Chapter Fifteen

The jolt of a change in atmospheric pressure awakened me just before the ship began to tremble. We had entered the gravitational pull of some object I couldn't see, which I hoped was a hospitable environment. There was no way to tell without the assistance of the navigation computer, and I had R4 switch over to that just for a moment.

Arbra, I noted, checking the specs of the planet before turning back on life support. Somehow, the sail wrapped around my ship had just enough pull to take us deeper into the Outer Rim and away from Naboo. I knew little of the place, other than it had breathable air and a lot of trees. For now, that was enough. My first priority was to survive the landing and then I could worry about what further challenges lay before me.

The heat inside my body had subsided. Padmé was close enough that the discomfort was minimal. However, the heat shield on the N-1 starfighter was another story. The hull moaned and groaned as we shimmied our way toward the planet, and then spun, wrapping itself further into the web of cloth as we slapped against what must've been tree limbs. Thankfully, Dooku's sloop had been ahead of me and cleared a path for our landing, or otherwise, my much smaller vessel wouldn't have stayed together. The impact with the ground cracked the hatch with enough force that my head was thrown violently against the frame and then everything went dark.

I awoke a while later and struggled free of the pilot's harness, opened the hatch, and used my lightsaber to cut myself free of the sail.

The starfighter had landed on its side, providing an easy exit, although my head was throbbing. That was the only discomfort I discovered, however, which meant Padmé was still close.

Up ahead was a destroyed path of toppled trees and crushed underbrush, and I quickly followed it to find Dooku's ship, which had landed upright. What was left of the stern was piercing the ground.

Neither he nor Padmé was anywhere to be seen, although they would easily be located. Whichever way led to an increased burning within my chest I considered the wrong direction and I ended up following a trail through the dense timber.

My attention was so focused upon the direction in which the bond was leading me that I almost didn't detect the small pair of eyes that were staring at me, as well as the sound of scampering feet that seemed to be mirroring my movements. I stopped to cast out my awareness to ensure what was observing me wasn't dangerous. In fact, it seemed quite harmless and small.

"It's all right. I won't hurt you," I spoke kindly in the direction I had seen a pair of white eyes peering at me from inside a bush. "Come out."

Hesitantly, a small white-furred creature made its appearance. On top of its head were long ears, as well as an antenna of some type also covered in fur. Its face appeared intelligent and I wondered if it was sentient. There was only one way to find out.

"Do you speak?"

I waited patiently for the creature to answer, quite surprised when I heard its reply in my mind. Whatever this was, it had telepathic abilities. Fascinating.

/My name is Tlup. Who are you, offworlder?/

I chose to answer the creature audibly. "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm looking for a young woman by the name of Padmé. Would you happen to have seen her?"

I couldn't believe I was actually taking the time to consult a native rodent, although he seemed friendly. My belief was that he was very observant and therefore, I was hoping he could be of some assistance.

/The female and tall male with white fur left the golden spike and headed in that direction./ With its ears, Tlup pointed the way I had already been heading.

"Thank you, Tlup," I told him earnestly. "I should be on my way. I'm worried for her safety."

/If you need more help, call out my name. I will be close by./

"I will," I said, although I couldn't imagine what sort of assistance he could offer.

I continued to jog away, following the internal beacon when a loud, high-pitched shriek echoed through the trees, followed by a large shadow that swept overhead. I glanced up and saw nothing but the canopy and just a little bit of blue sky. The sound was reminiscent of a draigon. I'd faced one before and was not looking forward to another experience.

"Tlup?" I shouted and immediately the being appeared from the underbrush to my right. "What made that noise?"

/That is a Slivilith. The Slivilith is not a friend to the Hoojib. It chases us from our homes and we have to fend for ourselves out here in the cold./

The shadow had been massive and I couldn't imagine how the Hoojib's home would benefit it. "Where is your home?"

/The Hoojib prefer the caves. They are warm and full of light./

I found this discussion interesting but had the feeling Padmé was once again on the move and I jogged a few more steps, only to stop yet again when I heard Tlup call out to me.

/Obi-Wan. If you help the Hoojib, the Hoojib will help you./

How could I turn down an offer like that? If indeed there were more than one of these creatures, perhaps by sheer number, we could surprise and overwhelm Dooku. I'd at least hear out Tlup's offer.

"How so?"

/If you rid us of the Slivilith, the Hoojib will help you with your quest./

I had taken down that draigon I'd encountered before. Facing this creature couldn't be much different. As long as I had my lightsaber with me, which I did, I didn't see a problem with the offer. And besides, this Slivilith thing sounded like a bully, and I didn't care for bullies, no matter what shape they came in.

"Deal," I announced. "Take me to this creature."

/We don't find the Slivilith. He finds us. We just need some bait./

Bait? Was he planning on using me or himself? Or perhaps one of his clan? "What type of bait?" I asked, now curious.

/Your weapon. Is it electrical?/

I assumed he was talking about my lightsaber. "In a way. It's an energized weapon."

/Then that is all we require. Come./

Tlup trotted off on his large hind feet, using his smaller front ones to keep his balance and I followed him, doing my best to keep up with his speed. We soon came to a clearing covered with some grass but mostly dried leaves, and from the piles of the clutter popped up three more Hoojib. They were all the same size as Tlup but a variety of colors and patterns. One was black with white spots, while the other two were a solid gray.

After explaining to his kind what our plan was, he returned to my side.

/Turn on your weapon./

"If I do, the Slivilith will come?" I was wanting to make sure I understood this correctly. I didn't see what was going to draw it. The glow perhaps? Tlup had mentioned how the creature had run them out of their cave dwelling which was full of light, although I wasn't exactly sure what he'd meant by that.

/It will come/, he reassured me.

I did as he'd suggested only to hear the echo of another lightsaber humming behind me. Something had definitely shown up. It wasn't the Slivilith but it was another bully. Dooku had approached from behind and this time he wasn't running away. He had come prepared to battle, and a battle is what he was going to get.