Chapter: 37

"I have a bad feeling about this." Mission said as the companions passed through the great wooden gates that separated the landing port Czerka had seized and the gangplanks of the canopies Kashyyyk forests which would lead the way to the Wookiee villages.

Her bad feeling came in the form of an attack almost immediately upon passing through the large gates of the spaceport.

Like the plains of Khoonda on Dantooine, the forest walkways were a haven for kinrath. The insectiods however did not last long against the Companions. They worked swiftly and efficiently to put them down- unlike one of the Czerka Cooperation's techs who had obviously been overwhelmed by the swam. Mission checked the man's pack and withdrew several credits, a couple of antidote kits and some medpacks. All good finds.

Skye wasn't watching the kid as much as she was her large furry friend. Zaalbar seemed almost relaxed- if such a word could be applied to the Wookiee. He lifted his head up and took in the scent, not of the recently killed bugs, but of the trees themselves. He must have sensed the Jedi watching him. "Can you sense it? The wind... the sounds... the smells? I can feel it all now that we are away from the spaceport," his growling speech became slightly morose. "This walkway is new, probably built by the slavers, but I remember the trees. My village is not far from here."

Colored by pragmatism Skye asked: "What can we expect to find there?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know. It has been so long since I left. I only know the way things were, and many things have changed."

I know the feeling. The former dark lord thought.

"I must warn you of one thing..." Zaalbar hesitated. "I don't know if I will be a help or a hindrance to you there. My father was a very powerful... a Chieftain." The last word the scout in Skye noticed, had been very carefully chosen. Perhaps it was the only word that was the closest proximity to what the Wookiees called their leaders. Something either they could only say or speak of or had any significant meaning. "Perhaps his feelings have mellowed, but if my brother had his ear all this time... I may be very unwelcome."

I feel your pain brother. Once more Skye reflected on her reception in the audience chamber at the enclave. The majority of the Masters were not at all pleased to see that 'Skye' had latent powers of the Force. She was definitely 'very unwelcome'.

"We'll deal with that bridge when we come to it." Skye said automatically.

"That is what I am dreading," the honesty in Zaalbar's voice almost shocked the Jedi. Typically, the big guy was reserved; rarely spoke to Skye (despite the life debt) with anything more than the respect due to her and a mild tolerance. The only one he was even remotely warm towards was Mission. "My shame was meant to be forgotten on some far away world. I never thought I'd come back. I'm sorry; I've taken enough of your time. We should press on."

It was more than he had ever said. Skye didn't press him for more details. She turned yer blue eyes to the others indicating that they too should keep their tongues silent and their speculations stifled.

The trip along the passage through the tree limbs was more or less uneventful for some time. The only eventful thing- if it could even be called- such was the discovering of a damaged sentry droid which Skye and Teethree easily restored to full functionality. If anything, the droid could clear the walkway of kinrath infesting the area.

A few moments later the Companions happened upon a group of Czerka slavers dressed in orange uniforms marking them as grunts and one in officer's green. Under a stasis bubble nearby was a Wookiee. She didn't seem to be conscious let alone alive.

"This isn't good. I can't afford this," a dark haired young man said nervously.

Another junior officer (a red head) shrugged. "You think I can?"

Dark-hair shook his head. "Do you know what they get for a healthy one of those things?"

That was more than enough for Skye. Her hand went for her lightsaber. They were already dead. They just didn't know it. With but looks to the others, the companions spread out in a V-formation allowing those with blasters to have premium head-shots. The Jedi took the forefront. No one said a word, and as yet their actions were going unnoticed by the arguing men.

"We'll work it out latter." Green's voice had the austere voice of someone born of privilege and wealth. "We've got company." He tried to make himself seemingly far more important than he was by standing up a little taller, his head inclined as he addressed to what in his eyes were nothing more than a rag-tag group of space-jocks. "What do you want spacer? I am Patrol Captain Denno and you're interrupting Czerka Corporation business."

They had one chance. Just one.

"Am I? I am Jedi Ravensong, you will tell me what you have done to that wookiee."

"The savage got a little rambunctious and we had to put it down."

"You put 'it' down? We are not animals!" Zaalbar snarled.

"Careful now, that growl seemed pretty threatening." Dark Hair said just as smugly as his superior. "Keep your slave on its leash or we I'll have another 'accident.'"

"Oh, that was just the dumbest thing you could have said." Mission smirked.

Denno noticed the hand now unhooking the lightsaber of all three Jedi. "Just shut up you trigger-happy idiot."

"Do your superiors approve of you killing Wookiees?" Asked Bastila watching Dark Hair intently, but it was the patrol captain that answered her.

"Of course, they don't. Why would you ask me that? Are you doing some sort of snap inspection?" he sneered at the women. "Trying to make me admit to incompetence, aren't you?" he pointed to himself. "Not going to happen. I stand by my patrol. This Wookiee got out of hand and had to put down. We'll find another easy enough."

"That is all I needed to hear." Skye hissed.

"Is this a joke? Who do you think you are...?" His words were cut short. A blur of silver and blue armor was followed by the snap hiss of a lightsaber. Denno's head rolled at the feet of Dark Hair.

"WHAT!?" Dark Hair screamed.

Red brought up his own blaster, firing desperately into the ranks of the Companions but for their formation his shots were wild and missed their marks and were easily replied by Juhani and Bastila's blades.

Canderous took a shot for the center of mass, but it was HK's marksmanship that turned the man's head to pink mist. Zaalbar went for Dark Hair. His powerful hands went around the man's throat, crushing the very life out of the slaver. Bones snapped and crunched like dry twigs. Even after he was dead, the Wookiee didn't let go. Rage burned deep and bright in his heart.

Only Mission's delicate blue heads on his forearm brought Zaalbar out of his storm. "He's dead as dead can be Big Zee," she said softly. "He ain't noth'en now. Let 'em go, Kay? He ain't gonna kill no more of your people, Big Zee."

The human's body slumped bonelessly to the wooden floor with a hollow echo. Zaalbar didn't say anything and not one of the companions bothered to break that reserve. He left the dead humans and went to the she-wook, perhaps only HK could make out Zaalbar's muttered untellable words, but then no one had to ask, it had to be rites for the dead. He didn't seem to know who she had been but it wasn't necessary to honor her.

Skye shifted though the pockets of the officer hoping to find... yes, there it was- a high level ID key card. Officers always had them and they always came in handy. She stole the key card into one of the many pouches on her utility belt and searched the rest of the men; for the most part she found only credits.

The smell of blood and noise of the brief battle must have attracted nearby predators, for no sooner had the companions taken twelve paces when they were set upon by mykals and more kinrath.

"Bugs and bats! Can I just say I hate these things?" Mission called out taking her shot at the batlike flying menace.

"Take it easy kid, at least they're not mynocks and rakghouls." Carth jibbed blasting the body of the skittering kinrath stalker right from under its spindly legs. "Down they go!"

"Ewwach." Mission scrunched up her nose. "I hate those things even more!"

"Enthusiastic endorsement: At last I get to kill something, even if it is only pest control." HK-47 actually sounded gleeful as he shot down one of the leather winged creatures.

"Good to see you're into it, tin can, because we got a whole lot of 'em coming our way." Canderous said pointing to a new swarm heading for the Jedi. Their Jedi tricks with sabers and blades cut down several of the mykals in mid-flight or sent them spiralling into the trunks of the building-sized trees. Bug extermination wasn't any sort of challenge for a Mandalorian over the age of six. Still, it had to be done.

He watched the tail-head targeting the legs of the bugs. Good tactic if you're not a sniper with 'one-hit, one-kill' ability. If they can't move, they can't attack. Then just a pop in the head. She was getting better. This was good training for her. Canderous held back most of his shots, letting the Kid and the Rug take most of the kills. The clanker and the Orange Coat didn't matter, they could hold their own.

At least the Kid listened when he told her about kneeling down to get better accuracy and not to fire like some gunslinger like the Orange Coat. She also held her blaster with two hands rather than one to give her a more steady aim. The Kid was still green as shit but she was malleable. That was good. She wasn't half-bad with her vibroblade either. No doubt due to the Whelp's instructions.

Nobody- not even the Echani- could wield a blade better than a Knife. Make that Knife a Jedi and you've got one deadly blademaster. It took blowing up a ship to stop Revan, and Skye had the same talent. Nigh unbeatable blade against blade. It was why you didn't bother challenging them with a blade, better to just shoot them, better chance of survival. Still it was a great challenge to face a Jedi Knife- better than a bug hunt anyway.

The Great Walkway was soon cleared of hostiles for the moment. Skye called in a count, only to find all her people were alive and well. Some a little more covered in the blood of dead bugs and bats, but still good to go.

"Mission, that consol over there, get it open." Skye tossed the teenager the Czerka ID as she pointed to a computer interface. "Confiscate what ever are in those supply containers. Carth, Zaalbar, take point keep the path clear. HK, Canderous, take rear guard make sure we don't have anything sneaking up on us: the animals or the bugs." The animals everyone knew was a reference to anyone wearing a Czerka uniform. "The rest of us fan out; make a clean sweep. Zaalbar how far to your village?"

"Three klicks, I can smell the cooking fires from here," he answered.

There were only sporadic skirmishes with the creatures infesting the area a head of them. It was scavenger instinct that drove the beasts to crawl up the vast trunks of the trees or swoop in from branches high above to feast on the ready-meal of carcases of their own dead. It was much more efficient to eat what was dead then to hunt one's own. The Companions were content not to go out of their way and just to let the creatures go, after all their mission wasn't to exterminate vermin.

At last they came to Rwookrrorro's magnificent wooden gate which was several meters tall. It could only be the entrance to Zaalbar's village. It was guarded by a lone Wookiee. It surprised and yet it did not surprise the others. Wookiees were powerful and capable warriors. Perhaps only one was needed. Maybe it was tradition. But still, with the heightened hostilities in the area with the increasing number of vermin both crawling and flying and the slavers, perhaps it would have been more prudent to have a double guard.

Even back on Tatooine the Raiders had three watching their corrugated metal gate to their tent-city. Then again, they also had several turrets. As far as Skye could tell, there were no visible armaments. Just one guy. A very exploitable weakness, should one ever wish to sack the village.

Perhaps this has something to do with the Czerka rep that boasted that she and her crew did not know the circumstances beyond the gate or with the Wookiee Chieftain. Surely Zaalbar's father had not made a peace settlement with the slavers.

The other two Jedi turned to her, they felt it too. Some shifting fluctuations were felt in the Force. Something was definitely amiss here.

"This is your show Zaalbar." Skye nudged the young male before her. "Go talk to him."

The guard had his bowcaster raised, with his fur it was difficult to discern weather or not his finger was on the trigger or merely flagging it. If the former, he was nervous and likely to shoot at the slighted sign of provocation or what he considered such. If the latter, he was level headed and professional. Someone who was ready to fire if needs be but it was not impetuous.

"Stop where you are outsider. You enter the domain of Chuundar, Chieftain and leader!"

"Stand aside Grrrowill, this human is with me and I want access to the home of my people." Zaalbar demanded.

From behind her, Skye heard Mission mutter: "It's a good thing Big Zee knows him, eh?"

"That is still debatable, youngling." Juhani whispered back.

From the reaction of the guard, Skye now knew to be named Grrrowill, Juhani's words could not be more correct. Grrrowill certainly was not pleased to see their young companion.

"You have no rights here, mad-claw! This knife-ear should not have brought this taint upon our land! You must answer to Chuundar!"

Time to step in. "What does he mean "taint", Zaalbar?"

"He means me," Zaalbar's body slumped a little in the answering of the Nagai's question. He knew it was coming, knew it in his gut but he hadn't expected it would hurt so much to actually hear the accusations. He felt diminished. "I am the taint that should not have been brought here."

"Silence!" Grrrowill snapped. "You are nameless with dishonor, mad-claw! Yours is a foulness that disgusts me!"

Mission took a step forward with a list of Lowercity profanities on her lips which were swiftly stifled by Juhani's hand clapping over her mouth. "Not now little one, you will only exacerbate the situation. Let Skye deal with it," the Cathar whispered for the girl alone.

The guard turned to Jedi in question, his anger palpable. "Enough talk! You and the outcast mad-claw will be taken to Chuundar now!"

The vast door opened with surprising ease and relative silence. Though rustic, the fulcrum technology on which it swung was tried and true. Grrrowill called out for more guards. One of them nearly demanded they be disarmed but suddenly changed his mind as long as the blasters were 'peace-knotted; and stayed within their holsters. Skye slipped her hand back to her waist and got a very sly look from the rest of her companions. She answered with a coy shrug and a lopsided smile that said: 'What?'

Intricate stairways and hidden ramps wrapped around the immense trunks and as gradually deeper and higher they went the bigger the huts became. The whole village was titanic—hidden amongst the branches. A series of wooden platforms, planks and walkways connected the enormous trees, one-to-the-other. The outer walls of the huts were not simple daub and wattle with thatched roofs but whole logs and planks: sturdy and solid. They were held up and away from the trunks by thick struts going from 45 then to 90 degree angles. It allowed for expansions both outward and upward- whole multi-layered structures- as complex and intricate as any mega-complexes on Coruscant.

Some of the buildings were saucer-shaped and generations old. Others seemed to be newer and significantly smaller and far more humble.

The rooftops were shingled with the dense bark of the of the woshyr tress. The inner walls (of what could be glimpsed from the forced march they were on) were very tightly woven from leaves. Given that, said leaves were two-meters in length, and once shredded they made the perfect natural fiber to be woven not only into planks for inner walls, but also into ropes, mats, sleeping hammocks and a host of other tools and household items. The Wookiees were ingenious naturalists.

Compared to this 'treeoplois', the Czerka prefab structures were a blight upon the land and a stain to the eyes.

"This place is wild and untamed. It stirs the blood and makes one feel… alive." Juhani closed her eyes for a moment and drew in the scents of Wookiees, the wood smoke and yes the very forest itself. A smile spread across her lips despite their precarious predicament. She felt awakened here, more then she had even on the idyllic grassland world of Dantooine.

Skye and Bastila felt it too. But under the living currents lay something darker and far more sinister then anything they had come across on the great walkway. They were about to come face to face with it.

Grrrowill was hesitant to even touch Zaalbar but he held no such compunctions when it came to Skye. She was virtually shoved into one of the grander huts, no doubt this was the great hall and where Zaalbar's brother held court.

Though a great observer, Skye had a difficult time telling the age of a Wookiee merely by their pelt. While his fur was a shade darker, Chuundar's muzzle was slightly grayer then her fiend's. Around his neck, he wore a very distinctive chain of gold, heralding his position and lord and master of all of Wookiee kind.

She did notice the honor guard and the alien presence of orange and green uniforms of Czerka personnel. While she saw only two, Skye wondered how many more peppered themselves into the Wookiee village and why they were allowed here. Her scouts' eyes also noted that the vast chamber was mostly open, offering little to no cover should things become hostile.

The others must have been thinking the same thing. As they had on the walkway, the crew of the Ebon Hawk disbursed themselves into a wedge formation. So far the subtle move was not interrupted as anything overtly aggressive. Maybe they thought the outsiders wanted a better look at their grand and magnificent Chieftain. Let them.

Skye innocuously slipped her hand to her wrist comm when no one was watching and activated a few controls.

"Step forward and address mighty and wise Chuundar, outsider," he barked haughtily. "I do not often allow visitors of your kind."

Zaalbar snorted his contempt. "You are flanked by Czerka slavers! Are they not outsiders? Or have you sold all of Kashyyyk to them!"

"Ah, brother Zaalbar. You've been exiled a long time. You shouldn't speak in that tone. Things are different now." There was an unmistakable smugness to the words spewing out of the elder brother's mouth. "You are a mad-claw without honor. You have no voice among your own people. I on the other hand, am Chieftain."

Skye took a step forward. Her blue eyes boring into the so-called Chieftain. She knew exactly how to deal with the self-aggrandizing sleemo- just like you would a Hutt. Praise and threat in the same breath. The only thing sentients like this pile of poodoo and the slugs understood.

Skye tapped into the wellspring of the Force and for a moment- a sheer blink of the eyes- she seemed to stand taller, more dominate- not a dark lord, but a master to be sure. Chuundar recognized it immediately, he didn't take a step back but his eyes grew larger: surprised perhaps. Clearly confounded, a Force-wielder was not something he had expected.

"Chuundar you have proclaimed yourself mighty and wise. But your deals with the slavers will become known. You cannot lay within their nest so comfortably. The truth will be known."

"You may talk but no one will believe you. I've hand a long time to guide what my people think. They trust me, the mighty Chuundar. Even with my brother insane and my father enslaved. I rose to protect my people despite it all."

Zaalbar pounded on the news. "Father was enslaved? 'Mighty Chuundar?' What are you talking about? You were the runt!"

That hit a nerve. At by looking at him Chuundar was indeed almost a head shorter then the rest of the Wookiees around him. "I am no runt!" he cleared his throat, as if saying the word had been a bone caught in the craw of this throat. "Like I said, Zaalbar, a lot has changed in your years away. We will discus this soon enough."

Skye was pleased, her mind cataloging injuring bits of information. Like all megalomaniacs Chuundar was hiding a massive inferiority complex—like being a short Wookiee- by overcompensating in a show of power. No doubt he thinks he has 'tamed' the Czerka slavers or at least that was what he would have his people believe.

Before she tore down his fortress of lies and deceptions, the Jedi needed to understand not only the foundations but what Chuundar believed of his own lies to be true and which he faulted. She needed more weakness to probe at in order to needle them down thus allowing Chuundar's own pride to reduce his personal world of glory to rubble. His people had to see him for the rat-bastard he was.

"To what purpose do you drag us here Chuundar?" Skye demanded, once more pressing the image of her dominance. Not unlike a cat fluffing itself up to make itself look larger. This time however she deliberately targeted that tiny part in Chuundar's brain that muttered 'you are nothing but a runt'.

It worked just as predicted. Chuundar physically tried to stand just a bit taller. "I haven't killed Zaalbar because he is my brother, and I hoped he and I could come to an agreement. You are irrelevant."

Skye smiled, barring all her teeth. The effect was instantaneous. As if to further demonstrate his rightful claim to power and to make this puny knife-ear submissive, he began issuing orders. "I may be able to put you on a menial task. Zaalbar will have to stay here, of course."

"That's bantha poodoo!" Mission cried out, she all but ran to her friend's side but was stopped by a massive furry paw of one of the guards "Let me go- you…!"

"Don't tell me you've taken a head-tail child as your mate, brother." Chuundar deliberately jeered Zaalbar. He laughed which caused the guards to laugh some sounded more forced than others.

"She is a good friend. I call her sister. Mission, don't do anything stupid."

"Skye tell him we ain't abandoning Big Zee! Tell this bastard we aren't leaving him behind!" the girl pleaded. She wanted with all her heart for Skye to take this sleemo's head like she did those slavers.

"You don't have a choice, sprog." Chuundar snarled.

"Oh yeah? " Mission fought against the guard's hold on her. "Skye's a Jedi! So is Bastila and Juhani. They cut the heads off the slavers to get here, and all kinds of bounty hunters, and Dark Jedi, monsters and dragons and Tusken Raiders and Gamorreans… you're nothing to their power. They got the Force, assbisket!" the girl's eyes were blurred by tears. She couldn't loose her best-buddy now. He was more of a brother then Griff ever was. Mission loved her Big Zee with all her heart.

Chuundar took a closer more appraising look at the knife ear, cat and human. So… it was true, they were Jedi. Behind him the Czerka representatives shifted nervously when they recognized the women for what they were. Jedi meant trouble.

And a lot of it.

"Clearly you have made close ties with outsiders, brother." He waved off the guard holding the foul-mouthed head-tail. "If you are Jedi then this will be a simple thing. Another Wookiee had suffered the same fate as Zaalbar, gone mad and been exiled. He how lurks in the Shadowlands.

"More importantly he is pestering my Czerka allies during their Shadowland expeditions. It is not good for business."

"He is standing against you. The first of many perhaps?" Skye challenged. She folded her arms over her chest, again the shadow of the dark lord looking behind her.

"No one will follow a mad-claw. He is merely a nuisance. Besides he cowers in the Shadowlands. My people know nothing of him."

"Jedi are not bounty hunters." Juhani said. "We will not do your dirty work for you."

"You do not have much choice, Jedi. You can flee the planet if you want, but I am keeping Zaalbar here with me. He will stay until the mad-claw is dead. The Czerka will never let me hold you, but they don't care what I do with my fellow Wookiees."

"Zaalbar is needed to be our guide," Bastila insisted.

"No, you won't need him to find your way. Over the years, I have had my people trained to understand galactic Basic. I tell them it is better to understand the enemy. They think it will make the Czerka easier to fight. Actually, it makes them easier to obey." As if expecting hostilities from the Jedi and their armed minions, he quickly followed the boast with: "Remember, you can't beat me here. No one would dare oppose me to join with an outsider or an exile."

"You are wrong bother. Someone would." Zaalbar countered. To him his whole world had crumbled when he heard of his father's fate. His father he might have been able to reason with. But Chuundar… Chuundar was beyond reason. If he wasn't blood-kin, Zaalbar would have sworn he was the spawn of a Hutt and not a Wookiee.

"Yeah you and me Big Zee!" Mission piped up.

"Declaring statement: If there are going to be hostilities I am more then happy to engage. Query: Will someone tell me if we can shoot the furry meatbag?" if he wasn't a droid, Skye could have sworn she saw a maddening gleeful- if not murderous- smile appear on the metal shell of the assassin. How the droid captured the outward show of emotion in his vocabulator was beyond her. Whoever created him sure had a nasty sense of humor. Maybe one day when things got quiet and they were back on the Hawk, she'd have another go at repairing the rusty old clanker.

"The first to fall will be Zaalbar." Chuundar threatened. "And he wasn't talking about you sprog. He was speaking of Freyyr, our father," he turned back to his sibling. "Why do you speak of him? He was the one that ordered you exiled when you attacked me." Again, there was the pathological need for Chuundar to lord his position over his Court. "He went mad as you when he finally discovered the slavers. He dared challenge them alone and has not been seen since.

"That was years ago. Let him go Zaalbar. I rule now. I'll take the Wookiees forward, but there are prices to pay."

"Prices to pay, such as the flesh of your own people?" Skye challenged. "Before you said your father was enslaved, now you say he is gone missing. Chuundar you had best get your lies straight, don't you think? So which is it? Is he a slave or mad and gone missing?"

"Gone missing...enslavement it is the same, Jedi. I lead, he is gone. "

"You're worse then the Gamorreans!" Mission fumed.

"And yours are any better? Head-tails sell their own into slavery all the time to the Hutts." Chuundar shot back clearly annoyed. "Enough. No more words, outsiders. I've given my orders. I can't hold you here, but Zaalbar will stay until you kill the mad-claw in the Shadowlands."

"I don't like leaving anyone behind," Carth said remorsefully, "but we don't have much choice." His sentiments were shared by many; the Jedi and even the Mandalorian hesitated. But there was nothing to be done for the moment.

At least they now had a way down to the Shadowlands.

"The guards will let you pass now. Leave the village though the northwest and follow the platform to the south and then east." Chuundar informed them. "You'll eventually see where Gorwooken waits for you. He will lower you to the forest floor. Go."

Almost forcefully, the Companions were ushered out of the Great Hall. They had surprisingly no trailing guard of any kind, though that is not to say eyes did not follow them. It took a few moments for them to orient themselves and find their bearings. The trek to the Hall was rushed, allowing for very little time to see the village for all the sheer size of it.

"You know that guard that he's sending down will mostly likely try to kill us once we're down there." Canderous said drawing a large stogie out of one his numerous vest pockets and setting it to light.

"Why kill us when all he has to abandon us to the Shadowlands and report our supposed demise via the fauna of the Shadowlands. Less messy. And he's more likely to survive." Skye replied. She went to her wrist and played with the controls of her comm-unit.

"You recorded everything in there, didn't you?" Bastila said, to which the Nagai nodded.

"Audio and holo. There's no way Chuundarcan refute it. The problem is we need to find someone other than Freyyr to play it to. Someone who stands against Chuundar but may not have the voice to motivate others into action."

"Who would you suggest?" Juhani asked. "Some village elder?"

"If they haven't been killed." Canderous shook his head. "This is a waste of time, Whelp. Look- bad as it is, leave the Wookiee to his fate, let's go get this Star Map. We've got bigger things to face than the inner politics of the furballs."

"Have a care, Mandalorian," Bastila rounded on him. "Lest you find yourself in a situation that calls for your rescue."

"This your way of telling me what 'comes around, goes around' Princess?"

"I told you not to call me that." Bastila ground her teeth.

"Arguing like a nest of old crones will not help our cause." Hissed Skye. "Stop drawing attention to us, all of you." She gave a pointed look to the man that swore a blood-oath to her service. She need not shame him by reminding the Mandy of such- at least not yet. But it was there verging on the tip of her tongue all the same.

"Juhani's correct- we look for village elders... if there are any still alive. Perhaps a shaman. He or she might be cowed now, but given the right incentive, we can at least start the sparks of insurrection against Chuundar's tyranny."

Finding a shaman was not as difficult as proposed. The outside of his hut was decorated in all manner of totems and fetishes.

"We don't want overwhelm him. Bastila come with me, the rest of you see what you can find out. And please don't antagonize the Wookiees." Skye ordered. She looked over to her bondmate, gave a slight nod then rapped on the door of the hut.

There was a puzzled 'come-in' in answer form the other side of the door. Skye was greeted with an even more shocked expression on the Wookiee's face along with the younger one at his side. Clearly they had not expected a Nagai or human to come into their domain.

The more curious of the males was dark haired, like most Wookiees, though he had stripes of blonde-red fur mingling with the darker stands of his pelt. He stepped forward cautiously. He noted of course that these females were not dressed in the colors of the Czerka but in armor he seen so long ago, it was nearly forgotten. His dark blue eyes also took note that the diminutive females carried not blasters but lightsabers. They radiated calm unlike the hostile vibrations of the Czerka. Hope scarcely dared dreamt of glowed behind disbelieving eyes.

"I am Woorwill," he tilted his head. "I've… I've never spoken to an outsider. I mean Chuundar makes us learn to understand you, but I've never been this close to one of you." He wasn't sure of them… and it showed in his stance. "What are you doing here? Have you come to laugh at us? Come to gloat about how many of us you take? Can you even understand me?"

"I am no slaver, I can assure you. Chuundar has allowed me and my fellows to be here." Skye kept her tone even and sooth. Gentle.

"I don't know about that. I hear lots of things and I am not sure what to think anymore."

Aw… doubts… good. Skye thought. But she needed them stronger, more robust. The male was clearly broken. His spirit diminished by his Chieftain.

"May we ask you a few questions?" Bastila said in the same gentle manner.

"Oh please don't. I haven't been paying attention to anything since Roworr went missing. Do you know anything about that?"

Neither Skye nor Bastila knew enough about Wookiee names to know if it was for a male or female. Both shared the same pressing wish that it wasn't the name of the she-wook Patrol Captain Denno and his men and slaughtered.

"I hope you slavers didn't get him. N-not that you're a slaver. I'm sorry. I'm very tired. I haven't slept much lately."

Skye let out a held breath. So not the she-wook. "I assure you Woorwill, nether I or any of my companions are slavers. In fact, three of us are Jedi."

"Jedi?" The hope was back in his eyes.

"Tell us please Woorwill, who is this Roworr?" Bastila asked as if she were speaking to a child. From his tone this male was not a shaman and probably much younger than Zaalbar.

"Roworr? Oh, he's the greatest! He led hunting parities to the Shadowlands, and even fought outsiders! Slavers!"

Definitely young. Hero worship of a great warrior could just as easily be as useful as the older more pragmatic voice of village elders. Get enough of the young boiled about the loss of one of their heroes and you will have an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. Something Chuundar could not dismiss as readily as he thinks he can.

"He taught me a lot. He said I could grow up as strong as him, and I'd fight slavers too. I will, too. I will!"

Skye had to be very careful with her next line of questioning. "I believe you Woorwill," she offered a closed mouth smiles lest the kid take the show of teeth as a hostile gesture. "When did Hunter Roworr go missing?" she added the moniker to give more weight to respect of the Wookiees.

"Stop bothering the boy, outsider. He doesn't need you taunting him, Jedi or no," the grey-furred male snarled.

"But what if they know something, Jaarak? They are Jedi. Maybe they can help?" there was unmistakable pleading in the boy's voice. The elder male must be the kid's father.

"An outsider? Help? Look around you, Woorwill. Outsiders do nothing but steal and lie and taint the best among us!"

Bastila gave a knowing look to Skye, the fires of youth and the voice of the pragmatic in one hut. The Force certainly moves in mysterious ways. But if not handled correctly the flames of rebellion would be snuffed out before they even breathed life.

"Outsider, you talk to me if you must bother us at all. Leave him alone."

Skye titled her head. "As you wish… this is your home and I will of course abide by your words." She couldn't help but wonder at the elder male's tone—his words about tainting the best of them Was Roworr the supposed mad-claw they were sent to kill? It was a logical deduction. Roworr stood against the slavers, killing several of them. A hero. Clearly someone who would stand against the schemes Chuundar had derived with Czerka. If this Roworr was indeed down below harassing the slavers' operations, he might just be the perfect one to bring back.

"Elder Jarrark," Skye lowered her voice "I've been given a task by your Chieftain to stop a certain 'mad-claw' in the Shadowlands from harassing the Czerka. Chuundar has one of my companions held hostage and until I do so he will keep my friend. I must take certain actions but not perhaps those in the sprit of Chuundar's orders.

"I have no truck with the slavers, nor do any of my people. Perhaps this 'mad-claw' has been falsely accused and named thus only because he opposes the slavery. If so, his actions should be condoned- as should any insurrection against the slavers."

Disbelief welled in dark eyes. Jarrark was not moved. Clearly deeds- not words- would prove the Jedi's worth to him, and most likely the other elders of the village. He was however a good barometer of what was to be expected. Not even the holo of Chuundar was going to be of use at the current moment. Perhaps brining Roworr back from the Shadowlands was proof of enough to validate the Jedi.

"Say what you want, Outsider. Words have no meaning. You are not welcome here, no matter what anyone says."

"Then we shall trouble you no more." Bastila stepped up, keeping her voice neutral.

After leaving, it didn't take long to regroup with the others. It appeared they had even less success than Bastila and Skye. There was no choice now but to leave the village for the lift that would take them to the Shadowlands.

Taking the route given to them by Chuundar, they saw more of the Wookiee's lands that remained undefiled by Czerka's presence but who knew how long that would last, especially with Chuundar courting them?

Typically, the Wookiees patrolled the Great Walkway, clearing it of the vermin that both crawled and flew. They left the south untouched allowing for the creatures to pray on Czerka personnel. The northwest section however had constant patrols.

One of these patrols was now engaged in head-on battle with a swam of kinrath and mykals. Jumping in to aid would have been a simple matter. With the numbers of the Ebon Hawk's crew added to the small patrol they would easily outnumber the creatures. But that wasn't the point and it would earn them no respect from the warriors. However, if they all hung back and watched the fight ensue, that too would go poorly.

Bastila was the only other to enter the fracas. While the Wookiees must have noticed their presence, it took them by surprise to hear the distinctive snap-hiss of lightsabers coming to life. Skye vaulted over the heads of Wookiee and the bodies of the swarm. Black-violet- green energy flared to the right, yellow-gold to the left. One swipe—two the mykal fell, their bodies cut in twine, legs severed, heads rolled off.

Bastila flipped herself up into the fray - allowing the Force to right her in the air. She landed catfooted on the woodened walkway. Her shoulders dropped and her knees bent and her double-bladed lightsaber came up at an angle in-front of her face. Her target not the swarm crawling about, but the one swooping in on leathered wings.

Yellow spun like the rotary blade of an old-fashioned aircraft. Mykals toppled to the ground in pieces of wings and heads. Their extermination was swift and efficient.

Clearly the Wookiees were not expecting Jedi to suddenly appear. Even if they aided in the sweep it did not make them friendly. Too long under the thumb of Czerka the warriors didn't trust anyone not a Wookiee.

The leader of the pack approached, defensive and ready for battle as any of the other warriors they had crossed paths with. As before, the companions gave way for the Jedi to take over any negotiations and peace-making. It was after all one of things they were supposed to be very good at.

"What do you want, Outsider? I won't let you follow us on our hunt. Chorrawl is not here for your amusement!" the massive male boomed. He was bulkier than the others they had seen thus far. His size, though intimidating, did not dissuade the Jedi from their course.

Juhani was the first to speak. "Be at peace, Hunter Chorrawl, we mean you no harm."

"Feh! I'll believe that when our planet is free of you. Your kind are here only to take or destroy. I won't be your trophy, dead or as a slave. Leave me. You have no place here."

It was the same story as in the village. Not that it wasn't to be expected. Skye used the Force to push the concept they were not hostile to the Wookiees. "I wish only to ask a few questions."

"Humm..." Chorrawl narrowed his eyes. His lips curled into a grimace. "Only a moment, Outsider. I won't be this patient for long."

"Noted. I shall be brief then. Do you know of a crazed Wookiee in the Shadowlands?"

"The only crazed creature I know of is one of your kind, Outsiders, not mine. We see him from time to time. We leave him alone. He had our respect because he has braved the lands alone. Sometimes he helps lone travelers. He is crazy, though. Our finest warriors hunt the Shadowlands in groups, yet he lives there alone. Avoid him. Madness is to be feared."

This was interesting. Skye being Skye had to know more. She didn't know how long she could pres her luck with Chorrawl for answers before he grew irritated. Not long she wagered. "How long has he been down there?"

"Many years. It is impossible to know how many. A decade? Two? Perhaps he can answer your questions. Or kill you." This got a chuckle form the other Wookiee hunters. And a small smirk from both Canderous and the Nagai Jedi.

"Perhaps. We shall see. What do you think of Chuundar?" Now that they were away form the village proper some of the more robust warriors may feel free enough to talk out of turn against their potentate. How well was he supported? And how many wanted to oust him?

"He is our Chieftain and will be obeyed. That is our way. Whether I trust what he says or not doesn't matter."

Great. Nothing like blind, unquestioning obedience to pave the way for tyranny. Was it any wonder Chuundar was so very boastful that none of his people would stand against him, no mater what Skye said? There had to be a way. Some loophole. All governments had them; it was only a mater of rooting them out.

"In time, someone will replace him. For better or worse, I don't know. That will be for Bacca to decide."

Ah there it was….

"How will Bacca Decide? What does that mean?" Bastila took over the interrogation.

"Bacca was our greatest warrior. His ancient sword is the tool of ascension. The mark of a Chieftain."

Inwardly the scout smiled. Pazzak! Payday!

"Chuundar no longer displays it, not since he took the role of Chieftain years ago. If someone else could produce it… Bah! I talk like a mere youngling. This is foolishness."

And there it was again: wistful hope Chuundar didn't have the will of his people as much as he thought he had. Another seed to be planted. Another spark to be fanned into a flame. Skye did exactly that with her nest question.

"Could a blood relative of Chuundar challenge him?"

"It would truly take Bacca's Blade for that to happen. Chuundar is the last member of his family. There were others, but they were marked with madness. We don't speak their names. They are without honor."

"And if Bacca's blade proved otherwise?" Skye planted the seed. She dipped her head. "I thank you for your patience Chorrawl. I will trouble you no longer."

"Good. Go. And don't expect a friendly welcome if you return. This is my home, not yours."

"That is abundantly clear. Nor do I wish to stake any claim. As a Jedi, however, you should know we take a very dim view of slavery… something I am keen on informing the Czerka of but somehow, they always seem to lose their heads over the matter. Curious thing." She turned and left leaving Chorrawl to chew over the meaning of her words.

As they were laving Mission turned to Skye. "How come you didn't ask him about the Star Map?"

"I doubt he would have known anything and if he did he would not share it. We were lucky to gain as much information as we did."

"You mean that whole businesses with Bacca's Blade?" Canderous asked. As a Mandalorian he knew the importance of iconic weaponry or armour. If he had the helm of Mandalor he would become the new Mandalor. Even now his people were scouring old battlegrounds where Revan once tread for the helmet in order to claim leadership of the Mandalorians. His people would look as long as it took to reclaim the lost heritage and the mark of undeniable leadership. Like the Wookiees and their obedience to their Chieftain, no true Mandalorian would ever disobey the will of Mandalor. They may challenge him to one-to-one combat to become Mandalor but never outright defiance.

Canderous had a gowning respect for Chuundar and his machinations. The Wookiees lost nothing if the weak were culled and the strong grew in power. Slavery was simply another commodity to be used and exploited. A pity the Jedi were far too squeamish to utilize this. The Sith were not, and they held the greater power, the greater strength. They would have an empire by the end of an age. It was only a matter of time.

"Yes. Exactly so." Skye said bringing the old merc out of his contemplations. "And I've got a hunch this mad-claw we're after is just the sort of fellow we need to help us get the blade. Maybe they won't follow Zaalbar for his 'madness' but they might follow this supposed mad-claw."

"You actually think it is this Roworr that boy spoke of?" asked Bastila.

"It's a distinct possibility. The other possibility is the mad-claw is Freyyr. Chuundar is clearly lying about his fate. One moment he's a slave the next gone missing and mad. Either way we find this 'mad-claw', talk to him. Get him to testify against the 'Mighty' Chuundar, and the people will only listen to him if he has Bacca's blade.

"The other thing has me wondering. Who is this 'crazy outsider' Chorrawl spoke of? If he were here for two decades or even just one, he may have seen Revan and Malak, hell he may even know where the Star Map is."

"I doubt it," Carth added. "For one thing, he's still walking around. Revan would have killed him."

"Not if the Dark Lord made him mad." Mission piped up. "You know did a mind-wammy thingy on him, like you told Bug you'd do to him."

Skye and Bastila shared a look but kept silent. That too was a distinct possibility.

"We need to be on guard," the younger Jedi spoke sagely. "Lest we not forget our true purpose for going into the Shadowlands, but there is indeed a Dark Lord below. Bug did make note of Darth Bandon's presence.

"So now only do we have some mad-claw dude to hunt, a crazy guy to look out for and probably a lot more bugs and bats another creepees, but we have a Dark Lord of the Sith running amok and now on top of finding the Star Map we have to find some dead Wookiee's sword just so Biz Zee can tell his brother to frack off? This day just gets better and better," groused Mission.

"I can always shave HK take you back to the ship if you prefer." Skye pointed out.

"And leave Big Zee hanging? Not a chance!"

"Then it would be wise for you to cease your complaining and get onto the lift." Bastila scolded. "There is much to do, and Zaalbar may be running out of what precious time we do have."