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contained therein. The characters created by me for this story are all
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Tattoine – Helana, a holocron, and an irate dragon
I returned to the ship and went looking for Bastila, she was lying down in her bunk and I sat down beside her and realized she had been crying. I realized suddenly she hadn't had any chance to mourn her father and I felt terrible. We hadn't paused between her learning of her father's death and proceeding to the chieftain's camp. I didn't say anything but sat next to her and rested a comforting hand on her back and sent feelings of sympathy and concern through our bond. She finally turned over and sat up tears on her face, it was all I could do not to kiss her. I held out my arms instead and she leaned against me and cried into my chest while I held her and stroked her hair. She finally stopped crying and went and washed her face and came back, I could tell she was ready to talk about her mother now.
I asked her about why she didn't want to find the holocron and she said we had more important things to do and even if we found it she didn't know if she wanted to give it to her mother. Her father had recorded all of his thoughts in it and it would be like having him with her. She didn't see why her mother deserved it, since she drove him to his death. She had loved him and she hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye. I said "You would keep it for yourself?" I was careful to make the statement entirely neutral and kept my feelings neutral. The last thing she needed right now was me judging her, she needed to find her own way for herself, she had been told quite enough times how she was expected to feel. She said "I don't know. Part of me would keep it just so she didn't get it. I don't like that part of me. I would have thought my Jedi training would have put me past this kind of pettiness. I wish..." she trailed off and I let her think for a moment then moved the subject.
I asked her why she didn't believe her mother was sick? Bastila said "Mother used to lie about many things to get her way. She is a selfish woman who pushed my father into doing what she wished." I replied "You sound bitter." She said "Yes, I... thought I had let go of that anger. All my training, and it comes back so quickly..." She said "surely you could tell she was lying about that." and looked at me.
I said "You could have determined that yourself, it isn't my place to determine it for you." I could tell she was surprised by my statement but realized that she could have at any time determined if her mother was lying but she had chosen not to. I could see doubt entering her mind and she asked me "Please tell me, was she lying? Did you sense any deception from her?" I looked at her and said "I still think you should determine that for yourself but.... yes I did use the force to see if she was lying, I could sense no deception from her during the entire conversation." I could see her pause shocked and she looked at me searchingly, I looked back at her and let her see that I was concerned for her.
She said "You must think badly of me then for how I acted." and lowered her head. I put one finger under her chin and raised her eyes to meet mine and said "No." I put all of my acceptance of her into the word and thought of how much I was coming to love this complicated woman in front of me. She looked confused and looked away from me while I got my feelings for her back under control but I could tell she was comforted by my response.
I said to her "Would you allow me to share a story with you about one of my team mates? Since I don't remember my own family his will have to do." I smiled as I said this and she nodded. I told her of how Ricco's parents had divorced when he was very young; he had always blamed his father for the divorce since he remembered his father always arguing with his mother over things. During training he was required to get back in contact with his mother and ask her what she had thought of his father. She had been puzzled over his memory of the relationship and told him that they had been arguing because his father did not want the divorce. But she knew that she did not love him any more and wanted him to move on and find someone who would truly love him and before she grew to hate him for keeping her trapped in a relationship she didn't want anymore. He went looking for his father to try and mend the relationship but found out he had recently died. It took him along time to deal with the fact that he had shut his father out unfairly and that now he would never have the chance to get to really know him.
Bastila looked at me and said "but I remember them arguing about his hunting..." she paused and I could tell she was trying to remember the exact words of the argument. Bastila said "I cannot remember the words anymore, just the fact they were arguing over him leaving me behind. Mother would not let him take me along on his hunts." I said "So your mother refused to let him take you along?" she nodded to me and I said "Ok so why don't we take Sasha with us tomorrow." She stared at me like I was insane and said "What are you talking about we can't take her into such a dangerous...." she paused and I could see it sinking in. I could see how confused she was and I said "Enough thinking for tonight, sleep on it and see if things make more sense tomorrow. You have had a very difficult and emotional day today." She nodded and then paused and said "would... would you stay with me a bit till I sleep?" I nodded and she lay down. I laid down beside her and gently stroked her hair and never realized when I fell asleep.
I woke up in the morning and realized I had fallen asleep in Bastila's bed again. I wondered what the other women had thought but they were already gone when I woke up. She was lying curled up against my chest lightly snoring. I had to grin at this and watched her as she woke up and stretched sinuously against me. My blood started to pound and I had to fight to keep my desires under control and wait for her to wake up fully. She suddenly froze as she realized what she was doing and scooted away from me looking to see if I was awake. I knew the extent of my desire had to be written on my face but I got up and said that I was going to shower and I hoped she had had a restful sleep. I went to take a cold shower and get my thoughts under control and on the day's task.
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As Cait left saying she was going to shower Bastila was trying to sink into the bed and just disappear in embarrassment. She couldn't believe what she had done when she had woken. She hadn't been fully awake and was just aware for that moment that it had felt so wonderful to wake up with Cait there and how good Cait had felt next to her. She had stretched along Cait's body enjoying the feeling before fully realizing what she was doing. She had hoped desperately that Cait was still asleep but no such luck. Cait's eyes and the feelings surging through the bond told her clearly the state of Cait's arousal but Cait had merely said that she had hoped Bastila had a restful sleep and that she was going to shower.
Bastila lectured herself some and then thought about how kind and wonderful Cait had been to her the night before. She had deserved one of the lectures she had frequently given Cait but instead Cait had been accepting of her bitterness and anger and had helped her see that she might have misjudged her mother. She didn't know what she felt about her mother but Cait's story had made its mark. If her mother was dying she might never get the chance to find out what was the truth unless she acted now to find out.
She wasn't sure what she felt for Cait, she had been jealous during her training watching how apparently effortlessly the woman breezed though her lessons. How easily all the skills came to her. She was slightly resentful of how easily doing the right thing apparently came to Cait. She tried to remember if Revan had been the same way but found it difficult to remember what Revan had been like, thoughts of Cait overshadowed her. She realized with a shock that she really thought of Cait as a totally separate person from Revan. She knew that she had played an important part in Revan's fall but she had not made Revan choose the dark side or walk the path, those had been Revan's choices.
She couldn't understand how Revan and Malak had fallen and it made her afraid that somehow Cait would fall prey to the same weakness. She desperately hoped that she would find some way to keep Cait at arms length and get her to accept that they could just be friends. Jedi could not afford to love it was too dangerous. Now if only her on rebellious feelings and thoughts about Cait would cooperate.
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Bastila, HK-47 and I followed the map the next morning and ventured into the Eastern Dune Sea. We hadn't gone far when I spotted the cavern the Sand People chieftain had spoken of. There was a land speeder out front and two hunters. We were walking up to them when one of the hunters lost his patience and entered the cavern. There was a roar and then a quickly cut off scream from the cavern then silence. As we got closer I recognized the remaining hunter Komad Fortuna from the Hunting Lodge and went over to speak with him.
The Twi'lek hunter told me that he had placed mines about the entrance to the lair and that we could lure the dragon out using a bantha herd that was in the area. I asked him why he was using mines and he told me that it was indeed unsporting but the dragon's hunting range extended deep into settled areas. The dragon was too large for us to take down by ourselves without the mines, and too dangerous to be left alone. I showed him the bantha fodder I had forgotten I had on me until he mentioned it and he pointed me in the direction of the bantha herd with a warning that the local Sand People would probably attack us when we tried to lure their bantha closer.
As he had predicted a small group of Sand People noticed us luring the bantha's away and attacked. They were stronger than the Sand People around Anchorhead but they were no match for the three of us. After they were dead we continued leading the banthas toward the kryat dragon's cavern and placed the fodder on the ground where Komad indicated. We then withdrew and watched for the dragon. The ground rumbled as the huge beast came out from the cavern, I was amazed at the sheer size of it. It was easily as large as the largest sandcrawler I had seen on the planet. After the mines had killed it Komad made a small incision in the beasts hide and found the kryat dragon pearls in its gullet. There were two of them and he handed me one thanking me for my assistance and reminded me to not let the spoils of the hunt be the only reason for killing. I assured him that I would not and he left for Anchorhead.
We proceeded into the cavern hoping that it would contain the Star Map. As we explored the caverns we found some lightsaber crystals, one of which was a very unusual saber crystal that was colored violet. I could detect no hint of the light or dark side about it and asked Bastila about it but she did not have any answer as to what it was either. I was intrigued by the color though and carefully pocketed it as well as another saber crystal. We proceeded further into the cavern and found a lone tattered equipment pack, Bastila slowly walked up to it and opened it and paled. We had found her father's equipment pack; the holocron was the sole item remaining in it. I looked further into the cave and saw the Star Map device, it could wait though. Bastila held the holocron for a moment and then placed it carefully in her pack and nodded to me. We went and activated the Star Map.
As we were exiting the cavern we could tell that we had some unexpected and uninvited guests waiting for us. Calo Nord and four other bounty hunters. We activated our energy shields and prepared for a fight. Calo refused to negotiate and began firing at us as soon as we got close enough. He was quick and managed to hit me with blaster bolts a few times before I was able to bring him down, the wounds were painful but I refused to let them affect me until after the fight. Bastila was more worried about my wounds afterward than I was, insisting that I allow her to force heal me. I sat back and relaxed and let her heal me even though it wasn't really needed. It was nice to know that she really did care for me.
As we approached Anchorhead I asked Bastila what she would do now that she had the holocron. She asked me if I thought she should and I asked her if she needed it more than her mother did. Bastila said "I would like to keep something to remember Father as much as she would. I'll think about it. I should... try and remember my training. I should be able to let go of this, but I can't. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Let's... keep going." I gave her a reassuring clasp on her shoulder and we went into Anchorhead, as we went through town I asked her if she wanted to go by the cantina now or wait till later. I didn't give the option of not going to the cantina at all and I'm sure she noticed. She sighed and finally indicated that we might as well go now.
I prepared myself for what was likely to be a difficult few moments. Helena started the conversation saying "Back already? Have you even looked for the holocron, yet?" I groaned to myself and Bastila replied to her mother "I have the holocron, Mother. I'm just not sure I want to give it to you." Helena looked saddened and said "And why not, would you deny me even that?" Bastila said angrily "I've never denied you anything, Mother. You may think I don't remember what it was like before I left for the order, but I do. You were the one who pushed Father to go on one treasure hunt after the other. You loved living in wealth. You think I don't remember the fights? You were eager to send me to the Jedi, even though I didn't want to go. You took Father away from me, and now this holocron is all I have of him."
Helena replied "Fool girl! You have a strange way of remembering things. That wasn't..." But Bastila cut her off saying "No. I don't wish to argue with you any more, Mother. It's time we parted ways, now, for both our benefit." They were staring at each other angrily at this point and I said to Bastila "Maybe you should listen to what she has to say." I got an angry look for it but didn't back down, I wasn't judging her but I wasn't allowing her to run from the situation either. Bastila said to me "You don't know her. My mother is notoriously deceptive when she wants something. Why should she have the holocron?" Helena said sadly "Is it too difficult to believe that I am a dying woman who simply wishes to see her husband one last time?" Bastila looked at her still angry and said "I find it difficult to believe anything you say, Mother."
I shook my head and said "Maybe one of you should be the first to give the other a break?" Bastila sighed and said "You're right. It shames me, but I just... I find it difficult to... let go of the past. I'm... sorry Mother." Helena said to Bastila "I was hard on you, dear. I wasn't a very good mother to you, I know that. Your father loved you so... He wanted you to be just like him... he wanted to take you on his hunts, but I said they were too dangerous."
It was the opening I had been looking for and I asked Helena "Yet you let your husband go on these dangerous expeditions." I could tell that Bastila finally had started using her force powers and she was listening to her mother with more than just her ears. Helena replied to me "I always tried to keep him from the dangerous ones, but he would have none of it. It was a reckless life we led, always moving... I didn't want that for you." The last was said to Bastila. Bastila could not argue with what her force senses were telling her, her mother was not lying to her. Bastila said "So that's why you gave me to the Order?"
Helena said "What do your father and I have to show for all those years of hunting? Nothing. That was no life for anyone, especially not someone as gifted as you. Your father... he spent all his last years trying to pay for my treatments. That's why he went for the pearls. I begged him not to but..." Bastila interrupted saying "Your treatments." Helena nodded and said "I'm dying, Bastila. I did not lie about that. It's been a long time coming, and there is really nothing that can be done anymore. I told your father to let me go, but you know how he was. Stubborn. Like you..."
Bastila glanced at me and then her mother and said "I'm so sorry, Mother. I don't know what to say..." Helena looked at her and said "Keep the holocron, Bastila. It would do me good to know you have it. This... talking to you... this is what I really needed before I..." Bastila said "I know, Mother. Thank you. I'm glad we talked, too."
They stood staring at each other and I finally said "Bastila don't you think you should hug your Mother, I think both of you could use one." Bastila looked at me and I could see Helena look hopefully at her daughter. Bastila looked at her mother and finally saw what I did, that her mother had been very hurt by Bastila's coldness and bitterness toward her. Bastila took one hesitant step then quickly crossed the distance between them and mother and daughter embraced. I have no doubt there were some tears but I turned my back and glared at anyone foolish enough to glance over toward us until they were done.
I turned back around when Helena said "Well, now. You said you had important business, and you were never one to mince words. You there... you take care of my daughter, you hear me?" I nodded to her and said "I will do my best." Helena replied "That's good. I'll feel a lot better knowing there's someone to watch her."
Bastila asked "Where are you going to go?" Helena replied to her "It doesn't matter, dear. Don't you worry about me." Bastila pulled out her credit fold and handed it to her mother saying "Here. Take these 500 credits. It's all I have. Go to Coruscant and find a doctor. I'll meet you there after... after what I have to do." Helena said "But I already told you there's nothing that can..." Bastila pressed the credits into her hand saying "Please, take it. I... want to see you again. When we can talk." Helena sighed and said Alright, I will. Now you do what you have to, Bastila. You go make your father and I proud." Bastila smiled shyly back at her and said "I'll try. Farewell, Mother."
With that she straightened and walked out of the cantina, I paused a second and handed Helena a tightly wrapped roll of credits and told her "She needs to talk to you again, so you stay alive. Here take this, that 500 credits won't go far but this should. Don't unroll that here just tuck it away, its enough to draw dangerous attention to you." I walked out of the cantina before she could say anything and grinned to myself, there had been 4000 credits in the roll I gave her. That should be enough to pay for her medical care for a short while. I caught up to Bastila and we walked silently back to the Ebon Hawk.
It was late in the evening and I decided we would stay one more night before leaving in the morning so we could have some supplies delivered. It left me time to check on everyone which was something I hadn't really taken the time for in a few days. Mission was still angry at her brother and worried about the 'job' he had for me. Which reminded me that I should go see him, I had forgotten about it until she mentioned it. Canderous had another story to tell me about how he had taken advantage of an unexpected tactical mistake by the Althiri and with his unit had defeated a force ten times their size. It had gained him command of an entire sub-sect of his clan.
I had a chance to talk to Juhani as well and asked her more about her past, apparently the Jedi on the way to the Mandalorian Wars were the ones that she remembered from her child hood. She said the peace they had brought lasted only while they were there and as soon as they left the humans had begun to persecute them again. I reminded her that all species were capable of intolerance and she agreed but pointed out that humans seemed to be the most pervasive. I had to agree with her on that point. She got angry during our discussion and stopped and apologized for her outburst. I pointed out that it was okay just so long as she didn't let it influence her. She thanked me for not lashing out back at her and started meditating; I left her to her thoughts.
Carth wanted to apologize for his behavior and this time I had the feeling he meant it, I was thankful he had stopped with the romantic nonsense and pleased when he referred to me as partner when I accepted his apology. I understood his feelings of uselessness on this mission and resolved to make sure he was more of a participant in the planetside missions rather than only being our pilot.
Bastila stopped me on my rounds and thanked me for urging her toward the reconciliation with her mother. She said "That brought me a lot of peace. More than I thought it would have." I smiled to her and gave her a quick hug and went to get something to eat before I was tempted to think of more than hugging her.
I went the next morning to see what bright idea Griff had come up with, he wanted me to get some tach glands so that he could brew a batch of Tarisian ale. The Exchange was willing to synthesize it and sell it. I reluctantly told him that if I came across some of them I would make the trip back and give them to him. I wasn't willing to kill the innocent creatures for them though. He nodded and asked me to hurry since he had told the Exchange that he already had the glands. I groaned and resisted the temptation to smack him upside the head. I also remembered to go see Iziz the Jawa, we had already found the Star Map but I thought I should make sure his people had gotten back to Anchorhead alright. It took some hunting around but I finally spotted him, he thanked me for their return and gave me another map of the Eastern Dune Sea. I didn't mention that I had already been there and thanked him for the map.
After I returned from Anchorhead we set out for Dantooine to return Sasha to her father. I was able to find Lur and convince him to come aboard and see if the girl was indeed Sasha, he was convinced she was and I told Sasha that he was going to take her home. She appeared rather uncertain but thanked me and went with Lur to meet her father.
Tattoine – Helana, a holocron, and an irate dragon
I returned to the ship and went looking for Bastila, she was lying down in her bunk and I sat down beside her and realized she had been crying. I realized suddenly she hadn't had any chance to mourn her father and I felt terrible. We hadn't paused between her learning of her father's death and proceeding to the chieftain's camp. I didn't say anything but sat next to her and rested a comforting hand on her back and sent feelings of sympathy and concern through our bond. She finally turned over and sat up tears on her face, it was all I could do not to kiss her. I held out my arms instead and she leaned against me and cried into my chest while I held her and stroked her hair. She finally stopped crying and went and washed her face and came back, I could tell she was ready to talk about her mother now.
I asked her about why she didn't want to find the holocron and she said we had more important things to do and even if we found it she didn't know if she wanted to give it to her mother. Her father had recorded all of his thoughts in it and it would be like having him with her. She didn't see why her mother deserved it, since she drove him to his death. She had loved him and she hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye. I said "You would keep it for yourself?" I was careful to make the statement entirely neutral and kept my feelings neutral. The last thing she needed right now was me judging her, she needed to find her own way for herself, she had been told quite enough times how she was expected to feel. She said "I don't know. Part of me would keep it just so she didn't get it. I don't like that part of me. I would have thought my Jedi training would have put me past this kind of pettiness. I wish..." she trailed off and I let her think for a moment then moved the subject.
I asked her why she didn't believe her mother was sick? Bastila said "Mother used to lie about many things to get her way. She is a selfish woman who pushed my father into doing what she wished." I replied "You sound bitter." She said "Yes, I... thought I had let go of that anger. All my training, and it comes back so quickly..." She said "surely you could tell she was lying about that." and looked at me.
I said "You could have determined that yourself, it isn't my place to determine it for you." I could tell she was surprised by my statement but realized that she could have at any time determined if her mother was lying but she had chosen not to. I could see doubt entering her mind and she asked me "Please tell me, was she lying? Did you sense any deception from her?" I looked at her and said "I still think you should determine that for yourself but.... yes I did use the force to see if she was lying, I could sense no deception from her during the entire conversation." I could see her pause shocked and she looked at me searchingly, I looked back at her and let her see that I was concerned for her.
She said "You must think badly of me then for how I acted." and lowered her head. I put one finger under her chin and raised her eyes to meet mine and said "No." I put all of my acceptance of her into the word and thought of how much I was coming to love this complicated woman in front of me. She looked confused and looked away from me while I got my feelings for her back under control but I could tell she was comforted by my response.
I said to her "Would you allow me to share a story with you about one of my team mates? Since I don't remember my own family his will have to do." I smiled as I said this and she nodded. I told her of how Ricco's parents had divorced when he was very young; he had always blamed his father for the divorce since he remembered his father always arguing with his mother over things. During training he was required to get back in contact with his mother and ask her what she had thought of his father. She had been puzzled over his memory of the relationship and told him that they had been arguing because his father did not want the divorce. But she knew that she did not love him any more and wanted him to move on and find someone who would truly love him and before she grew to hate him for keeping her trapped in a relationship she didn't want anymore. He went looking for his father to try and mend the relationship but found out he had recently died. It took him along time to deal with the fact that he had shut his father out unfairly and that now he would never have the chance to get to really know him.
Bastila looked at me and said "but I remember them arguing about his hunting..." she paused and I could tell she was trying to remember the exact words of the argument. Bastila said "I cannot remember the words anymore, just the fact they were arguing over him leaving me behind. Mother would not let him take me along on his hunts." I said "So your mother refused to let him take you along?" she nodded to me and I said "Ok so why don't we take Sasha with us tomorrow." She stared at me like I was insane and said "What are you talking about we can't take her into such a dangerous...." she paused and I could see it sinking in. I could see how confused she was and I said "Enough thinking for tonight, sleep on it and see if things make more sense tomorrow. You have had a very difficult and emotional day today." She nodded and then paused and said "would... would you stay with me a bit till I sleep?" I nodded and she lay down. I laid down beside her and gently stroked her hair and never realized when I fell asleep.
I woke up in the morning and realized I had fallen asleep in Bastila's bed again. I wondered what the other women had thought but they were already gone when I woke up. She was lying curled up against my chest lightly snoring. I had to grin at this and watched her as she woke up and stretched sinuously against me. My blood started to pound and I had to fight to keep my desires under control and wait for her to wake up fully. She suddenly froze as she realized what she was doing and scooted away from me looking to see if I was awake. I knew the extent of my desire had to be written on my face but I got up and said that I was going to shower and I hoped she had had a restful sleep. I went to take a cold shower and get my thoughts under control and on the day's task.
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As Cait left saying she was going to shower Bastila was trying to sink into the bed and just disappear in embarrassment. She couldn't believe what she had done when she had woken. She hadn't been fully awake and was just aware for that moment that it had felt so wonderful to wake up with Cait there and how good Cait had felt next to her. She had stretched along Cait's body enjoying the feeling before fully realizing what she was doing. She had hoped desperately that Cait was still asleep but no such luck. Cait's eyes and the feelings surging through the bond told her clearly the state of Cait's arousal but Cait had merely said that she had hoped Bastila had a restful sleep and that she was going to shower.
Bastila lectured herself some and then thought about how kind and wonderful Cait had been to her the night before. She had deserved one of the lectures she had frequently given Cait but instead Cait had been accepting of her bitterness and anger and had helped her see that she might have misjudged her mother. She didn't know what she felt about her mother but Cait's story had made its mark. If her mother was dying she might never get the chance to find out what was the truth unless she acted now to find out.
She wasn't sure what she felt for Cait, she had been jealous during her training watching how apparently effortlessly the woman breezed though her lessons. How easily all the skills came to her. She was slightly resentful of how easily doing the right thing apparently came to Cait. She tried to remember if Revan had been the same way but found it difficult to remember what Revan had been like, thoughts of Cait overshadowed her. She realized with a shock that she really thought of Cait as a totally separate person from Revan. She knew that she had played an important part in Revan's fall but she had not made Revan choose the dark side or walk the path, those had been Revan's choices.
She couldn't understand how Revan and Malak had fallen and it made her afraid that somehow Cait would fall prey to the same weakness. She desperately hoped that she would find some way to keep Cait at arms length and get her to accept that they could just be friends. Jedi could not afford to love it was too dangerous. Now if only her on rebellious feelings and thoughts about Cait would cooperate.
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Bastila, HK-47 and I followed the map the next morning and ventured into the Eastern Dune Sea. We hadn't gone far when I spotted the cavern the Sand People chieftain had spoken of. There was a land speeder out front and two hunters. We were walking up to them when one of the hunters lost his patience and entered the cavern. There was a roar and then a quickly cut off scream from the cavern then silence. As we got closer I recognized the remaining hunter Komad Fortuna from the Hunting Lodge and went over to speak with him.
The Twi'lek hunter told me that he had placed mines about the entrance to the lair and that we could lure the dragon out using a bantha herd that was in the area. I asked him why he was using mines and he told me that it was indeed unsporting but the dragon's hunting range extended deep into settled areas. The dragon was too large for us to take down by ourselves without the mines, and too dangerous to be left alone. I showed him the bantha fodder I had forgotten I had on me until he mentioned it and he pointed me in the direction of the bantha herd with a warning that the local Sand People would probably attack us when we tried to lure their bantha closer.
As he had predicted a small group of Sand People noticed us luring the bantha's away and attacked. They were stronger than the Sand People around Anchorhead but they were no match for the three of us. After they were dead we continued leading the banthas toward the kryat dragon's cavern and placed the fodder on the ground where Komad indicated. We then withdrew and watched for the dragon. The ground rumbled as the huge beast came out from the cavern, I was amazed at the sheer size of it. It was easily as large as the largest sandcrawler I had seen on the planet. After the mines had killed it Komad made a small incision in the beasts hide and found the kryat dragon pearls in its gullet. There were two of them and he handed me one thanking me for my assistance and reminded me to not let the spoils of the hunt be the only reason for killing. I assured him that I would not and he left for Anchorhead.
We proceeded into the cavern hoping that it would contain the Star Map. As we explored the caverns we found some lightsaber crystals, one of which was a very unusual saber crystal that was colored violet. I could detect no hint of the light or dark side about it and asked Bastila about it but she did not have any answer as to what it was either. I was intrigued by the color though and carefully pocketed it as well as another saber crystal. We proceeded further into the cavern and found a lone tattered equipment pack, Bastila slowly walked up to it and opened it and paled. We had found her father's equipment pack; the holocron was the sole item remaining in it. I looked further into the cave and saw the Star Map device, it could wait though. Bastila held the holocron for a moment and then placed it carefully in her pack and nodded to me. We went and activated the Star Map.
As we were exiting the cavern we could tell that we had some unexpected and uninvited guests waiting for us. Calo Nord and four other bounty hunters. We activated our energy shields and prepared for a fight. Calo refused to negotiate and began firing at us as soon as we got close enough. He was quick and managed to hit me with blaster bolts a few times before I was able to bring him down, the wounds were painful but I refused to let them affect me until after the fight. Bastila was more worried about my wounds afterward than I was, insisting that I allow her to force heal me. I sat back and relaxed and let her heal me even though it wasn't really needed. It was nice to know that she really did care for me.
As we approached Anchorhead I asked Bastila what she would do now that she had the holocron. She asked me if I thought she should and I asked her if she needed it more than her mother did. Bastila said "I would like to keep something to remember Father as much as she would. I'll think about it. I should... try and remember my training. I should be able to let go of this, but I can't. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Let's... keep going." I gave her a reassuring clasp on her shoulder and we went into Anchorhead, as we went through town I asked her if she wanted to go by the cantina now or wait till later. I didn't give the option of not going to the cantina at all and I'm sure she noticed. She sighed and finally indicated that we might as well go now.
I prepared myself for what was likely to be a difficult few moments. Helena started the conversation saying "Back already? Have you even looked for the holocron, yet?" I groaned to myself and Bastila replied to her mother "I have the holocron, Mother. I'm just not sure I want to give it to you." Helena looked saddened and said "And why not, would you deny me even that?" Bastila said angrily "I've never denied you anything, Mother. You may think I don't remember what it was like before I left for the order, but I do. You were the one who pushed Father to go on one treasure hunt after the other. You loved living in wealth. You think I don't remember the fights? You were eager to send me to the Jedi, even though I didn't want to go. You took Father away from me, and now this holocron is all I have of him."
Helena replied "Fool girl! You have a strange way of remembering things. That wasn't..." But Bastila cut her off saying "No. I don't wish to argue with you any more, Mother. It's time we parted ways, now, for both our benefit." They were staring at each other angrily at this point and I said to Bastila "Maybe you should listen to what she has to say." I got an angry look for it but didn't back down, I wasn't judging her but I wasn't allowing her to run from the situation either. Bastila said to me "You don't know her. My mother is notoriously deceptive when she wants something. Why should she have the holocron?" Helena said sadly "Is it too difficult to believe that I am a dying woman who simply wishes to see her husband one last time?" Bastila looked at her still angry and said "I find it difficult to believe anything you say, Mother."
I shook my head and said "Maybe one of you should be the first to give the other a break?" Bastila sighed and said "You're right. It shames me, but I just... I find it difficult to... let go of the past. I'm... sorry Mother." Helena said to Bastila "I was hard on you, dear. I wasn't a very good mother to you, I know that. Your father loved you so... He wanted you to be just like him... he wanted to take you on his hunts, but I said they were too dangerous."
It was the opening I had been looking for and I asked Helena "Yet you let your husband go on these dangerous expeditions." I could tell that Bastila finally had started using her force powers and she was listening to her mother with more than just her ears. Helena replied to me "I always tried to keep him from the dangerous ones, but he would have none of it. It was a reckless life we led, always moving... I didn't want that for you." The last was said to Bastila. Bastila could not argue with what her force senses were telling her, her mother was not lying to her. Bastila said "So that's why you gave me to the Order?"
Helena said "What do your father and I have to show for all those years of hunting? Nothing. That was no life for anyone, especially not someone as gifted as you. Your father... he spent all his last years trying to pay for my treatments. That's why he went for the pearls. I begged him not to but..." Bastila interrupted saying "Your treatments." Helena nodded and said "I'm dying, Bastila. I did not lie about that. It's been a long time coming, and there is really nothing that can be done anymore. I told your father to let me go, but you know how he was. Stubborn. Like you..."
Bastila glanced at me and then her mother and said "I'm so sorry, Mother. I don't know what to say..." Helena looked at her and said "Keep the holocron, Bastila. It would do me good to know you have it. This... talking to you... this is what I really needed before I..." Bastila said "I know, Mother. Thank you. I'm glad we talked, too."
They stood staring at each other and I finally said "Bastila don't you think you should hug your Mother, I think both of you could use one." Bastila looked at me and I could see Helena look hopefully at her daughter. Bastila looked at her mother and finally saw what I did, that her mother had been very hurt by Bastila's coldness and bitterness toward her. Bastila took one hesitant step then quickly crossed the distance between them and mother and daughter embraced. I have no doubt there were some tears but I turned my back and glared at anyone foolish enough to glance over toward us until they were done.
I turned back around when Helena said "Well, now. You said you had important business, and you were never one to mince words. You there... you take care of my daughter, you hear me?" I nodded to her and said "I will do my best." Helena replied "That's good. I'll feel a lot better knowing there's someone to watch her."
Bastila asked "Where are you going to go?" Helena replied to her "It doesn't matter, dear. Don't you worry about me." Bastila pulled out her credit fold and handed it to her mother saying "Here. Take these 500 credits. It's all I have. Go to Coruscant and find a doctor. I'll meet you there after... after what I have to do." Helena said "But I already told you there's nothing that can..." Bastila pressed the credits into her hand saying "Please, take it. I... want to see you again. When we can talk." Helena sighed and said Alright, I will. Now you do what you have to, Bastila. You go make your father and I proud." Bastila smiled shyly back at her and said "I'll try. Farewell, Mother."
With that she straightened and walked out of the cantina, I paused a second and handed Helena a tightly wrapped roll of credits and told her "She needs to talk to you again, so you stay alive. Here take this, that 500 credits won't go far but this should. Don't unroll that here just tuck it away, its enough to draw dangerous attention to you." I walked out of the cantina before she could say anything and grinned to myself, there had been 4000 credits in the roll I gave her. That should be enough to pay for her medical care for a short while. I caught up to Bastila and we walked silently back to the Ebon Hawk.
It was late in the evening and I decided we would stay one more night before leaving in the morning so we could have some supplies delivered. It left me time to check on everyone which was something I hadn't really taken the time for in a few days. Mission was still angry at her brother and worried about the 'job' he had for me. Which reminded me that I should go see him, I had forgotten about it until she mentioned it. Canderous had another story to tell me about how he had taken advantage of an unexpected tactical mistake by the Althiri and with his unit had defeated a force ten times their size. It had gained him command of an entire sub-sect of his clan.
I had a chance to talk to Juhani as well and asked her more about her past, apparently the Jedi on the way to the Mandalorian Wars were the ones that she remembered from her child hood. She said the peace they had brought lasted only while they were there and as soon as they left the humans had begun to persecute them again. I reminded her that all species were capable of intolerance and she agreed but pointed out that humans seemed to be the most pervasive. I had to agree with her on that point. She got angry during our discussion and stopped and apologized for her outburst. I pointed out that it was okay just so long as she didn't let it influence her. She thanked me for not lashing out back at her and started meditating; I left her to her thoughts.
Carth wanted to apologize for his behavior and this time I had the feeling he meant it, I was thankful he had stopped with the romantic nonsense and pleased when he referred to me as partner when I accepted his apology. I understood his feelings of uselessness on this mission and resolved to make sure he was more of a participant in the planetside missions rather than only being our pilot.
Bastila stopped me on my rounds and thanked me for urging her toward the reconciliation with her mother. She said "That brought me a lot of peace. More than I thought it would have." I smiled to her and gave her a quick hug and went to get something to eat before I was tempted to think of more than hugging her.
I went the next morning to see what bright idea Griff had come up with, he wanted me to get some tach glands so that he could brew a batch of Tarisian ale. The Exchange was willing to synthesize it and sell it. I reluctantly told him that if I came across some of them I would make the trip back and give them to him. I wasn't willing to kill the innocent creatures for them though. He nodded and asked me to hurry since he had told the Exchange that he already had the glands. I groaned and resisted the temptation to smack him upside the head. I also remembered to go see Iziz the Jawa, we had already found the Star Map but I thought I should make sure his people had gotten back to Anchorhead alright. It took some hunting around but I finally spotted him, he thanked me for their return and gave me another map of the Eastern Dune Sea. I didn't mention that I had already been there and thanked him for the map.
After I returned from Anchorhead we set out for Dantooine to return Sasha to her father. I was able to find Lur and convince him to come aboard and see if the girl was indeed Sasha, he was convinced she was and I told Sasha that he was going to take her home. She appeared rather uncertain but thanked me and went with Lur to meet her father.