"Thanks Zaalbar," Vincent said while standing and rubbing his eyes. Almost instinctively, he reached out with the Force and felt for Bastila's presence, and he briefly wondered when it had become second nature for him to do that. She was in her room, and he could feel that she was meditating because her calm was almost palpable through their bond.
"Have we docked yet?" he asked Carth upon entering the cockpit.
"Yeah, we're docked. You can head out whenever you're ready." Suddenly, Vincent remembered a conversation that he had shared with the Republic officer on Taris. Carth had been very suspicious of him and the fact that he had been transferred at the last minute and managed to survive when everyone else didn't. Vincent had tried to persuade the older man that there was nothing going on, and that he had nothing to do with the destruction of the Endar Spire, but Carth wouldn't listen. He maintained that he didn't trust Vincent, but that it was nothing personal, he had just been betrayed in the past and didn't want it to happen again. Vincent had confronted him later on his lack of trust and learned that Carth's mentor, Admiral Saul Karath, had been the man to betray Telos to the Sith.
"Carth, we didn't end our last discussion very well..." Vincent trailed, knowing the other man would pick up on his meaning.
"I know, I'm just not used to talking about this. At all, really. But I suppose I owe you an apology. I shouldn't take out my frustration on you, and I'm sorry."
"It's alright, but I do want to know why you want revenge on Saul so badly."
"I told you already, he betrayed me and the Republic."
"It's just that I get the feeling it's more personal than that."
"It is...and I guess you deserve an explanation," Carth admitted. "I was just so desperate to finally face Saul in the battle over Taris. I lost my home planet, Telos, to the Sith when Saul betrayed us. He demanded an immediate surrender, and when we didn't comply, he proceeded to bomb the planet into dust. I...I had a...a wife, and a son, on Telos. I thought they would be safe there, but I was wrong. After the bombing, my task force got there too late. We...we didn't have enough medical supplies, and the colony was burning, the dying were everywhere," Carth trailed here, a sad look on his face. "I remember holding my wife and screaming for the medics, but...they didn't make it in time."
Vincent was shocked. "I'm sorry Carth, I had no idea..."
"Of course you didn't, I mean how could you? But that's why I have to kill Saul. I know that killing him won't bring my family back, and I know it won't make me happy again, but it's something I have to do."
"What was your wife like?" Vincent asked softly.
"She had courage...and she was stubborn. I couldn't change her mind once she made it up. She hated it when I signed back on with the fleet, but I was planning to come back soon, to be with her and my son."
"What happened to your son?"
Carth sighed. "His name was Dustil, and I don't know what happened to him. The colony was in ruins, and there was never any trace of him found. I searched for years after that, but...I gave up."
"I didn't mean to pry. I'm sorry."
"No," Carth said. "You deserved and explanation for my behavior. Besides, I feel better now that I've told someone, so thanks."
Bastila had now walked in, and both men turned to face her. "Are we ready to go?"
Vincent nodded. "Yes, but do you think we should take Zaalbar with us?"
"Well, this is his home planet after all, and we could use him as a guide."
"True, but I sense he has some unresolved issues here that may make him a liability. I don't want to jeopardize anyone's safety, or the mission for that matter."
Vincent decided that it would be best to leave Zaalbar on the ship until it was certain he was needed. If anything came up, he would contact the Wookie via a COM link on his wrist. Though Zaalbar was disappointed, he agreed with Vincent's choice.
(I thank you for considering my feelings in this personal matter, Vincent. I would like to come with you, but I feel I have not prepared myself fully to face why awaits me on the surface.)
Upon stepping out of the Ebon Hawk, Vincent was met by an Ithorian dock worker.
"Greetings, sentient. I'm afraid that there is a 100 credit docking fee before I am allowed to render any assistance to you."
Vincent rolled his eyes. There was always a docking fee before you could be helped. Paying the Ithorian, he waited patiently.
"Thank you," the Ithorian said after he had counted and deposited the credits. "Welcome to G5-623, planet Edean. Would you like us to provide a translator for you?"
"Uh, no thanks. I can handle myself."
"You know the Wookie's dialect? Only those with a great facility for languages can learn to speak in the tongue of this planet's native species. If you'll follow me to the Czerka office, I will provide you with better assistance, and supplies if need be."
Vincent, accompanied by Bastila and Juhani, followed the alien to a small little building with only two rooms. The first room contained supplies and a few guards, whereas the second was the Ithorian's office. A computer terminal and a beast cage greeted Vincent's sight as he walked in, and he was appalled to see that a Wookie was trapped inside the cage.
"Why is that Wookie in a cage?" he demanded.
"Eh...the slave got a little out of hand. He had to be sedated."
"You're a slaver?"
"Not I personally," the Ithorian explained. "Czerka corporation has taken an interest in utilizing the capabilities of the natives here. Namely Wookies."
"And I'm sure these Wookies just let you walk up and take them, don't they?"
"The village leader, Chuundar, has made a deal with us. We provide him with weapons and necessities, and he provides us with a healthy supply of Wookies."
"Where can I find this Chuundar?" Vincent asked, his voice surprisingly calm.
"In the village to the north of here. Outside, take the Great Walkway. You can't miss the Wookie guard."
Taking the Ithorian's advice, they proceeded in the direction of the Great Walkway. They ran into a merchant named Eli who was holding a certain Mister Matton Dasol until he paid off a debt, but Vincent was too preoccupied to pay much notice. A myriad of emotions were coursing through him. He was angry, frustrated...disappointed. How dare they just waltz in here, and enslave the whole planet? And who the hell is this Chuundar? If I ever find him, I'll make sure he regrets making a deal with these Czerka scum...
"And just where do you think you're going?" A particularly haughty Czerka guard asked him as he neared the entrance to the Great Walkway.
"Out," he growled, not liking the man's tone.
"It's dangerous out there, so don't say I didn't warn you. The Wookies get rid of some of the kinrath, but I swear they leave some packs intact, just hoping a Czerka employee will get killed."
"Can't say I blame them," Vincent retorted icily, brushing past the man and continuing on.
"Vincent, you really must control your anger," Bastila said walking alongside him.
"It is controlled. If it wasn't, that man would be in a kolto tank right now." He sighed. "I'm not so much angry as I am disappointed. Humans can be so...prejudiced."
She was about to reply, but they were attacked by a pack of forest kinrath, and she had to focus her attention on taking them out. They were surprisingly vicious for creatures that, in all honesty, looked almost fragile. They had thin, spindly legs, and a slender arm on the front of their bodies which was outfitted with a poisonous barb that could inflict major damage. One on one, a single kinrath was no problem. But then again, they never traveled alone, so they were always a problem. Dodging a particularly nasty kinrath attack, Vincent sliced off the creature's only means of defense, rendering it harmless for the most part. Ramming his lightsaber into its belly, he pulled up, cleaving the kinrath in two. He turned, ready to defend against any other enemy, but found that there were none. Bastila and Juhani had quite efficiently dispatched of the other two kinrath. Bastila eyed his lightsaber with a look he couldn't quite place.
"I didn't know you had changed your blade color," was all that she said.
"I always felt like I was forced to pick blue since I'm a Jedi Guardian, and I always hated it. When I found this violet crystal, I decided to switch colors," he said shrugging.
The group continued on in silence. The Great Walkway lived up to its name; the enormous wroshyr trees of Kashyyyk's forest were breathtaking, and the sheer size of it all was intimidating. Not to mention the fact that practically every native inhabitant on the planet had some means of killing you painfully. Vincent saw some Czerka personnel in the distance, standing over what appeared to be the corpse of a Wookie.
"Who are you?" the captain of the group asked when Vincent approached. "What do you want? We did nothing wrong here!"
"Oh? Let me guess, the "Wookie slave" got a little rebellious, and had to be put down?" he asked flatly, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Yeah, and we shouldn't have to pay for this either!" One of the Czerka lackeys added.
"Shut up you idiot! Yes, the Wookie attacked us, and we had to...put it down, as you so aptly stated."
"You should pull some favors and get off planet, now, if you know what's good for you," Vincent said, using the Force to persuade the man. He had no desire to get into a fight, and the captain was beginning to reach suspiciously for his blaster.
"Yeah, I think I'll pull some favors...and get off planet. That's a good idea. C'mon men, let's get out of here!"
Vincent watched as the Czerka patrol ran off in the direction of the docks.
"Why do you dislike the Czerka so much?" Juhani asked.
"Because all they do is lie, cheat and extort people out of everything they have. Take this for example," he said, moving his arm in a wide arc to indicate his surroundings. "They're enslaving an entire race, just so they can use them as cheap labor. On other planets, they jack up prices so high, other smaller businesses can't compete, and are then forced to close. Plus, they're in alliance with the Sith. And anyone who helps the Sith is not going to get my favor."
"That sounds much like Taris," Juhani mused somewhat bitterly.
"Yes, unfortunately it's a never ending cycle of greed and lust for power. Money and power are all that drive most people, and they'll do anything to get it. Even if it means stepping on a few innocents to get it."
"That was very philosophical. You're beginning to sound like a Jedi Master," Bastila stated.
"Yeah? Well...we're wasting time. We need to keep moving."
As they rounded another tree, Vincent realized they had just come face to face with three Dark Jedi.
"Damn," he muttered. "This is just perfect. We can't go two feet without running into some kind of trouble."
The middle Jedi addressed them with a cold voice. "Lord Malak was most displeased when he learned you had escaped Taris alive. He has promised a great reward for anyone who kills you."
Before Vincent could respond, the Dark Jedi drew their lightsabers, preparing to attack. Igniting his own violet blade, Vincent used a Force jump to close the distance between himself and his attacker, flipping in mid-air, and bringing his lightsaber down with tremendous force on the surprised enemy. Barely able to parry, the Dark Jedi stumbled backwards, attempting to increase the space between them. Vincent allowed him to do that, realizing that it would not be wise to attempt to dispatch his enemy when they were that close. No, he wanted to be able to see all three of his attackers, and Juhani and Bastila, in case he needed to aid them. His choice was a wise one; he heard Bastila cry out in pain as the Dark Jedi she was fighting landed a vicious blow to her head with the but of his lightsaber. Quickly, he immobilized his own enemy with a stasis attack, and used another Force jump to reach Bastila. Caught completely out of position, the Dark Jedi was unable to bring his weapon up to block as Vincent's blade sliced through his neck. He didn't even have time to cry out before his head was gone, cleanly decapitated by Vincent's attack.
"Bastard," he grunted as the Dark Jedi's now lifeless body slumped to the ground. Turning, Vincent threw his lightsaber at the enemy that was just now free from his stasis. Still sluggish from the Force power's affects, the Dark Jedi's body could not react in time to try and dodge the blade, and he was impaled through the stomach. Running toward him, Vincent used the Force to call his lightsaber back to his hand and strike down the Jedi with a single stroke. Juhani had defeated her attacker with relative ease, taking advantage of the Jedi's obviously lesser skill with a blade. He never had a chance, as Juhani had smashed his double-bladed lightsaber in two, and then rammed her own blue blade through the Dark Jedi's skull, killing him instantly.
Satisfied that they were now safe, Vincent quickly trotted back over to Bastila, who was just now standing. She was holding her hand over her right eye, and blood was rapidly seeping through her fingers. Vincent gently moved her hand away.
"Here," he murmured. "Let me take a look at that."
It was a deep gash just above her eyebrow, and it was bleeding profusely. He winced when he saw the wound, knowing it must have been causing her considerable discomfort.
"I think something's in there...don't move." When she had fallen, she must have struck her head on the floor, because there was a thin splinter of wood protruding from the gash. Yanking it out, Vincent heard Bastila hiss in pain.
"You could have warned me before you did that!"
"Sorry," he said, placing his own hand over the wound. Calling upon the Force, he concentrated on healing the cut, and within a few seconds, the only thing left to indicate she was once hurt was the blood on her face and hand. Helping her wipe it away, Vincent gently cupped her face in his large hands.
"You're going to give me a heart attack, you know that?" he said softly.
"It's not like the wound was life threatening, Vincent," she replied, staring defiantly into his eyes, though inside, Bastila felt weak at his touch.
"No, but the Jedi would have killed you. He almost knocked you out cold. Don't scare me like that."
She could sense the concern and genuine fear in his voice, and his sincerity touched her. However, her pride didn't allow for her to show it.
"I'm fine," Bastila said irritably. "I don't need you to baby-sit me." She winced inwardly at the disappointment she saw flash in his eyes. His hands dropped from her face, and he picked up her lightsaber and handed it to her.
"Here," he said quietly, turning and walking to the Jedi's fallen bodies to inspect them. Vincent mechanically stripped the bodies of anything useful, and began to drag them to the edge of the walkway. His face was blank, but if anyone were to look into his eyes, they would see the inner conflict that he was going through. Vincent knew that he should ignore Bastila's protests against him helping her, but they still got to him, despite his best efforts. He knew that it was her pride talking, and that she didn't mean exactly what she said, but it still hurt. She had no idea how much he cared about her, and when that Dark Jedi had cold cocked her, and he heard her cry out...his blood had run cold. Vincent thought that he was already too late, that maybe the Jedi had struck her with his lightsaber, and he wasn't going to be able to heal the wound. When he had seen, and felt through their bond that she was still alive, his fear had turned into a burning fury. One thought had consumed his mind: to murder that Jedi for hurting her. If he could have, he would have kept the Jedi alive and made him die painfully, but the situation didn't allow for it. There were still two other attackers to deal with, and he had to look out for his companions as well.
Now, as he reflected on what he felt during that moment, it scared him. The utter hatred in which he had looked upon the Dark Jedi had come out of nowhere so quickly. But that was not what scared Vincent. What scared him was the fact that he liked it. He liked feeling the fury pounding through his veins with every heart beat, the anger driving him on with an energy he didn't know he possessed. Tossing the three dead bodies over the railing, Vincent watched them fall for a moment. Sighing, he turned back to his two friends.
"C'mon, we should keep moving. We still have no idea where the Star Map is, and I have a feeling the hard part is just about to begin."
The Ithorian had been right when he said Vincent couldn't miss the guard. The Wookie was huge, standing easily over eight feet tall and looking very menacing despite the fact that he was unarmed. He growled in anger as the three humans approached.
(You poison the ground with you footsteps, outsider. Already you have brought the mad-claw with you, the one without honor. You are now only tolerated because our chieftain Chuundar wishes to speak with you.)
"You searched my ship?" Vincent began incredulously.
(Everything is still in order. We were careful in our inspection. Only the mad-claw you carry with you interested us.)
"Will you take me to this Chuundar?"
(I will. He wishes to speak with you as soon as possible.)
Following the Wookie, Vincent indeed felt privileged to even be allowed to step inside the village gates. All of the Wookies stared at him with a mixture of distrust and hate, and he had a feeling that if he wasn't being escorted, he might have ended up dead. Soon, he found himself in front of a Wookie adorned with a necklace and holding a menacing looking double-bladed vibrosword. His fur was black in most areas, grey in some others, and compared to the other Wookies, he was actually quite small.
(Ah, so you are the outsider that has brought my mad-claw brother back. I, the mighty and wise Chuundar, am chieftain of the village of Rwookrrorro.)
(Mighty and wise!) A Wookie next to Chuundar roared. (You were always the runt!)
(I am not a runt!) Chuundar cleared his throat and turned back to the humans. Vincent had know immediately that the "mad-claw" the Wookies had been referring to was his friend Zaalbar. Zaalbar was the only Wookie on his ship, and Vincent knew he had been exiled for some incident with his family.
"Zaalbar is your brother?"
(Yes, he has not told you this?) Chuundar answered for Zaalbar.
"Actually, he hasn't told me anything other than he isn't allowed to be back here."
(He is right in that statement. We would not have allowed him back were it not for you. Your presence comes at an interesting time, Vincent, for I must ask something of you. If you do this, Zaalbar will be returned to you.)
(Do not listen to him, Vincent! He works with Czerka slavers, trading away our people. He is not to be trusted!) Zaalbar interjected.
(Silence! You really do not have a choice in this matter Vincent, so I suggest you listen to what I have to say.)
"I'll listen, but I want to ask you some questions." Chuundar complied with Vincent's request, though his manner was still far from friendly. "Why did you make a deal with Czerka?"
(Simple. They provide us with weapons, and I provide them with Wookies. Now it is my turn. Will you listen to my proposition, or will I be forced to kill you?)
"I'm listening."
(Good. There is another mad-claw, a Wookie without honor, who was banished to the Shadowlands. I want you to go there, and kill him for me. Until you do this, Zaalbar will stay here.)
"Why do you want this Wookie dead?"
(He has been causing considerable trouble for the Czerka patrols lately, and I want him removed. You will have no problem communicating with my people, as they know your language quite well. I tell them that it is crucial to learn it so they can understand the enemy better, but in reality, it makes them easier to control.) Chuundar said, a cruel amusement flashing in his dark eyes.
"A nice nest of lies you've constructed here," Vincent said, disgusted at Chuundar's double dealing.
The Wookie chieftain laughed. (You may speak, but no one will believe you. I've had a long time to mold the way my people think.)
(No, you're wrong. There is one who would oppose you)
Vincent stayed silent, unsure of what Zaalbar meant.
(Do you speak of Freyyr, our father? He went just as insane as you, a year after you left. It seems he didn't approve of my...tactics. Now,) Chuundar said, turning once again to face Vincent. (Gorwooken operates the basket that will take you deep into the Shadowlands. I have instructed him to allow you down there. Speak to him, and he will take you. I will wait here for your return.)
"Play along, Zaalbar. I'll see what I can do," Vincent said to his Wookie friend.
(No more words!) Chuundar roared. (Go now, and do not return until you have done what I asked!)
Walking slowly out of the chieftain's hut, Vincent stopped once he was outside. A peculiar thought had just struck him.
"Bastila, why did the Council send me on this mission with you?"
She looked surprised at his question. "Why? I could not do this on my own. I need the aid of others – especially one who is strong in the Force. The bond between us made you a natural choice. Besides, the events on Taris proved that the Force wanted to bring us together for this mission, and there is little left to chance when the Force is involved. Is that not enough for you?"
Vincent couldn't help himself. "If the Force wants us to be together, why do you keep resisting my undeniable charms?"
"I said we were brought together for our mission: to stop Malak," she answered in annoyance. "I hardly think the Force would be pushing us towards a romantic involvement when the fate of the galaxy is at stake! Please try to stay focused. I doubt the Council would approve if they knew we were busy discussing our mutual attraction when we should be saving the galaxy from Malak."
"Mutual attraction?" He couldn't believe his luck. "I knew you were interested in me!"
She was flustered, and a blush had colored her cheeks. "Mutual attraction? I never said - it's just and expression! Whatever our feelings," she quickly corrected her mistake, "uh, I mean, whatever your feelings are, you have to try and ignore them." She had regained her composure now, and was glaring daggers at him. "Don't let this complicate things. Finding the missing pieces of the Star Maps is our only hope of finding the Star Forge and stopping Malak. The Council explained all of this quite clearly."
"And that's it? That's enough reason for you to accept all this?"
"I admit, there were times that I wondered if this is more than just a mission to stop Malak There were times when I wondered if this was also a way for the Council to test my own abilities," Bastila said slowly.
"I get the feeling there's more going on than I know," he told her.
"I wondered if the Council wanted to see how I would help and guide you on this quest. I wondered if they were testing me to see if I was ready to become a Master myself. And then I realized how foolish such thoughts were. As the Council explained, sending a Master with our group would have brought unwanted attention from the Sith. The fate of the galaxy is at stake, the Council would not risk it merely to test me. They calculated the risks, and in the end, they chose the only option available."
Vincent shook his head. "I'm still not convinced."
"You must learn to trust in the wisdom of the Council. Your destiny will come in its appointed time. You mustn't be so impatient."
"Me?" he asked incredulously. "You're the one who thought this was her big audition for 'Masterhood'!"
"Must you be so frustrating? I admit, I had a moment of foolish pride, but I'm over it. Now I'm focused on my true responsibilities. I am simply trying to help you and complete this mission, yet you battle me at every turn!"
"What can I say? It's fun," he answered, shrugging in mock nonchalance.
"Fun? Fun?" Apparently, his last comment had seriously touched a nerve. She was furious. "Driving me insane is your idea of a good time!"
"Whoa, lighten up. I was only joking."
"You...you are a very odd man, do you know that? I simply don't know how to deal with you. All I want to do is help you, but you seem determined to drive me mad."
"You can complain all you want, but I know you love it," he said with a grin that made Bastila's heart skip.
"I don't know if I should be outraged that you keep joking about serious matters, or if I should be grateful that you can always lighten the mood," she admitted, her own smile forming.
"See? I told you I was good for something. Comic relief is more valuable than you realize."
"Comic relief? I would venture to say that you're better at making me so angry I can't think straight, then somehow weaseling out of it."
"Like just now?" he asked.
"Yes. Exactly like 'just now'. I don't know how you do it."
"Ah, I'm just too cute to stay mad at. I mean, look at this face! How can you not love it?"
"I'm going to refrain from commenting on that so as not to boost your already massively large male ego," Bastila answered.
"Oh that's harsh. I have low self-esteem! You're not helping."
"You have low self-esteem? I never would have guessed..."
Vincent began walking toward the village exit. "Yeah? There's a lot about me you don't know since we never actually sit down and have nice talks like this," he joked. "But then again, I could say the same for you. Even with this bond of ours."
"Yes, that is true. But this isn't the time or the place for that discussion. Maybe when we get back to the Ebon Hawk."
He simply nodded. He wasn't very keen on discussing his past, but maybe it would be good for him to tell someone what he had been through. He would worry about that once he had completed Chuundar's task of eliminating the troublesome Wookie. Vincent found Gorwooken easily since he was the only Wookie standing next to the basket that transported people to and from the Shadowlands. Apparently, Gorwooken hated outsiders as well, since he addressed Vincent with about as much respect as a rancor has for a fly.
(You are the human Chuundar has sent to deal with the traitorous Wookie? Ha, I doubt you will live long enough to complete this task.)
"Just lower the basket," Vincent said tiredly.
(Very well, outsider. The descent is long, and you must be still, or we will attract the attention of...unwanted guests.)
