, Bastila." Ashla said as she slipped on the pants under her robe.
"That's why the dark side is so insidious. If you aren't careful, you won't see every small step that you take which brings you closer to the edge. Please, just consider what I am saying. It is up to you if you heed them or not."
#
Tatooine
Teethree whirled around in a circle as he watched the Jedi and her companions file out of the ship. He whistled happily as he rolled around the ship making small repairs. The older male Jedi was sitting in the common area making medpacks. The Jedi ignored him as he rolled past.
He saw someone waiting at the bottom of the ramp with a large crate. He beeped a question at the older Jedi, who had nodded off and was sound asleep.
Teethree warbled in annoyance as he spun around and headed toward the loading ramp.
He beeped a question at the man at the bottom of the loading ramp. T3 = What? We did not order anything.
The man motioned for the other man behind him to load the crate into the garage of the ship. "Be quick about it!"
Teethree rolled in annoyance, beeping wildly. He rolled in front of the man pushing the crate up the ramp only to have the man kick him on the side.
Teethree pulled out his multi-tool arm and beeped angrily, T3 = Kick me again, and I will zap you!
The man grumbled, "listen, tin can, I don't speak droid. This is where the order said to deliver the crate, so you get the crate. Do with it what you will. I don't care. I'm not taking it back!"
The man slammed the invoice down on top of the crate before running back down the ramp. He waved for the other man to move out as he ran.
Teethree rolled to the crate and began inspecting it. He heard odd sounds coming from inside. He lifted the lid curiously. A small creature hopped on top of his head, and cooed at him. Another hopped out of the crate, followed by another… and another.
Teethree watched in dismay as the garage of the Ebon Hawk began to fill with the small hopping creatures. He zapped one with his multi-tool arm, only to have it duplicate itself. Now two of the hopping menaces stared at him.
Teethree beeped sadly, "dooo wooooo." T3 = Uh oh.
#
"Excuse me? Ma'am?"
Ashla heard the woman's voice drifting towards her, pulling her awareness away from the magnetic pull that had been propelling her forward through Anchorhead. The woman looked tired. Her skin was very pale, and she had huge dark circles under her eyes. Hiding behind her skirts were two young girls.
"Yes?" Ashla asked as she stopped in the middle of the pathway.
The woman looked surprised to see Ashla stop to talk to her. "Oh! I, uh, was wondering if you would like to buy this wraid plate?"
Carth nudged Ashla on the arm. "We should keep moving," he murmured to Ashla softly. "Sorry, lady, we don't need to buy any wraid plates today." He began walking off, only to pause when he realized that Ashla wasn't following him.
Ashla stood transfixed, staring at the two young girls who returned her stare with large round brown eyes. She glanced back up at the woman. Desperation and fear lurked behind her eyes. "Wait, Carth. How much are you asking for the plate? Why don't you just go sell it at the trader's lodge?"
The woman paled. "I don't have a hunter's license, you see. My husband, Ward, was killed while out on a hunt. You can't sell items in the trader's lodge with a hunter's license. However, if you have a license you could sell it and get your money back. I'm only asking for what it's worth."
Ashla noticed the pain behind the woman's eyes. Pain, exhaustion, and hunger. It was clear to her that the woman had been giving the majority of their rations to the children, keeping little for herself. "How many credits are you asking for the plate?"
"Only five hundred! You could sell it easily for that price in the lodge! Please, would you buy it?" The woman pleaded with her.
"What's your name?" Ashla asked. She motioned for Carth, Zaalbar and Mission to be patient and wait.
"It's Sharina Fizark. Please, would you help me and my girls? With the credits from this sale, I could get them off world. Maybe even go to Coruscant!" Sharina looked at her with hope in her eyes.
Ashla debated on what to do. True, she could sell it. She had, in fact, just acquired a hunter's license since they would need it to get out of the city to search for the star map. If she said no, it meant that Sharina would keep trying to sell it. Most likely, with little to no luck. Ashla didn't like to think about the alternatives that Sharina might have to explore in order to get money to take care of her small family. The family would end up being split apart, or sold into slavery to cover their debts. She sighed deeply and turned to Carth, who was already walking back over to her side.
"How much do you need?" Carth asked quietly as he pulled out the pouch where they kept their credits.
"Give her seven hundred credits, Carth." Ashla said. "That would pay for the plate, plus some additional credits to get her and the children off world."
"You? You're going to buy the plate? And, give me extra for it?" Sharina gasped.
"Yes. Take care of your girls. They are the future of the galaxy." Ashla said as Carth handed her the credits. She took the wraid plate from the woman's shaking hands.
"I don't know what to say… Thank you!" Sharina bowed to them as she put the credits in a safe pocket in her pack, and led the girls toward the public transports.
"Sharina! Wait," Ashla called out. Sharina and the girls paused. "Please allow Carth and Zaalbar to escort you to the public transports. That way, you and the girls will be safe. Carth, meet us at the cantina when you're finished."
"That was a nice thing you did, Ash. Makes me feel like maybe there is still good in the galaxy after all." Mission said as they watched Carth and Zaalbar escort the small family towards the public transports.
"Thanks, Mission. Maybe a little good will go a long way. Besides, family is important, right?"
Mission nodded solemnly, thinking about her brother Griff, who they had learned at the Czerka office, had been captured by a local Tusken Raider group.
"Don't worry, Mission. We'll find him." Ashla hugged the girl standing beside her before they headed towards the cantina.
#
Bastila couldn't believe her ears. Was that really her mother's voice she heard booming in the back of the cantina? She closed her eyes and grimaced at the grating voice yelling at the barkeep. She opened her eyes and glanced over toward the direction the voice was coming from. 'It is her,' she thought with dismay.
Helena Shan, an older woman with Bastila's fine features, sat at the small table in the corner of the cantina. The woman watched as the newcomers filed into the cantina. A large man the size of a mountain sauntered up to the bar and ordered an ale, while the two young women stepped in behind him. The older woman's eyes lit up at seeing one of the younger women.
"Bastila?!" She rose from her seat and was across the room in less than a tic.
Bastila forced her emotions to stay below the surface. Beside her, Juhani gave a gasp of surprise.
"Bastila? Do you know this woman?" Juhani asked as the older woman rushed towards them.
"Yes, I do." Bastila said drily. "She's my mother."
"Oh, dear." Juhani murmured as the older woman pulled Bastila into a huge hug.
"Mother." Bastila said drily as she pulled away. "You're making a scene."
"Is that any way to greet your mother, Bast?" Bastila's mother said.
Bastila sighed as she stepped away from her mother and sat down at one of the round tables. Juhani sat down beside her, amused by the family drama playing out in front of her.
"What are you doing here anyway, Mother?" Bastila asked as she watched the door.
"I have been trying to find someone to locate your father's remains." Helena replied softly.
"My father's… remains?" Bastila's voice faltered. "Father is… dead?"
"Yes, Bastila. I'm sorry to tell you this, but he was killed while trying to hunt a krayt dragon here on Tatooine." Helena looked remorsefully at her daughter.
"A krayt dragon?! Mother, why, by the force, would Father have been trying to hunt a krayt dragon?!" Bastila just knew her mother must have put him up to it. Always wanting more and more, Bastila thought grimly.
"He was…" Helena sighed. "There is no easy way to tell you this, Bastila. I'm dying. Your father was hoping that the money he would make from killing such a beast would help pay for my treatments on Coruscant. He never returned."
"You're...dying?" Bastila shook her head. "Oh, come now, Mother. That's low, even for you!"
"Bastila, that is no way to speak to your honored mother." Juhani said reprovingly.
Bastila gave a sideways glance to the Cathar woman before turning back to her mother. "Mother, seriously. What is all this about?"
"I knew you wouldn't believe me." Helena said as she stepped away from the small table and returned to her own at the back of the cantina.
Ashla approached Bastila and Juhani curiously with Mission following behind her as they entered the cantina. "What was all that about?"
"My mother." Bastila sighed. "Always after the next biggest find. She always pushed my father so hard. I always thought she would have been the death of him, and now it seems I was right!"
Ashla gave Bastila a quizzical cock of her brow. "What do you mean?"
"Father was killed here, on Tatooine, trying to hunt a krayt dragon! Mother says it was because he was trying to fund her treatments on Coruscant because, get this… she's dying." Bastila said as she shook her head in disbelief.
"She's dying?" Ashla glanced over to the older woman, who looked remarkably like Bastila. "She's your mother, Bastila. You should be spending time with her."
"I know all I need to know," she said stubbornly.
Ashla crossed the room to Helena's table. "Excuse me, Ms. Shan?"
Helena looked up in confusion. "Yes?"
"I'm Ashla Marek. I'm a friend of your daughter's." Ashla said as she sat down opposite of Helena.
"A Jedi... like my daughter, are you?" Helena asked.
"Yes, I am." Ashla said. "Bastila mentioned that you are very ill. Is there anything we could do to help?"
Helena's eyes softened as Bastila walked up behind Ashla. "No, I'm afraid there is nothing to be done. The treatments at Coruscant could help me live a little longer and be more comfortable until the end."
"Mother. Why then are you here, and not at Coruscant?" Bastila asked as she sat down next to Ashla.
"I'm trying to hire someone to retrieve a holocron from your father's remains. I have very little left to remember him by, as we were forced to sell many of our belongings to pay for my treatments." Helena wiped a tear from her eye.
"We could do this for you. Right, Bastila?" Ashla looked pointedly at Bastila. She nudged Bastila's side.
Bastila rubbed her rib cage, while glaring at Ashla. "Yes, Mother. If we find Father's remains, I'll bring the holocron to you."
Ashla smiled. "Good. I'm glad that's settled. Helena, why don't you join our table? You and Bastila should spend time together." She rose and headed back to the table where the others waited.
#
She, Mission, Zaalbar and Carth left the others at the cantina. Bastila, Canderous, and Juhani were going to inquire around the hunter's lodge about the krayt dragon lair, while they were headed to the droid shop located at the edge of town. Ashla felt curiously drawn to the droid shop, but she couldn't explain why.
The shop was small and unkempt. The shop owner, an Ithorian named Yuka Laka, met them as they entered the shop. Ashla felt her eyes drift over to the burnt red protocol droid in the back of the shop. 'That's what I have been feeling. This droid. Why does it call to me?'
After a successful round of haggling, Ashla was able to buy the droid for just a little over two thousand credits.
Carth looked at the droid warily while the shop keep removed the restraining bolt. "Are you sure about this droid, Ash? It looks… scary."
"Yeah, Ash. This droid is creepy. Big time." Mission shivered despite herself. Zaalbar moaned in agreement.
"It's just a droid, you two." Ashla laughed. Although, when the droid's red eyes turned to her, she could understand their hesitation. "Besides, we will need a translator when we go to the Tusken Raider village in order to ask about Griff and the star map. We need this droid. According to Yuka Laka, he's the only droid in the city that has protocol functions."
"Statement: HK-47 is ready to serve, Master!" The rusty red droid proclaimed as he walked up to Ashla.
"Thank you, HK, but you do not have to call me 'master.' My name is Ashla, that will do." Ashla said as they filed out of the shop into the bright Tatooine afternoon. She looked at the suns, which were starting their descent. It will be evening soon. She had a feeling that once the suns set, it would get very cold.
"Query: Don't I? I was under the assumption that all organic meatbags, such as yourselves, enjoyed being called by the honorific title." HK intoned darkly.
Carth leaned over towards Ashla and whispered, "see creepy." He glanced warily at the droid following them.
"Meatbags?" Ashla laughed.
"Retraction: Did I say that out loud? I apologize, Master. While you are technically a meatbag, I suppose I should not call you one." HK's photoreceptors flashed as he turned his head towards her.
"Just stop with calling me 'master,' or 'meatbag.' You are not to refer to the other members of the crew as 'meatbags' as well. Do you understand?" Ashla said as she looked up into the droid's menacing red eyes. She planted her hands on her hips and waited for the droid to respond. Beside her, Mission looked nervously at Carth and Zaalbar while discreetly placing her hand on the butt of her blaster.
"Amendment: I will endeavor to refrain from addressing you and your companions as 'meatbags,' Master."
Ashla looked uneasily at the droid. "Let's just head back to the ship. I'll deal with your programming later, HK."
Mission released the breath she had been holding as she followed behind Ashla and the newly acquired droid. She noticed that both Carth and Zaalbar decided to walk behind the droid as well. Crazy droid.
#
The days stretched into weeks as they traveled over the sands towards the Tusken Raider encampment and then back to Anchorhead. Ashla was so grateful to see the gates of Anchorhead looming in the distance before them that she picked up the pace to get back to the ship quicker.
It had taken much longer than she had hoped to find the settlement way out in the Dune Sea that held Griff, Mission's brother, and then to return to it with the promised water vaporators that would grant his release and to stop the raids on the settlement, as well. She was tired of camping out on the sandy dunes in the freezing temperatures, only to feel as if her skin was blistering during the day. Now, she longed for a shower and the chance to shake out all the sand from her robes.
As they entered the city gates, Ashla breathed a sigh of relief. "Mission, let's stop and check on Griff. He said he would meet us at the Czerka office. Carth, you and Zaalbar go on ahead and check on the ship. Hopefully, Teethree and Jolee were able to round up all the gizkas and get them back into their crate." She sighed wearily. "Oh, I hope they were able to get the mechanic to convert the sonic shower to one with water. I feel as if I'm coated in sand."
Carth nodded hopefully as she and Mission stopped at the Czerka office. They stepped into the cool interior of the office. Griff rushed forward to meet them.
"Mission! I can't thank you enough for helping me out back there!" Griff said. "I was hoping I'd see you again!"
Mission cast her a look full of hope. "I'm so happy I found you again! Lena said such awful things! She said that it was your idea to ditch me on Taris, Griff!"
Griff shuffled his feet. "Yeah… Lena. There's no telling what all she told you, Mish. She was pretty upset with me for breaking off our relationship. She was… holding me back."
Mission looked sadly at Ashla. It seems what Lena told her was true. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. You're my brother."
"That's right." Griff's lekku twitched as he scratched his chin, deep in thought. "Maybe you could help me out. Ya know, for old times sake."
Mission scowled. "We helped get you away from the Sand People. Isn't that enough for you?"
Griff took a quick step back. "Alright, I get it, sis. You're still mad. Listen, what I have in mind is really more for your friend here."
Ashla looked up in surprise. "Me? Get to the point, Griff. I'm tired and covered in sand."
Griff's lekku twitched as he looked around the office. "Okay, okay. I, uh, sorta promised this guy from the Exchange that I could get him the ingredients to make and begin selling Tarisian Ale. All I need from you is a tach gland. Surely, a planet hopping Jedi such as yourself has the means to get me what I need."
Mission's cheeks flushed purple in anger. "Unbelievable, Griff! First, we save your hide from the Sand People and now you want us to dig you out of some hole you dug with the Exchange?!"
"Griff, I do not have any tach glands, nor do I have time to go to Kashyyyk to get one for you. Sorry, friend, you're on your own here." Ashla said as she shook her head and began heading towards the door.
"Please! You've gotta help me! If I don't come through… this guy is going to break my legs or...worse!" Griff followed after them, pleading.
"Geez! Griff, are you blind? She's a Jedi! She's busy saving the galaxy! She doesn't have time to waste on your sorry excuses!" Mission pressed the button to open the door. "C'mon, Ash. Let's go. We're done here."
"Mission! Come on! I'm your brother!" Griff yelled as Mission stepped through the doorway.
"Forget it! I'm not falling for that sorry line again, Griff. You'll have to figure this one out on your own." Mission stomped off towards the spaceport.
Ashla reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a fifty credit chip. "Here, Griff. This is all I have on me, but maybe it will help you in some way. That's all I can do."
Griff accepted the credit chip and slipped it into his pocket. "If you change your mind, bring the tach gland by here. Think about it! You'd be crazy to pass this up!"
#
Ashla grabbed a ration bar and headed towards the cargo bay, where Teethree was waiting for her. The gizkas hopped out of her way as she walked down the corridor.
Teethree whirled in a circle, chirping happy beeps as she entered the hold.
"I missed you too, little friend." Ashla said as she settled on one of the large crates with her ration bar. "Alright, my little friend. Show me what you found on Alek."
Teethree beeped in acknowledgment as he began to project the images he found on the holonet that matched the name Alek. She hoped he had found one that matched the Alek she had been dreaming about.
A tall man with medium length dark hair was projected in front of her. "Stop."
Teethree froze the image.
"Teethree. Enlarge the image." Ashla said as she set down the ration bar and stood.
The image enlarged until she could see the man's features clearly. "Stop."
Ashla felt the blood drain from her face as she stared into the man's eyes. Her eyes quickly scanned over the document.
Jedi Knight Alek Squinquargesimus, one of the first of many to follow the Jedi known as the Revanchist, was sent to Taris to find the missing Jedi Zayne Carrick. Alek, who also goes by the nickname Squint, bravely rescued the missing Jedi by jumping off his speeder and catching the padawan before landing on the planet below.
Ashla pressed her fingertips to her throbbing temple. Alek was a Revanchist. These were Revan's memories she was dreaming about, not her own. According to Bastila, it was because of their force bond that she was able to experience the visions about the star maps, but Ashla wondered if there wasn't more to it.
The image of Alek blinked in front of her. 'Who were you to Revan? And, why am I reliving her memories in my dreams?'
The cargo bay door slid open with a whoosh. Carth walked into the hold carrying two mugs of caff. He froze when he saw the image flickering in the hold. "What's going on, Ash?"
"Teethree. You can stop projecting the image. Thank you." Ashla mumbled as she sat back down on the crate. Teethree rolled out of the cargo bay. The door closed silently behind him.
"Ash, why were you looking at an image of Malak?"
Malak? Ashla blanched. She groaned inwardly. "That was Malak?"
"Yes," Carth sat down the two mugs on the crate next to her and sat down on the large crate beside her. "Were you looking for information on Malak for the mission?"
Ashla rubbed her temples as she debated on what to tell him.
"Ash?"
She sighed. "I wasn't looking for information on Malak. I was trying to find information on a man named Alek. I… I didn't know they were the same person."
Carth frowned. "Why?"
"I made a promise to you to always be honest with you, Carth." Ashla paused. "You know that I have been having visions about the star maps."
He nodded.
"It seems I have been having dreams about Revan's past, too."
Carth's frown deepened. "Why would you be having visions about Revan?"
"According to Bastila, it is because of our force bond and her encounter with the Dark Lord. It's as if it left a ripple in the force, and I am picking up the echoes it left behind."
Carth looked uneasily at her. "Listen, beautiful. I don't know much about the Force, that's true. But, it seems odd to me that you'd be having these dreams about Revan just because of some 'force bond' with Bastila. There's got to be more to it than that."
"Perhaps you're right, flyboy." Ashla glanced away. "But, I don't know what it is."
"Humph, well, I don't like it." Carth grumbled.
'Neither do I, flyboy,' Ashla thought but kept the words to herself. "Carth, did you know Revan? Or Malak? From when you fought in the wars?"
Carth leaned back against the wall of the cargo hold with his mug. "I never met Revan, but I met Malak once, briefly. That's how I knew who the man from the holopic was… Malak. To think I once looked up to those two." Carth shook his head and sighed deeply. "Now, I'd like nothing more than to put a blaster to both their heads, though I guess only Malak is left."
Ashla felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She pulled away from him, leaving space between the two of them sitting on the large crate. "I suppose I understand, considering what happened with your family, that you'd feel that way."
Carth wrapped his hand around hers. "I was so impressed by him. You know, we never interacted much with the Jedi during the war. Sometimes, they would help out the medics, but during the battle, they were so inspiring. You always knew when Revan or Malak were on the battlefield. The tide of the battle would turn. We'd go from losing to winning, with the Mandalorians being put on the run. It's hard to put the man I once knew with the man he is now. I guess that just goes to show you how much the dark side can change a person."
"Carth, what do you know of the dark side?" Ashla asked as she curled up beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Hm. I used to think it was just some fancy term for corruption or greed. But, I think for you Jedi, or force-users, it's different. It's like there is this evil that is just waiting to take hold." He placed his arm around her shoulders. "I worry about you, sometimes."
She looked up into his dark brown eyes. "Me? You worry that I'll fall to the dark side?"
"Well, yeah, you. And, Bastila, too. You both can be so… intense." He sighed.
"Intense, huh?" Ashla frowned. "Carth, I'm not falling to the dark side."
"No? I bet the Malak I met would have said that too, but look at him now." Carth said softly.
Ashla closed her eyes and listened to the steady beating of his heart against her ear. "You're right, I suppose." She said quietly.
"I just worry that the Jedi have thrown you into this deadly mission without giving much thought to your training. Bastila's too, for that matter. It seems like they are more concerned about finding these blasted star maps, than they are about your well being." Carth reached down and tilted her face up to his, and brushed his lips across hers.
"I guess I have you to watch my back, now won't I, flyboy?" Ashla murmured against his lips.
#
Heading back across the sands, Ashla pulled the hood of her robe over her head with one hand hoping for some relief from the twin suns beating down on them. With the other hand, she held the reins of bantha that she had coaxed into following her across the sands. Luckily, none of the Sand People had been present when she used the fodder that she purchased in town to lure the animal to her side.
She paused at the crest of the sand dune and looked down at the krayt dragon cave in the distance. Behind her, Bastila, Carth, Canderous and HK paused.
"There she is," Canderous said. Ashla could have sworn she heard a hint of pride in his voice. "Finally, a kill worth telling my kids about."
Bastila laughed beside him. "Canderous, I didn't know you had children."
"I don't. Yet." Canderous said gravelly as he gave her a wicked smile. "But, maybe in the future, I will." He winked at the young Jedi. Bastila blushed deeply as she pulled the hood up over her head in hopes of covering her embarrassment.
"Mockery: such human pheromone driven responses never cease to decrease the charge of my capacitors." HK intoned sarcastically.
"Let's get going. Hopefully, Komad will be waiting for us like he promised." Ashla said as she began walking carefully down the steep dune she pulled the bantha behind her, murmuring softly to the large beast.
As they neared the cave, she could see a Twi'lek male patting the sand in front of the krayt dragon's cave with a shovel.
"Komad." Ashla said as they neared.
"Ahh, Ashla." Komad Fortuna said quietly. "You made it! And, with the bantha! This is better than I had hoped for!"
"Yes, well, getting the bantha wasn't as easy as I had hoped it would be, but here we are." Ashla rubbed the giant beast's nose guiltily. The poor beast was to be bait to lure the krayt dragon out of its lair.
"Have your men stand back a bit. I have planted charges in the sand here. We must draw the great beast out of its lair far enough that its belly, where it is most vulnerable, is over the explosives." Komad pointed at the sand before him. "You will walk the bantha up to the mouth of the cave and the scent will awaken the beast!"
Ashla held tightly onto the reins of the bantha. "Wait. What?"
"Yes, yes!" Komad motioned towards the mouth of the cave. "You will stand here, until the beast emerges. Then, drop the reins and run back to your men."
Carth pulled Bastila aside. "Bastila. There has to be another way. This is too dangerous."
"Awh, c'mon, Republic! Lighten up! She can do it!" Canderous pulled his blaster off of his shoulder and checked the charge. "Let's get to it!"
"Carth." Ashla said as he walked up to her. "It's alright. I'll be fine. The Force is my ally."
He touched her cheek gently with his fingertips. "I don't like it."
"I know, but we need the star map that is inside that cave. The only way to get to it is to lure out the beast and kill it." Ashla said as she gripped the reins tighter. The bantha made a snorting sound beside her. "I'll be fine."
Carth grumbled as he walked back to stand beside Canderous, Bastila and HK. 'First, rancors on Taris. Then, a frackin' terentatek on Kashyyyk… now a blasted krayt dragon. Damned stubborn woman is going to get herself killed.'
"Alright, Komad. Let's do this." Ashla pulled on the reins of the bantha as she walked towards the spot the Twi'lek hunter had pointed out.
"Now, we wait." Komad said after he ran back to stand beside the others.
Ashla stood staring into the mouth of the dark cave. Beside her, the bantha snorted and tried to pull against the reins. "No, no. You stay with me."
She felt a rumbling under her feet. The bantha let out a fearful moan as it pulled harder against the reins, trying to free itself from her hold.
Out of the cave, a large beast emerged. The ground shook violently beneath her feet. She vaguely heard Carth yelling for her to 'run' when she let go of the reins. She felt the force flowing around her, as she inhaled a breath and increased her speed.
She ran.
She ran as fast as she could as the ground quaked beneath her. She heard the mines exploding behind her as she ran faster. The beast roared loudly. She waved her hands in front of her as she motioned for the others to run further back. "Go!"
She turned to see the krayt dragon slam into the desert sands. The bantha ran off the opposite direction, but she made no move to stop it. Breathing heavily, she placed her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath.
"Is it dead?" She panted.
Canderous and HK sent a volley of blaster fire at the beast, but it did not stir.
"It's done. The great beast is dead." Komad said as he inspected the krayt dragon. "I wish I could have allowed him one last final great hunt, but I will honor his memory to make amends."
Komad cut into the soft belly of the dragon with his vibroblade. He reached into the carcass and pulled out a small stone. After he cleaned it off in the sand, he handed it to Ashla. "For you, great hunter. Your prize. The pearl of a krayt dragon."
Ashla bowed as she took the pearl from his hands. "Thank you, Komad. You do me a great honor."
Bastila held her lightsaber aloft, allowing its glow to illuminate the darkened cave. Not far inside the mouth of the cave, a man's remains were half buried in the sand.
"Father!" Bastila cried out as she ran towards the man's corpse.
Ashla followed quickly. She sank into the sand beside Bastila, who was sobbing quietly. She placed her hand on Bastila's shoulder in support. "He's at peace now, Bastila."
"I…" Tears streamed down Bastila's cheeks.
Ashla motioned to Canderous and HK to guard the mouth of the cave. Carth stood silently behind them. He walked back to the mouth of the cave to give Bastila a moment of privacy with her father's remains.
"Bastila. We could bury him. If you want." Ashla said gently.
The younger Jedi nodded solemnly as she wiped the tears away from her eyes. "Yes, I think Mother would like that." Bastila carefully went through the bag lying beside his remains and pulled out the holocron. "This must be what Mother was looking for."
"I'll give you a moment with your father, Bastila." Ashla patted her on the shoulder as she rose. She glanced at the darkened part of the cave.
"Carth." She motioned for him to join her. She ignited her lightsaber and held it up, illuminating the cave. The cave got colder as they moved deeper into the cave. At the rear of the cave, amid the stone ruins was the star map. Its blue glow lit up the cave as it flickered to life.