Backwater Planet

Juhani's farings aren't all cheese and crackers, I'm afraid.

Rated PG13

Disclaimer:Something or other that has to do with not owning this stuff…

Backwater Planet

Juhani's ears flicked with agitation. She narrowed her piercing yellow eyes, scanning the landscape, ignoring the insect that perched on her nose. Be it poisonous or otherwise, being dead would be a world better than putting up with the Mandalorian.

Juhani honestly couldn't understand how Revan put up with him. He was rude and obnoxious and loud. He was pushy, too, demanding her attention every few minutes. T3-M4 halfheartedly made repairs on the Ebon Hawk, but couldn't get close enough to do any real repairs, since the ship itself was half-submerged in a lake.

"Hey, pet," Canderous growled, but Juhani tuned him out, focusing on the distant scratches of wildlife. She closed her eyes, serene and silent, pressing through the dense forest with the Force.

"Pet!"

Her mouth twitched involuntarily into a snarl. She mastered her emotions and took a soothing breath, allowing the wind to pass over her face and tease her hair, and feeling the ground firm and solid beneath her feet. The world throbbed with its own Force, and she absorbed it, for the comfort, for the peace.

"What the hell, you Jedi harlot!"

Her concentration snapped. A growl rose in the back of her throat and she forced herself to face him. The mere sight of him made the fur on her neck stand, and she could easily picture his heart, warm and throbbing, between her powerful hands.

"What do you want, Mandalorian?" she spat back, loosening her shoulders.

"You can't starve your prisoners," he shot back. "We haven't eaten since midday yesterday."

Her voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Revan took the supplies with them should they need them," she told him. "And it is more that I am your prisoner, rather than you being mine."

He laughed. "What, are you going to hunt for us?" he asked, cracking his neck. "Or is that too lowly for a Jedi like you?"

"I will hunt when I feel prepared!" she hissed. "I am not used to this landscape!"

"Well, hurry up and get used to it because I –"

There was a guttural roar to the right. Juhani ducked and drew her lightsaber in one fluid motion, digging her heels into the ground and pivoting to face the attack. An arrow soared over her head, where her nose had previously been, and pierced the tree Canderous sat at. Canderous glanced up thoughtfully, studying the arrow.

"Who is there?" Juhani shouted into the endless jungle.

Nothing moved.

She pushed out with the Force, and sensed multiple somethings sitting in wait.

"I know you are there! Come forth!"

All at once, several men stepped out of the bush, weapons raised. Those with bows and arrows hopped to the side and the three with blades stepped forth. They spoke in a strange language Juhani did not understand, but their meaning was clear.

She was an invader.

Canderous watched with amusement as they attacked, thrusting themselves bodily at her. She smoothly avoided them all, managing to keep them alive as she knocked away their attempts with her fists and feet. She moved like liquid, sliding between two men as if they were not solid, before she flipped forward and drove her feet into their knees, sending them sprawling. Canderous had to admit he was impressed – she was definitely skilled and wise.

Juhani rotated on her foot, letting out a strained battle cry, and her heel connected with the last man's temple. There was an almighty crack and the man went flying, twirling through the air to land with a deadened thump against a tree trunk. Gasping for breath, the Cathar sank to her knees and clasped her hands in silent meditation.

"What were those things?" Canderous asked at a moment's length. T3-M4 whooped with interest.

Juhani said nothing. Her ears flattened against her skull and she ignored him, meditating, composing herself.

Silence stretched out forever. Only the occasionally unconscious grunt from the men on the ground made any noise, and the bushes rustled with the native animals. A bird cried in the distance, but there was nothing more.

Finally, Juhani spoke, her voice deep after her effective meditation. "There is another wave coming, and another after that," she murmured. "We must get to our defenses." She glanced at him. "Though you cannot walk, you can still operate a repeater, yes?"

Canderous grinned. "Just tell me what to do."

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Revan couldn't walk. Her stomach was still too weak. The last time she had tried she had doubled over, moaning in pain, and Jolee had had to catch her before she rolled down a hill into thick brambles. Zaalbar picked her up and Carth led, beating away brush and branches.

The jungle was humid and still eerily quiet. Carth wondered aloud how much longer it would take to reach the settlement.

"We don't even know where the settlement is," Bastila reasoned. "It could take months."

Hours wore upon hours. Days turned into weeks. And, as promised, weeks turned into months. Long… wearing months. Occasionally they spoke to Juhani about their progress, and her replies were weary when she told them that she hunted every other day, and that the natives attacked once every four nights while they regained forces. She left all of them alive, though her inner instincts told her to slay them all with brutal hostility. Canderous supported her instincts, and his leg was fully healed, but she would not allow him to have his repeater back. He had to use his fists, and she wouldn't allow him to break any bones.

Zaalbar came across several more large, hairy beings, which he called 'demons.' The Demons (thusly named), were brainless as Bantha and just as strong. It took all of their combined strength to keep these monsters at bay.

Cortessa was now well enough to walk, and often led their group, but her hips no longer swayed teasingly, and she walked with an awkward limp. The forest seemed to stretch on forever, and Carth wondered if they would suddenly come 'round, back to the Ebon Hawk, where Juhani would stare at them with shocked eyes.

Slowly, arousing itself from the thrum of wildlife, came a dull, monotonous roar, growing louder with each mile they walked. It was a steady, comforting sound, and it kept them going. The ground seemed to be growing softer beneath their feet, and the trees were slightly thinner.

The settlement was coming. Carth knew it. It had to be the settlement. What else could it be?

Suddenly, the forest vanished around them and Cortessa stumbled forward, pitching over a small cliff. Mission screamed and Bastila couldn't stop in time before she slid down after her companion. Carth ran over and peered over the edge, and Zaalbar joined him. The Wookiee's weight made the fragile ground beneath them give way, and they plummeted downward towards the flat beach below. Jolee, in his haphazard way, threw himself after them.

The ground rushed up to meet them, and as Carth slammed against the sand, with no air, and little reasoning, he gazed out to sea, and watched the waves crash against the shore.

Zaalbar hit the ground with an almighty whump, and the wind from him was enough to knock Carth from his consciousness.

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Author's Notes: Short chapter, I know, I know. I couldn't think of what to add. Just you wait, though. Things will get better. And I promise I'll stop saying that by the next two chapters. I PROMISE.