They ran through the forest when Tarkin noticed Hardhear grabbed his throat. Vader's Force choke. Tarkin thought. Vader was known throughout the Empire for choking Imperial Officers who had failed him. Vader, wherever he was, then used the Force the lift the Chadra-Fan.
"Hardhear!" Nej Vinis yelled, going back.
Tarkin grabbed his shoulder to stop him."Leave him!" Nej, reluctantly, followed him and the rest of the team."Move! We must get keep running!" They ran for another two minutes when Tarkin stopped."FORM UP!" He yelled. They stopped and pointed their blasters and slugthrowers in random directions."Do you hear him, Sissian? Is he coming?"
"I hear..." The young Chadra-Fan was silent for a moment."Gone. Dark Demon gone."
"Who are you running from?" Nita asked.
Tarkin looked at her."Someone very dangerous."
Tarkin and his team continued walking through the snowy forest."So, who are trying to find? A friend?" Yerga asked Nita.
"Actually...yeah." The young woman said.
Tarkin stepped on a wooden log on the ground. After it creaked, he heard another sound that came from the log."Tarkin! Look out!" Gil yelled. Tarkin looked behind him to see a brown, furry bear. The bear roared at him and knocked him to the ground. The Grand Moff quickly grabbed his sniper rifle and aimed it at the bear.
He was about to pull the trigger when the bear suddenly stared at Nita. The bear looked shocked. Nita was about to stab the bear with her spear when the furry creature then slapped the weapon out of her hands.
"Nita!" The bear said to her. Tarkin's eyes widened in shock.
"Sissian...did that thing just talk?" Gil asked the young Chadra-Fan, surprised.
"Yes...it did..." Sissian said, astonished that it could speak.
Wilhuff learned that the bear was an old friend of Nita's. His name was Kenai and he had been a human until something called the spirits turned him into a bear. Tarkin thought the story was ridiculous but it would explain how the bear could talk.
Tarkin also learned that Nita needed Kenai to go with her to a place called Hokani Falls and burn an amulet that Kenai had given to her when they were kids. The Grand Moff had no interest in their problem with the amulet but was interested in where they were going. Tarkin asked them if Hokani Falls was safe. After they nodded, he turned to his team and told them they would follow Nita and Kenai.
Before they left, Kenai introduced Koda, a young bear cub that Kenai took care of.
Perhaps we could use that Kenai or Koda as bait. Tarkin thought.