Chapter 35
PAIN
Rippling through his body; tearing, fire, flames sizzling.
Exploding.
Pain.
A riptide.
Screams- hoarse ragged screams tearing the throat until it could scream no more. Make it stop. Make it stop. Gods...please...too much...too much. Please...please...please...
Dark
"I do not broker failures, Admiral Karath."
Purple malevolent lighting shot out from Dark Malak's fingertips into the writhing body of the man no longer conscious.
To say Darth Malak was displeased when he was informed about Calo Nord's failure to destroy Revan and capture Bastila Shan was a massive understatement. He was beyond livid. His anger was palpable and all had felt it oozing off of him in waves. He commanded the entire bridge crew to watch as he doled out the punishment, none were to look away as their Admiral was dealt retribution for failure to his Lord and Master.
A Major looked away; he had been with the Admiral since the beginning of the Mandalorian wars. He could not bear to see his Admiral fall. Shame filled his eyes not for his CO's failings but for the suffrage to befall him. The Dark Lord's apprentice slid from the shadows like a creature produced by the night. The major heard the snap-hiss of a light-saber igniting, and for his deference of the edict the appetence took his head.
"Our Master commands your attention," he hissed to the others. The appalled looks on their faces swiftly become as placid as cardboard cut-outs, lest they follow the Major's fate or worse still their Admiral's, whose tormented screams still echoed loudly in their eardrums long after man had become silent. "Those who are victims have no one to blame but themselves. They do not serve pity; they are victims because of their own failures and weaknesses."
Malak turned slowly to his young apprentice. His eyes reflected his approval for the decapitation:
The weak will always be victims. That was the way of the universe. The strong take what they want and the weak suffer at their hands. That is their fate: it is inevitable. Only the strong survive, because only the strong deserve to. This was a core of the Sith beliefs. What Darth Bandon had done was absolutely credible: nothing is lost to the whole when weakness is cut away. The beheading did not detract from the lesson Karath had been issued. Indeed, it drove it home how beneficent Malak had been in administering the punishment of the Admiral's failings- Karath would count himself fortunate he had not as his junior officer had lost his life over it.
"Darth Bandon."
"Yes, my Lord." The apprentice bent a knee before his master, his head bowed in willing subjugation.
"You will go to Kashyyyk; in that jungle-rot you will find the Jedi Knight Bastila- a talented Sentinel. She and her amnesiac pet will be hunting after a particular relic within the Shadowlands. Once they retrieve it they will go for the Wookiee's only access to that accursed place. You will bring her to me unharmed—she is to be whole. If Revan survives your encounter, bring her to me-on her knees—broken. She will pave the way to turning of Bastila: be it dead or alive. What becomes of their minions matters little to me. Kill them, let the wilds of the jungle devour them; let the beasts tear them apart.
"Only Bastila matters but be mindful my apprentice. Do not underestimate the young Knight, Nord did so and now he is dead. Even without her memory Revan still has some skill. Use only the Force when you engage the Nagai, she is an exceptional blademaster. You cannot win in a melee contest with her do not even make the attempt. With her mind as it is she will not be as powerful as she once was, she will be weak against Force attacks."
"I will not fail you my Lord. Bastila will be yours." His oath sworn only then did Bandon dare lift his head and rise to his feet. "Her power will be yours my master for the glory of the Sith Empire."
KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR
The sound of industry rose up over the natural ambience of Kashyyyk. The first sound to reach Bandon's ears was that of a shuttle taking off. Its flat, metallic whine rapped up, almost to the level of being painful, then drifted to the east. Birds erupted from the trees around him, adding their own clamour to the Czerka port.
The apprentice landed his shuttle at the port having been given landing coordinates by the Czerka-Space-Traffic-Control. Almost as soon as he touched down he saw from the view port a Czerka Ithorian lackey approaching the landing struts.
The Czerka rep offered a saccharine smile as he approached the ship; he was very quick to see the lightsaber strapped to the imposing figure's belt as well as the robe and hood, the fact they were black or that the colour had any significant meaning beyond the preference for the shade utterly escaped him. "Greetings to you Master Jedi, I am Representative Janis Wertra, welcome to planet GS-623," he spoke in Hutteese.
"I am no Jedi." Bandon corrected as strode past the male. His distaste for the non-human very evident on his face, he made no attempt to disguise his disgust at the Ithorian's presence. "Do not make that mistake again."
"Ah, the representative of the Sith, yes of course! Forgive my ignorance my Lord." The Ithorian dipped his elongated neck. "It will only take a moment to clear up a small bit of paper work. It's a small mater offff..."
Bandon's features twisted into a sneer of revulsion "I offered you forgiveness once. You will find I am not so generous a second time. I am Darth Bandon, apprentice to Darth Malak. Your slaving business on this accursed world is permitted only because your company pays a heavy stipend to the Sith Empire for the privilege. You are barely better than the beasts you harvest.
"The fact that Czerka would send someone as incompetently vile and unworthy such as you to greet me is unsettling. Your superiors knew of my impending arrival did they not?" he made no effort to cover his disgust.
"Yes... yes my lord..." the man stumbled, he kept his eyes low, "it's just you are a day early... and... we were simply not prepared to..." the reparative stammered.
Bandon hand snapped out with the Force so swiftly the representative didn't even see the movement until he felt a hard blow to his thick neck sending him to his knees. Blood filled his mouth. "Remember that pain the next time you speak to your betters. I have business here and I have no further intention be being waylaid by you or your masters. Be gone."
With a hand to his bruised bleeding mouth, the Czerka rep scrambled away as swiftly as he was able. Fear and pain oozed from every pore so thickly it left a cloying cloud of stink behind him. The Sith Marauder glorified in it.
Dockworkers, Wookiee slaves, handlers, off-world merchants, and managerial staff out doing errands for their superiors wisely kept their eyes fixed on the wooden struts of the landing platform, careful not to make eye contact. Many of them bowed as a sign of fear and respect and quickly stepped out of the way with a mixture of terror and awe. Security forces –snapped smartly to attention, as if waiting for Bandon to inspect them as he passed by.
Most of the subjugates had never even seen a Dark Lord of the Sith, let alone Darth Malak's own Right Hand. By the time Darth Bandon arrived at Czerka HQ, they were well prepared for his presence. It was within their hopes the unpleasantness of the landing bay would not be repeated within the confines of their offices.
"My Lord, this is an unexpected pleasure, we are honored by your presence." A man with a thick Corillian accent bowed low to Bandon's approach. Otto Kresh was Czerka's administrational overseer in charge of the more arduous duties of the Edean work-force acquisitions. Commander Dern would claim the same but the man was an over hearted blow-hard, who relied too heavily of his status as a Mandalorian War vet rather than true talent.
Kresh tried to replace the fear in his voice with what he hoped came off as confidence- but failed miserably.
"Please forgive the incompetence of our dock manager he wrongly assumed you were a representative of Vogga the Hutt here to purchase quality merchandise." Seeing the sneer on the Sith Lord's face Kresh quickly added. "I assure you the rest of your visit to Edean will be less taxing."
"I am not interested in your excuses." Bandon's words echoed as from the bottom of a well. "Only results. There will be Jedi arriving shortly, my Master desires them. Therefore, you will make no attempts to delay them by any means. They will want to go to the forest floor- make sure they do."
Kresh visibly paled three shades lighter. "My... my Lord, with all due respect no one goes to the forest floor. Only the hardiest Wookiee warriors dare venture down there and few ever come back…"
"The Force is far superior to the brute strength of mere beasts, be they the slaves you harvest or the creatures on the floor of this tree-clogged planet."
Not wanting to end up like the Ithorian, Kresh was swift to concede. "Of course, my Lord, I meant no inference. Yours is the superior power." He swallowed hard. "Jedi, you say? Coming here?" he took a step back as if it would aid distance him from the Sith Lord's powers. "They um... may have issues with our operations... uakkkk!"
Three meters away, Bandon leaned forward and made a small motion with his hand, closing it into a fist. The manager felt his throat clench and close up as if it were being crushed by vice clamp. He... couldn't... breath...! He dug his fingers into his collar, trying to remove what felt like a restraining band. It didn't work. The pressure was there, but there was nothing there causing it. The male started to find himself greying out. Sparks flickered between his eyes and his mind. Dizziness flittered around him.
"That is not my problem." Bandon turned glowering. "They are to reach the forest floor. Make it happen. To insure of your compliance, I will be leaving a garrison here. They will be disguised in order to blend in with your security personnel and whoever else I see fit for them to assume the identities of. "Czerka's obedience is not completely mandatory. If you feel you are unable to comply you can and will be replaced by Imperial loyalists and the Sith Empire will take over all operations here. All profit will go to the glory of the Sith Empire rather than the mere trifle you send us." Once the dark Lord released his hold and the man toppled to his hands and knees gulping in greedy gasps of air. "Understand?"
There was a meek nod.
"Get up." Bandon hissed in disgust at the cringing man. "I will need an escort- one of the beasts that has been to the Shadowlands and back."
Tears leaked form Kresh's eyes as he forced a gulp of air past his throat in order to speak. "Thar... there is one we have here, my Lord. He's called Hannarr... He's been there and back again-twice. It left him a little... twitchy. But he can still take you." What Kresh didn't tell his Lordship Darth That-Kriffing-Mother-Fracking-Bastard, was that Hannarr was one of the meanest, most violent of the slaves Czerka had captured. Hell Chief Chuundar handed the frilling psychopathic beast over himself, drugged, bound and ready for off-world sales. Hannarr was one of the few that Vogga the Hutt had a particular interest in. Why? Who in blazes cared! The slug probably wanted the beast as some sort of attack junkyard hound on that slimball of a moon they called the Jewel of Nal Hutta. Didn't matter one way or the other, Kresh was glad to see the beast go.
Hannarr had already killed three of Kresh's people and hospitalized seven more. But it was that extreme violence that got the slug's interests. If wasn't for the high price being offered, Kresh would have put the damned thing down ages ago. Still his Lordship Darth That-Kriffing-Mother-Fracking-Bastard's need of an escort was serendipitous. Frack the credits. If Kresh was lucky the two psychotic killers would massacre each the in those gods forsaken Shadowlands and he'd never have to see the hide nor fur of either of them again.
Damn straight Kresh would comply with his Lordship Darth That-Kriffing-Mother-Fracking-Bastard's orders. Not that he actually had any choice not to. And good luck to him or rather... may the Force not be with him. "I'll... I'll order the beast's release into your custody immediately my Lord," a simpering bow was given and Kresh all but ran from the inner office to the out-processing checkpoint were the Wookiee slaves were being held for sale.
KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR
"Kashyyyk?" Mission nearly slumped next to Juhani in the comm-room just off the bridge. "I thought we were going to the water world. You know sunny beaches... a good swim. Maybe some hot surfer guys..." She plunked her booted feet on the console in fount of her barely mindful not to strike the keyboard or controls with her actions.
Juhani smirked at the sullen teenager. "My dear, Mannan is entirely ocean save for a few floating cities. In fact, the vast majority of their cities are underwater as the Selcath are an aquatic species. There are no sunny breaches and certainly no males you'd be interested in unless you enjoy the company of the Selcath."
"Ewww. NO! Fishy... and they slurp when they talk. And they smell like grungy seaweed. No way!" Mission folded her arms over her chest in a very Skye-like fashion. "Just eww eww eww!"
"I'm sure Zaalbar feels much relief in coming back to his home planet," the Cathar looked to the youngling with an almost motherly eye if not 'doting teacher'. "Should you not be happy for your adopted 'big brother' that he has a chance to come home?"
"Well I guess. But I don't think Big Z wanted to come back here, yah know? He doesn't talk about it much but I think it's all bad for him. He wouldn't even tell me why he left. Maybe something nasty with his clan or his family or something. I don't know. I just know there are a lot of bad memories for him here. This is the last place he wants to be."
This was news to Juhani. She had apparently wrongly assumed that the teenaged Wookiee had desired to explore the galaxy and became stuck on Taris. The way Skye had described the two youngling's relationship was very much that of siblings—one looking after the other and vice-versa. Perhaps it was not so much as a young Wookiee's pilgrimage as it was an exile.
"But if we're gonna find that Star Map thingy might be a bit tough, you know? On account Wookiees don't like outsiders much."
"They certainly have a beautiful planet." Juhani said. "I can understand why they would wish to protect it so. The Mandalorians- if they could- would have glassed several continents just to get concourse as they did the homeworld of my people."
"Yeah... that was total poodoo. I mean look at it all. Where Taris had massive buildings, Kashyyyk has big ass trees," Mission agreed.
"The whole world is blanketed in greenery." The Cathar said in wonder.
"Way better than all that pollution of Taris, ehe?"
There was a forlorn look to the Jedi's golden eyes. "Indeed. But while it is beautiful to behold at times, it can also be quite deadly. Many creatures and predators lurk in the leaves and branches- some small, some undoubtedly quite large.
"I have heard that the bottom layers of the trees have never been seen by a living being who returned to tell about it, and that travelling there is certain death. I do not envy any who go there." Juhani sighed. "It is most odd that Revan came here, but perhaps in the vast canopy of one of these trees we may find another piece of the Star Map."
"Well if it's way down below I aint going, no how! I saw one already. Skye and Bastila can go play in the dank foliage. I'm staying out of it."
Juhani chuckled. "And I heard you explored the ruins of Taris's Undercity and yet this frightens you?"
"Big difference Miss Smarty-Pants Jedi. The Outcasts in the Undercity were nice enough and you do 'come back' from there. Dangerous sure, I mean you had to be very careful about the rakghouls and junk and then there was Fido but this place is a whole 'nother kind of creepy. At least I'm not being fried to death like that dust ball. I never want to go back to Tatooine again."
"A sentiment many share."
"You?"
"I found it uncomfortably hot," was all the Jedi said.
Mission gave her a strange look but didn't pursue the topic further. With an indifferent shrug, only teenagers could manage, she went back to the data-pad she had in her hands, which of course contained several vid-games. Juhani looked over to her companion and shook her head; all the girl needed was a bit of chewing gum to complete the image.
"You are not interested in the world your Big Z comes from?"
"Sure." Another shrug. "And all that green sure beats all that sand. Still, Zaalbar left for a reason, right? Now we're coming back here on account somebody thought 'oh hey let's put the stupid Star Map at the bottom of a jungle that, you know, eats people!' What a great idea!"
"Perhaps like Tatooine when the map was first placed here it was a very different world."
"Yah think?" Mission looked up from her game for moment.
"It is a distinct possibility."
Another shrug. "You going with them like before?" 'Them' meaning Skye and Bastila.
"I would like to, yes. You do of course realize that they will in all probability take all of us to wherever this piece of the map lay hidden."
"I don't mind. I'm not leaving big Z to face whatever it was that made him have to leave by his lonesome. He'd get into all sorts of trouble!" She smiled. "He needs me."
"Yes. As you need him."
This time there was a nod.
"Mission, how do you know where the map is? I do not know."
Blue cheeks turned purple. "Er... I sorta heard Skye and Bastila talking about their newest vision. Skye said it looked dark like a cave, like at the bottom of the forest."
Juhani tsked the young Twi'lek: "You should not be eavesdropping, youngling."
"Well it's not like there's tons of places to go on this ship, is there?" the girl became defensive.
"That is why you must ensure when you see two speaking in hushed tones, that you learn to shut them out and not 'hear or see' them. Surely you learned similar things whilst living in the communal compound of the Hidden Beks."
One would think that, it was one of the things that Zaerdra was always on her about. "Yeah well... it's not like they noticed I heard 'em and it ain't like they were doing lovey stuff you Jedi aren't supposed to do."
"Lovey stuff?" Juhani frowned. She had hoped her fellow Jedi were far more discrete. They had a better chance of defeating Malak with a tooth-pick then Mission keeping silent about the affair. If the Jedi Masters found out... now it would complicate things. The Guardian tried to warn the girl to keep from gossiping, but it turned out she needn't have bothered.
"Look I know how serious it is and I don't want to see them apart. Okay? And when they defeat Malak they'll be heroes, we all will and your Masters will have to let it slide."
"No Mission they do not and they won't."
"Then it's simple: just leave the Order, yeah? They can still be Jedi-ish without the Order can't they?" The girl looked over to the corridor that leads to the women's dorms. "I'm not stupid. I know the Force doesn't make one a Jedi or a Sith, it's how you use it, how you think, right? Well Skye had this power all along; it just sorta woke up when she got close to Bastila on account their supposed to be together. Skye's a good person mostly, so is Bastila even if she can be an up-tight bitch, so they can be one them sorts of Jedi-types that aren't apart of the Order."
"The Greys." Juhani surmised. Yes, that was a distinct possibility. There were more than a few times Juhani thought to bring this up to her own lover, Belaya. Maybe the four of them could create their own Order of Jedi. Independent, yet following the Code and yet not all the restrictions of the Order dictated. Far in the past surely the Jedi had lover's and families did they not?
"Ah see." Mission made to slug Juhani in the arm as might a little sister but the Jedi caught than hand before it made contact; it did nothing to detract the Twi'leks enthusiasm "Got you thinking of it too, huh?"
"Perhaps." Came an economic response.
*Hey Juhani. * Carth's voice came over the comm-rooms intercom, *We're coming in for a landing at the Czerka space port, could you tell Ravensong and Bastila, I don't think I should be the one to interrupt whatever it is they're doing.*
"They are only meditating, Carth nothing so intimate as you might think."
*That...That wasn't what I was thinking!* The man quickly denied what indeed he was assuming- the two Jedi were engaged in a far more intimate activity than 'normal' Jedi stuff.
Alone in their quarters, Revan and Bastila meditated together, each sharing the vision of what they saw of the Star Forge. It had been on the forest floor. This was more of a surprise to Bastila. What she knew of Kashyyyk was a planet where most of what you saw was actually foliage that had grown to enormous heights. No one has ever been to the true surface of the planet below. But if that were so how did the Star Forge come to the Shadowlands... unless the even the Shadowlands were not even the true surface. And obviously, Revan and Malak had been there. Yet again Revan had no true memory of it save for the vision itself, everything else was so very blurry as if she was trying to gaze out at the world with globs of lard smeared on a pair of swooper goggles.
'Kashyyyk is a lush but simple and undeveloped world. I would not have expected to find the alien technology of a Star Map here.'
'Do you think the Wookiees might be involved?'
Despite speaking within their Bond, Bastila shook her head. 'The Wookiees make their homes high amongst the Wroshyr branches; only their bravest warriors dare to descend into the forbidding depths of the forest.
'If the Star Map is located far beneath us on the planet's surface, as our vision seems to suggest, it is unlikely the Wookiees even know of its existence.'
'I thought you said no one has been to the true surface of the planet before. Obviously someone has: first to put the Star Map there—then well you know me and Tin-face.'
Bastila smiled at the belligerence of Revan's name calling of her former apprentice and friend. 'Yes that aside, I think once we find the Star Map's location, things will become more clear.'
'We can only hope, Princess.'
Another smile.
The two pulled their minds back form the Force-meld—silent for several heartbeats. For a moment, they might have shared something more. A Kiss. A touch. A caress. Too many years of Jedi training stopped Bastila from making the first move, but her desire was clear, vibrating at a thousand RPMs. So, strong was it that Revan could not ignore the imploring need.
So, it was that Juhani found them sharing a deep kiss. She discreetly waited for them to pull back- for surely, they must have felt the presence of another in the room.
Reacting as if nothing untoward occurred; Revan greeted her fellow Jedi with a bright smile on kiss swollen lips. "He-ey Juhani... what's up?" suddenly Skye's voice asserted itself pushing back the cloak of Revan.
"We will be at the LZ within moments. Carth wished for me to inform you."
Skye stood up still smiling as she lent her hand to help her lover to her feet. "Great! Thanks. Hey, at least this time we have an actual guide. Don't know if Big Z has ever been to these Shadowlands, but it's his planet, he's got to know the dangerous flora and fauna, and what's safe to eat."
"We are talking about Zaalbar." Bastila said a little arbitrarily. "The same young male who decided to grab a shank of dragon meat and eat it raw."
"Fair point, still he's a local boy. That gives us a leg up from the last time." Skye returned with a cheeky smirk.
"That has not been our fortune thus far. On Taris you had a rancor and rakghouls; Dantooine it was kinrath and crazed kath hounds; Tatooine it was Tusken Raiders, wraids and dragons- not to mention Sith, idiot hunters and bounty hunters, swoopers and a host of other unsavoury scum."
Skye leaned into her lover and gave her a shoulder bump: "Ah all that stuff builds character—makes things interesting. Think about years from now when this story is being told it will add to the excitement. It'd be pretty bloody boring if the storyteller simply said. Rev... Ravensong and Bastila and their gallant companion's planet hopped from one hidden Star Map to another which would lead them to the hidden lair of Ol' Tin-jaw, The End."
"Oh aren't you funny. On your grave stone, it will read: Skye Ravensong: the funny one."
"Not a bad epitaph," the Nagai smirked playfully. "Much better than what I had planned..."
"Which was?" the question came from Juhani.
Fast as you like and as straight as she could, Skye fired out: "It was a good idea at the time."
"You are impossible." Bastila tried to scold but could not hide her mirth.
"Yeah but that's why you love me."
They froze. Sneaking touches, and hiding their passion was one thing- virtually declaring that love publicly was quite another. Juhani, much to her gracious diplomatic ability, pretended not to hear what she had just heard.
Thankfully more distractions came with the sudden rocking stop of the ship settling down on its landing struts. No one said a word as the three women filed out of the quarters into the frigate's small CIC.
It wasn't long before all the members of the crew had gathered around the holographic representation of Kashyyyk.
"Okay Zaalbar you're taking point on this one." Skye declared looking up to the young Wookiee.
Unlike the other places, they had been too Zaalbar looked- if one could read his facial expressions- decidedly uncomfortable. And most certainly not looking forward to exploring as he had with Tatooine and Dantooine.
"Big Guy... spill, what's going on?" Skye folded her arms over her chest, giving the youth her best command glare. She tolerated the Wookiee's more reserved aloof demeanour, because he was after all paying off a life-debt. He was sworn to duty whether he liked it or not. Still she wasn't going to play this game much longer.
Zaalbar took one look at the Jedi's countenance and knew without a doubt he had played his last hand in avoiding any direct question she had asked of him. "I didn't leave Kashyyyk voluntarily. It's my home... I should have prepared you for coming here…" he growled solemnly, "...but I don't know if I'm prepared myself."
"I seem to recall Mission saying something about you fleeing slavers. Is that what's Czerka is doing here?" Skye gave a glaring look at a human male in yellow and black uniform.
"Yes. But there's more." Zaalbar admitted. "I'm an exile. The slavers on Kashyyyk only took me after I was forced to leave my village home, twenty years ago."
"Wait? Twenty years ago? I thought you were around the same age as me!" Mission pouted for not being told this little fact.
Hell, Skye assumed the Wookiee to be a teenager as well. Then again, she wasn't so sure how long they lived as a species though she knew it went into the centuries perhaps he was still considered young.
"Does it matter?" Canderous harrumphed. By now all those that couldn't understand Shyriiwook had adopted (ironically) Czerka-brand translators. Made things a hell of a lot easier than dragging the natural polilinguists around everywhere they went. That included a Nagai Jedi and HK-47. The discussion of age was pointless. "So, what did you do to get your furry ass exiled?"
"My brother made a deal with the slavers and allowed them to get a foothold. I found out and attacked him. The fight was stopped, but my father did not believe me when I told him about my brother's actions. I was made an exile, disowned by my home and people. I should not be here. They will not accept me back."
"Hold a moment buddy, how come your dad didn't believe you?" Mission asked for all of them.
There was sadness in those deep black eyes as Zaalbar looked upon his best friend. "When I attacked my brother, I was so mad... I used my claws. None of you can understand what that means to a Wookiee."
Of all of them Juhani understood, yet she kept her mouth closed. She had been at the receiving end of hatred, bigotry and out right prejudice because she was Cathar. Many sentients thought her little more than a beast, because of her fur, teeth and retractable claws. Oh yes... she understood.
"Our claws are tools, not weapons. To use them in battle is to become an animal. It is madness without honour. I am forever a madclaw in the eyes of my people. Noting I say is to be trusted. They were right to cast me out."
"Bullocks!" Ordo scoffed. "Nature gave you the claws, your people are fools to throw away a perfect weapon."
"Way to be sensitive to his problems, Grandpa Candy." Mission snapped.
"I'm a Mandalorian, Snippy. I don't do sensitive."
"That's for damn sure."
"Enough!" barked Skye. "Keep acting like that and I'll send you to your bunks without dinner."
There were snickers from two women and a man, a smile from a very large Wookiee and glares from a young girl and an old man.
"Zaalbar... a lot of time has passed. Things may have changed their minds now that the evidence is before them. "
The young Wookiee wasn't so sure. "The slavers are still here... yes... this dock is theirs. I doubt anyone has risen to try to fight. Nothing has changed," came a disheartened reply. "I just hope I can prove myself to my people. It will be difficult to make them listen. I just don't know."
Skye didn't know if he'd appreciate the gesture or no, but she placed a small long fingered hand on his large bicep. "We'll deal with it when the time comes. I promise you I'll be at your side. Maybe if they find out you are honouring a life debt to a Jedi, it will smooth things over."
"Maybe. I don't have much hope."
"Perhaps we can do something about these slavers?" Juhani said with great distain. "They should not be here!"
"I fear Czerka will take a different stance. They claim they 'discovered' Kashyyyk which is why they renamed it G5-625... or as their stockholders say Edean." Bastila said softly. "They have no representation in the Republic Senate. Czerka claimed it as a resource world with no true sentient indigenous lifeforms. And considering just how many Senators are shareholders in the Cooperation, no one looked deeper."
"Not even the Jedi?" Mission frowned.
"I fear they have become embroiled with the war against Malak..." Bastila cut a small apologetic glance to Skye..."and before her fall Revan, to take much notice or at least too deeply of what Czerka has been involved with. And unfortunately, because it has been claimed a property of Czerka and the Wookiees are not a part of the Galactic Republic, the Jedi... cannot become invested. It is not within our jurisdiction."
"It is now." Skye said with venom. It was the same tone Reven had used when she spoke out against the atrocities that befell the Cathar home world by the hands of the Mandalorians. "I will not sit by and allow this frack up to continue. We find the Star Map then we end them." She glared at several more Czerka workers with utter and complete distain.