Chapter 5
The Kalikori Village

Dracon journey towards the Twi'lek village was not long and the creatures he encounter were not much of a challenge, with his endurance increased he felt he do more than he ever could before but he pushed that thought away as he got his first look at the village, compared to most settlements that he had visited during his early years as a Padawan learner, the Twi'lek village had the basic layout as most other, the village was a close off with only a few entrances leading inside as they were guarded by the people, the homes were within the main with the village Matriarchs home being the biggest as it had white stone stairs leading up into the home, he saw that they were growing crops towards the back of the village, he didn't what kinds but maybe he will find out later but for now he needed to talk with the Matriarch and so he made his way deeper into the village, he got strange looks from the villager some even glare but they did not stop him from going further, well until some of them didn't.

Three Twi'lek step forward, the one in the middle and look to be their leader was a blue skin male standing at his back was another male but his skin was green along with a female, they all stop only a few feet away from him as they stop to look at him, the leader was the first to speak.

"What is another Jedi doing here, one of your kind already drove away are only protector Nalen, now he's alone in the mountains and the flesh raiders are getting bolder with their attacks, taking are people in the middle of the night and doing know's what to them," said the leader as Dracon could feel the anger that was coming off the man as his two comrades stood at his side, Dracon needed to make sure not to escalate the confrontation any further as he hope to calm the man anger down.

"I am sorry, but I don't know what is going on, I was sent here to talk with you're Matriarch about the flesh raiders," said Dracon as he hope his words would reach the man, at first it seem it didn't as he was about to go on another rant but was stop by the woman speaking up.

"Bashenn!, he knows nothing of what happened and it looks like the Jedi are finely sending help, we should take him to the Matriarch first before you drive him away," said the woman as the man name Bashenn turn to her as it look like he was going to yell at her but was again stop by the other man as he steps forward with his hands raise.

"Stop Bashenn!, Allia is right, the Jedi could help are people we need to bring him to the Matriarch," said the man as this seem to calm Bashenn down as he nodded and then turn to look at Dracon as he wave for him to follow, as Dracon followed he could see that Bashenn yelling had got some of the villager's attention as they watch from there homes, he faces forward as his guide brought him to the home that had the white stone stairs, once inside Bashenn and his men went forward as they went to stand by two more green skin Twi'leks, both were female but one of them wore almost white robes and look to be the oldest out of the group, standing away from the group was another Twi'lek, male and had orange skin he had his arms cross and seem to be watching him.

Bashenn then turn to the older female as he began to speak. "Matriarch, the Jedi have sent another, he says he is here to help with our flesh raiders problem," said Bashenn as the Matriarch nodded.

"Thank you for bringing him here Captain, you may go back to your duties now," said the Matriarch as Bashenn nodded and left, his men followed close behind as they went back to their watch, Dracon then turn to look at the Matriarch as the women step forward putting her hands on her hips as he took that as he should begin to talk.

He gave a small bow as he began. "Greetings, Matriarch. Master Orgus Din has sent me to help you fight the Flesh Raiders," said Dracon as the Matriarch spoke.

"So the Jedi finally deign to recognize my people's suffering? How noble, Nothing to do with the attack on your training grounds, I'm sure," said the Matriarch as Dracon thought back to how many Jedi suffered and lost their lives fighting the Flesh raiders as he knew if Jedi council took the time to watch the flesh raiders and saw them as a threat none of this would have happened as he had no excuse for his people blunder and he won't lie to the Matriarch.

"We didn't realize how great a threat the flesh raiders had become," was all Dracon could say as the Matriarch went on.

"And now you seek help from the people you once ignored," said the Matriarch as Dracon could say noting as he turn away for a moment as she went on. "My scouts have tracked the flesh raiders for months. Watched them grow in strength, I will share what we've discovered, but only if you agree to protect my people," said the Matriarch but as she spoke her voice began to falter as she went to touch her head as she continue. "We... we suffer...," finish the Matriarch as the Twi'lek that standing by her side step forward and spoke.

"Mother, you need rest. Let me carry this burden for you," said the daughter as Dracon nodded as he wish to see if maybe the Jedi could help heal her, he wishes he knew more about healing as maybe he could help where doctors could not but he would have to see about that later as the woman spoke.

"The Matriarch appears sick. Does she need a doctor?" ask Dracon as the daughter looks at him and smiles as she shakes her head.

"Thank you, but we have our own healers," said the daughter as that is when the Matriarch began to introduce her and the other man standing off to the side.

"This is my daughters, Ranna Tao'Ven, I am Sumari Tao'Ven and she and Scout Chief Moorint here will speak for me, I must attend to... other matters..." said Matriarch as she was lead away by her daughter as he and Moorint look on, Moorint was the first to speak as he turns to look at him.

"Personally, I don't care why you've come-as long as you destroy the flesh raiders," said Moorint as he began moving closer to him as he stood only a few feet from him as he went on. "Ever since they got their new weapons and gear, they hunt us like animals," said Moorint as Dracon could feel his anger and pain as he look away for a moment as Morrint continue. "The enemy has a camp in the valley nearby. My scouts say the Flesh raiders store their weapons and others tech in a cave," said Moorint as Dracon smiled as he would only need to hit one target to stop them from using blasters.

"Nice of them to keep everything in one place. Makes it easier to destroy," said Dracon but it seems Morrint had other plans as he began to explain his plan.

"Destroying the weapons won't be enough. They'll just get more," said Moorint as Dracon saw the truth in that as he hope the man had a plan in dealing with the weapons as he went on. "We need to strike fear into the flesh raiders. Sabotage their weapons. Fix it so they blow up in their ugly faces...," said Moorint as it was then that Ranna showed up and ask how.

"How would we do that?"

"Their technology is standard Republic design. We could overload the power circuits and plasma coils. Here, I'll show you...," explain Moorint as he told them to follow him as he began showing them the best way to sabotage the weapons.

..000..

It didn't to much time for Moorint to show him how to sabotage the weapons and now they were back to talking about what would be the best plan.

"Sabotage would thin the flesh raider numbers and eliminate their technological advantage," said Moorint as Dracon saw that this would help lessen the attack by the raiders but Ranna had other ideas.

"If you brought that technology here, we could defend ourselves with those weapons," said Ranna as Dracon looked at her and what saw and heard went to him as he saw how this plan would strengthen the ties between the Jedi and the Village, he also began to see Ranna more closely as he saw how smooth her skin was and the markings made her Lekku stand out, he even notices that she had painted eyebrows, as while he didn't know much of Twi'lek culture he did now that most female that has painted or tattoos eyebrows on to there brow do this to catch the attention of humans as they think this was pleasing for humans to see, but he needed to shake those thoughts from his mind as he turns back to give his answer.

"This village is vulnerable to attack. You need better defenses," said Dracon agreeing to Ranna's plan as Moorint just cared to get rid of the raiders.

"This debate is pointless unless you can get inside that cave. You'll need one of the leader's access keys," said Moorint as Ranna agreed as she went on to speak.

"Find the Flesh raider technology and do what you think is best, Good luck, Master Jedi," said Ranna as Dracon nodded and took his leave of them.

.000..

Making his way out of the Matriarch home he was stopped as a voice behind him was speaking to him, he turn only to see that it was a green skin female Twi'lek, she gave him a small smile as she began to speak.

"Come over here. Jedi, and spare a moment for a humble servant of the Matriarch, I promise, your other dealing will wait," said the woman as Dracon nodded as he was lead to the side of the Matriarch home as the woman introduced herself. My name is Vederiant Ayon, I minister to the bodies and spirits of the villagers... and I have a request," began Vederiant as she started to explain more about the flesh raiders that the Jedi should have known. "I speak of the flesh raiders. Of late. we've seen them growing stronger-and I know why," said Vederiant as this was getting Dracon attention.

"You have my complete attention," said Dracon as this seem to please her as she went on.

"The flesh raiders have been experimanting-concocting an elixir that makes them ravenous," said Wederiant as this news shocked Dracon as he wish to learn more. "The ones who drink it go mad. Their lips froth and they pounce like starving animals, it's black medicine-primitive and evil," said Vederiant as Dracon knew he would need to handle this and fast as he ask for more information.

"How could flesh raiders learn to do something like this?"

"I have no idea. Such wickedness is beyond our comprehension, we lack the numbers to attack the flesh raiders directly, and not even the Jedi could wipe the monster from this world, but with our warrior's help, the Jedi could reach the flesh raiders caves and destroy their vats of elixir," said Vederiant as Dracon nodded as he would help in stop this threat before it could harm more people.

"The count me in," said Dracon as Vederiant nodded and went on to explain more.

"Odumis Mer knows where the vats are hidden, he is are second in command of the Guards after Bashenn, talk to him to learn more about the raiders' secrets," finish Vederiants as Darcon nodded and left to go find Mer.

.000.

He did have to look hard as he was walking into the center of the village when a blue skin Twi'lek walk up to him and began to speak.

"Jedi, I think I know what you been doing, My name is Odumis Mer, second in command of the Guards, Vederiants sent you to speak with me, she told you about the flesh raiders elixir, didn't she? How it makes the flesh raiders strong?" ask Odumis as Darcon began to feel dark thoughts coming from this man, he did feel strong emotions like bravery and hope but he also felt anger and rage all director toward the raiders but he kept that himself for now as he listens to what the man had to say. "Vederiants, been looking for a way to destroy the elixir-but she's making a terrible mistake, we shouldn't destroy the elixir. We need it! And I'll pay you well if you bring it to me," said Odumis as Dracon was already figuring out what the man was trying to do but wanted to hear him say them.

"What exactly are your intentions?" ask Dracon as Odumis was quick to answer.

"The elixir could make our guardsmen strong. Yes... it may change them, but it will work. We can defend our village and destroy our foes," said Odumis as Dracon noticed he didn't say anything about stopping with the Raiders but before he could as about this Odumis went on. "Imagine-if the elixir can make a flesh raider powerful, what would it do for a Pilgrim warrior?" said Odumis as Dracon could tell that the man was already picturing it in his mind attacking the Raiders and pushing them back from their village but Dracon could see for himself if he gave this man the elixir it would cause untold destruction and death he would not let this happen as he shakes his head and spoke.

"I won't help you feed the elixir to the Pilgrims," said Darcon as this seem to anger Odumis as the man shake his head but he knew he could not change his mind as he could only hand him the location of the vats but before he could leave he gave him a warning and a threat. "Find obey that old woman but... Pilgrim blood will be on your hands, I doubt Jedi could even come close to the vats," finish Odumis as the man left his sight.

With that done he pulled out his holomap and look at where he needed to go as he was going to have to enter the hollows and that would take him into Raiders Territories, so with that decision, he made his way towards the holo but as he did he was once again stopped by another voice as he turns to look and to see another Twi'lek running up to him, his skin was somewhat pinkish but from what Dracon could feel from the force he could sense that the man wanted to talk with him.

"You finely show up Jedi, but you late just like the other times, the flesh raiders already came, They already took their victims," said the man as he began to explain more." My name is Tazonthe Ghon and father knew these mountains. He helps guide the patrols when he could. but when the flesh raiders appeared... he never made it home," said Tazonthe as Dracon already knew what the raiders did to there victims and could already guess what has become of the man's father as the man went on. "He wasn't young, but he deserves better than to be ripped apart. Show some compassion Jedi-find him, and kill any raiders who'd stop you," said Tazonthe as Dracon nodded as he passed on some information on where to look for him and what might he be wearing.

"You may find him near the hollows and he should be wearing a golden promise ring, now go Jedi and be quick about it," said Tazonthe as he turn and walk back to his home, Dracon watched him leave but then move on as he went into the Hollows.

.000.

Dracon made him into the Raider territory, he sneak around boulders as he did, and from what he could see there was plenty of Raiders guarding the area so he need to be quick with destroying the vats and finding Tazonthe father at least his remains, and has he was making his way further in he spotted his first vat, even if he was not told about this by Vederiant he would have still destroyed them as he felt the dark side coming off it in wave, moving closer he use force speed to get right up to the two Raiders that were guarding the vat as he made short work of them, once they fell he then turns to the vat and with a swing of his saber he destroyed the elixir, now he only has a few more to do.

He continue to do this as he made his way towards the cave entrance and as he did he also notice strange rocks with markering on them as he followed the path, he made note of them but didn't have time to get a better look at them as he doge the raiders and there pets attacks, but that was when he found something shining on the ground and as he got closer he notices that is was a holocommunicator, he then pick it up and activated it, it showed Taznothe father as the man look to be hin pain as he cried out for Matriarch and son before it was shut off, he looked around the area as he saw many bones of creatures and of Twi'lek and that is when he spotted one of the bones with a strange shine to it, as he got closer he noticed it was just an arm but it was the finger with the golden ring that caught his eyes as he looks down in horror as what he saw, Tazonthe father died here, taking a moment to pray for the dead he then took the ring and put it into his robes as he went on his mission, he would give this back to Tazonthe when he was done with vats and weapons.

.000.

His saber made short work with the last vat as it burst, spilling its vial elixir onto the ground, he had made it deep into the cave and had defected many of the raiders he did so, once he was done maybe some Jedi could come and take them away but he could already see that as not a very good plan as soon they will have no place for them to put them, but he worries about that later as he went to the very back of the cave, that is when he saw the last of the Raiders, their leader came forward he was tallest among the ones he had fought here, his two men rush to pass him as they charge with saber drawn, they came in fast but with Dracon trust in the force he easily blocks there attack as he got in between the two and while he uses the force to push the other he slashes his blade across the chest to the as it cried out in pain, the one that was push back quickly tried to get back in the fight but Dracon didn't let him as he threw his saber as he watched it fly and hit the raider knocking him out, but as he was calling back his saber the leader took that moment to attack as he tried to stab his blade into his chest.

Dracon doge the weak attack as he moves away, but he still reaches out to call his blade to as the leader rush him again, it would seem to the raider that he was frozen with fear and could not move, this would have been what it wanted but to those who knew what he was doing could only watch as his blade came behind the leader and before the beast could kill him, his blade had struck him from behind making him cry out in pain as his body was flooded with power, he fell shortly after as Dracon called his blade back into his hands as took the key from his fallen foe and went to unlock the door holding the weapons.

Once he entered, the first thing he notice was that a droid was in the corner, and from what he could see it was a T7 Model, he knew how to speak binary because as he walk in the droid greeting him, he nodded to it as he first went to the locker, seeing the many weapons that were still there he nodded to himself as he said.

"Once they have all this, the Twi'lek could defend themselves," said Dracon as he called Ranna and told her that she can send her men to come and pick up the weapons as he cleared a path for her, once that was done he then turn to the droid as it began to speak.

"T7 - glad to see Jedi / T7 - captured by flesh raiders - needs rescuing," said T7 as Dracon nodded.

"Don't worry little guy, I'll get you out of here," said Dracon as T7 spoke again.

"Jedi - T7's hero," said the droid as it began to explain what it was doing here. "T7 - Jedi reconnaissance droid / Mission parameters - scout - wilderness - identify hazards, T7's restraining bolt - faulty - malfunctioning / T7's sensors - unable to detect flash raiders ambush," said T7 as Dracon ask it why would flesh raiders want with it, it then began to tell him that it was an advance tech for them and valuable, it even had a recorded of the flesh raiders allies that were helping them as it began to play for him.

In the next moment the droid began to play a holo of a conversation between the force user that he fought and one raider and a robed figure, he could not make out his face but he could hear what he was saying as the holo began to play.

"Teach our soldiers how to use these weapons, Train them on the Twi'lek invaders," said the robed figure as the force user spoke.

"When will we strike against the Jedi?" asked the man as the robed figure wave him off.

"Patience, Calief. The Jedi will fall when our army reaches full strength," finish the robed figure as now he knew the force user he fought name but this still left many questions still unanswered, but it seems the droid wanted him to remove the bolt as he hope this was enough for him to remove it.

Dracon nodded as now needed to make his way back to the Twi'lek village and inform his Master of what has happened.

.000.

The trip back into the village was now much faster as he didn't have to deal with the Raiders as they seem to have scattered but he knew they will be back, walking back into the village he spotted Vederiant standing near the Matriarch home as she waited for him, walking up to her he explain that he destroyed all the vats and also told her about Mer and what his plans where for the elixir, she told him she would talk with Mer and thank him again saying that without him there could have been more trouble as she bid him fair well.

Before he would talk with the Matraich he wanted to inform Ghon about his father, he deserve to know and to have his father ring, the walk to the man's house was not long but the talk and the scream were what kept him from talking with Ranna and his Master, Ghon calms down after some time but he told him to just as they will not speak again, Dracon nodded as he gave back the holo of his father and his ring and bid the man goodbye.

.000.

Now Dracon found himself inside the Matriarch home once more as he spotted his Master along with Ranna consulting a man as he scream out in rage about the flesh raider killing his lover, Dracon heart went to the man as he could only imagine seeing the one you love rip apart by monsters.

"I took all the flesh raiders weapons, so you can defend yourselves," said Dracon as this seem to get the man to calm down and let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally, one of you who understands," said the man as Dracon nodded his head but also spoke out.

"But before you use them, calm yourself, if you go now you will mostly likely bring more pain and suffering to you and those around you," said Dracon as the man seem to take this heart as he nodded and was led away by Ranna as Master Orgus turn to him, he nodded as he steps forward.

"Poor Saylew, I understand his grief more than he knows. People wonder why Jedi are forbidden to marry or have families. They don't see how attachments always lead to suffering. Passionate emotion can destroy a person-and Jedi destroyed by passion become something terrible," said Master Orgus as Dracon could see that but still he would need to experience it first before he could make his own decision on attachments, that is when T7 began to beep as it told Master Orgus that it had something to show him.

"While I deal with the droid you talk with Ranna, I think her people are ready to help us. Thanks to you," said Master Orgus as he left the room followed by the droid as he went to listen to the holorecording as he went to talk with Ranna as she came back into the room, he went to speak with her as she went first.

"With the weapons and technology you brought from the flesh raider, my people can defend themselves, you risk your life to help us. My people haven't had a champion for some as Nalen is no longer here," said Ranna as Dracon took this moment to look at her once more, and again he felt a pull to her she is beautiful as he still love her green skin and markings as he decided now would be a good chance to experience attachment and see where he stands on it.

"I'll be your champion whenever you need one," flirted Dracon as he notice Ranna got a little blush on her cheeks as she knew what he was saying as she lost her train of thought as she tried to speak.

"Oh. I... ah should give you the information you requested. Moorint, report," said Ranna as he tried to keep herself from blushing in front of her men as Moorint walk into the room followed by his Master.

Moorint began to explain that the Raider was gathering near a ruined city that was once called Kaleth as his Master went on to explain.

"Kaleth was a great city of force users. Its ruins hold powers we still don't understand, they can not fall into the flesh raider hands," said Master Orgus as Dracon nodded.

Guess his next stop was now a ruined city full of flesh raiders, Master Orgus then inform him that he will be heading back to the council to inform them about the holo as he thinks the hooded figure looked familiar, he also told him not to fight him if he crosses path with the man as Dracon nodded as he took his leave but not before he turned back to look at Ranna one last time as she turned to him, she said nothing but gave him a smile as he nodded and he made his way out.

.000.

End of Chapter 5

Man, these Chapters are coming out like water, I'm glad that I was able to finish this chapter today, hope you guys like it, and as you can see going to flirt with Ranna, she will not be the only one as I still plan to add a lot more women that Dracon could meet and flirt with but you will have to wait until next chapter to see what happens we'll have a good day see you guys next time.