Chapter 7
Drake sat awake in the early hours of the morning. As usual sleep had left him at midnight, and refused to return. Drake sighed and swung himself out of his bunk. He dressed into a similar attire to the one he had worn the day before: sleeveless shirt with thin shoulder straps and ribbed material, leather trousers, black boots and knuckle gloves. When he finished he went to reach for a jacket and paused. Drake thought for a second, and then gazed down at his right arm.
From his broad shoulder down to his wrist, thick black pigment lines travelled over his skin in the form of a tattoo. On his shoulder the lines were shaped into a large black-flame like image, and at the bottom of the flame it changed into two thick black lines that separated down his inner and outer arm, one running over the elbow to join the other and merge into one black colour that ran around his wrist.
Drake continued to gaze at this reminder of pain on his right arm. He lowered his arm, and left the jacket on the shelf. He walked towards the medbay and looked inside to see the boy he'd saved the other day, lying on the medbay's cot.
Drake quietly entered and gently sat down on the chair next to the cot gazing softly at the young child. The boy was only seven or eight years old, relatively young and already life was harsh and unfair for him. A slave's life on Tatooine, being beaten, starved and ordered to do things he was physically incapable of doing at this age, robbed him of his childhood. No doubt his "owner" was the man Drake had threatened, cruel, harsh and sadistic, typical of most slave owners. The Jedi checked the boys pulse and temperature; he wasn't as hot as yesterday and looked almost to back in health. Instinctively Drake ran his hand over the child's forehead softly, in a fatherly like manner. Drake stood and quietly left the med bay and the ship to purchase some extra rations from the market store in the dock.
As he stood negotiating price, a woman approached him. She was at least four years his elder twenty-nine at most, and was wearing grey clothing. Her long blond hair tied back in a bun and her green eyes staring at him desperately.
"Excuse me Master Jedi…" Drake gazed at her. "I…I heard you helped a young boy yesterday, stopping a man from beating him. I…he's my son, I was hoping you knew where he is…" Drake eyes widened slightly.
"Yes…he's on my ship…my companions brought him here to give him some drink and shelter, I didn't mean to worry you…" The woman's eyes sparked with joy and relief and she clung to his arm pleadingly.
"Please may I see him?"
"Of course…" Drake paid for the extra food and water he'd purchased and led the woman inside. He approached the med bay and encouraged her to enter. She quietly sat down next to her son and stroked his hair. She looked up at Drake who was standing next her with tearful eyes.
"Thank you…" she whispered, "if you hadn't of…"
"It was no problem…." Drake replied then gazed at the boy sadly "Are you…"
"Slaves?" Drake nodded "yes…I have been for most of my life, I hoped to have spared my son from it…but unfortunately I couldn't…" she looked down sadly.
"Sometimes its more difficult than it sounds…" Drake responded sympathetically, he felt a presence behind him and turned to see Bastila in the doorway.
"Drake…I" she noticed the mother and son "oh…I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"
"Its ok Bas…" Drake said, as Bastila entered. "You should get your son home, it'll be better if he wakes up somewhere he knows…" the woman nodded and gently lifted her son in her arms. She held out her hand and shook Drakes.
"Thank you again…" she noticed Drake's tattoo on his right arm and looked up into his face, mouth open slightly with a sense of amazement and question "Wait…. you were a…?"
"Hm?" she inclined her head to his tattoo and he hesitated. With Bastila present he needed to make this as inconspicuous as possible "yes…yes I was…that's why I helped him…" The women felt a joyous smile mar her features as her hopes for a better future returned full force.
"Thank you master Jedi…" she leant up and kissed him on the cheek before hurrying from the ship. Drake looked slightly surprised and a little flushed. Bastila had look of shock on her face too before smiling.
"You did a good thing Drake…" she whispered.
"Maybe…but that boy may be a slave all of his life and there's nothing I can do about that…" Drake said sadly. Bastila placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You've done enough…Drake " Bastila looked at the tattoo and then back up at Drake "What did she mean by that last question?" Drake tensed slightly and simply turned to look at Bastila. He sighed and looked down.
"I…ask me again when we leave Tatooine ok?" Bastila looked slightly taken aback and also a little hurt by his reluctance to answer.
"Why?"
"Because I don't comfortable here on this planet to discuss it…" Bastila sensed genuine reluctance from his side of the bond, and understood that he needed more time.
"Ok…I'll ask some other time…" Drake nodded thankfully "Come everyone else is up now…we should find the Star Map." Drake stood and followed her from the med bay into the main hold where the crew was gathered.
"Alright listen up everyone…" the crew turned round as Drake spoke "we know now that the mostly likely place we'll find the star map, is in the Eastern Dune sea's so I think we'll head there" they all nodded "I want everyone to come along this time…I don't think we'll be the only ones out there, so everyone grab you gear and let's move out…" as the party moved to the separate locations to grab their weapons and armour, T3 rolled up to Drake whistling and beeping something to the Jedi. Drake knelt down to be at his level.
"So you wanna stay here little guy?" T3 whistled an affirmative "ok but if anyone tries to steal ship…contact us before making your move" T3 beeped and chirped again "Some repairs and modifications to the security system? Sure go ahead and make them," T3 whistled again and then moved away, Drake chuckled slightly.
About half an hour later, the entire crew with the exception of T3 were moving through the Dune Sea towards the Eastern Dunes, shown on the map Drake had taken from the Tusken Chieftain. Bastila found herself gazing at Drake again, though she tried not to. She noted how he had a marvellous tan, not overly done, but just enough to increase his already very handsome features. She observed the toned muscles of his arms, and how they seemed to slide into place perfectly, not being overly exposed and how well defined they were. Bastila noticed Drake catch her staring at him, and quickly looked away. Drake smirked slightly not feeling intimidated by her staring, in fact enjoying it a great deal. Drake looked up at the ridge they were walking through and saw the opening at the end with a blinding amount of light shining through.
Before them lay the Easter Dune Sea's of Tatooine. These had the reputation of being the most dangerous part of Tatooine. Sand People were the least of people's worries out here. Many extremely dangerous and exotic creatures exclusive to the planet roamed the desert. Most were carnivores easily able to kill the average man, maybe even a Jedi.
Drake sensed a powerful dark presence, pulsing through the air. Drake looked over at the cave in the east, and could practically see the Dark Side emanating from inside the cave.
"Drake do you feel that?" Juhani asked as she came and stood next to him, Drake nodded.
"Yeah I feel it…the Star Map is in that cave…" Drake led the party down the sand banks until they came close to the cave.
"Last one in is a Bantha…" Mission said, breaking off into a run. Usually Drake would play along but unlike Mission he had seen what was inside the cave other than the Star Map. He quickly caught up with Mission, and held her back.
"Not this time Mission…" he whispered. As Mission turned to look at him, Drake saw a man running from a speeder near the cave yelling at his Twi'lik partner.
"I'm tired of waiting, Komad, how big can this Dragon of yours be? I'm going in!" As the man ran inside, the rest of the party caught up with Drake and mission, they heard a blood-curdling scream along with a ferocious roar. Then the sound of crunching bones reached their ears and most of the party cringed.
"Is that a…?" Canderous asked in his gruff manner, with a hint of wonder in his voice.
"Yeah…it's a Krayt Dragon…very rare indeed" Drake whispered in awe "Never in my life, did I think I'd have the privilege of seeing one…" Drake let go of Mission and walked over to the Twi'lik Hunter, Komad who turned to look at him.
"I told him to wait, but he was young and new as a hunter…." Komad sighed, "I heard about your little scuffle with that slaver, very noble of you…I wonder if you could help here?"
"Let me guess you need to remove the Krayt from the area…" Drake replied in the Twi'lik's language. To his disappointment the Twi'lik nodded.
"I am afraid so, it's too close to Achorhead, and the mating season is close, if we leave it who knows what will happen. We must kill it much to my shame…I have planted mines along the cave entrance, so it will be quick" Drake nodded regretfully "You must lure it out here, use this…" he handed Drake a handful of fodder "this is Bantha fodder and Bantha are a Krayts preferred prey there is herd nearby: lead them here with the fodder and then it will happen…" Drake nodded taking the fodder and returned to the party.
"What's the plan?" Carth asked.
"The Krayt Dragon is blocking the path to the Star Map, so we have to kill it unfortunately…" Drake sighed "I'm going to find a herd of Bantha nearby wait here…" Carth nodded and Drake walked past them, Bastila watched him leave, slightly worried that he was going alone, but remained all the same.
Drake found the herd easily enough, as he approached they perked up almost immediately sensing the fodder. Drake began moving away, coaxing the animals to follow, which they did so eagerly.
As Drake neared a sand dune, a red blaster whizzed past the front of his face, which he jolted back in surprise. Looking up he saw a group of five Tusken elite warriors coming down the dune, drawing their gaffi sticks. He gripped his sabre handle, and then remembered the incident with Achorhead tribe. Deciding not to kill them was the best choice; Drake lowered his arms to his side and waited patiently as they drew close.
The first one reached him and with a roar, brought his gaffi down in a powerful downward strike. Drake caught staff with his left hand, and shot his right arm forward; the Tusken rocketed back with a surprised howl as force connected with him. Drake quickly leaned back to avoid another Elite's downward attack then ducked under a sweep for his head. Drake then bent his arm to block another strike and right hooked the elite round the face.
The party heard a blaster shot from over one of the dunes. Bastila unclipped her sabre. "Wait here!" she ordered as she ran up the dune to check on the battle.
Once she reached the top, she froze in shock and amazement. Drake was fighting off five elite warriors, without his lightsabre. She watched as Drake avoided all attempts at his life, seemingly dancing between each attack. Drake rolled under another sweep and stood up straight as all five Tuskens prepared for an attack. He crossed his arms in an X over his chest, tensed and then threw both his arms out to both sides with roar.
A huge explosion of a Force Repulse hurled the Elites away, all of them flipping into the sand. Bastila covered her eyes at the huge winds and torrents of sand that were whipped up, the party had to cover their eyes also from sheer amount of power within the attack. The Elites had seen all they wanted to see, and fled with howls of fear as Drake stood up right dusting himself off.
He turned as the Bantha approached again. He carefully led them to the front of the cave, missing Bastila's look of astonishment, as he lay the fodder on the ground and hurried over to Komad.
"Nicely done…now we wait for…" A rumble from the cave stopped his speech "What was that? Here he comes! Oh boy he is big one!" Drake turned to see the massive Canyon Krayt Dragon emerge from the cave.
It was a beautiful creature, with dark grey scales that seemed to glow in the sun and long tail that could whipped in the air. As it approached the entrance a number of explosions greeted it around its feet, sending shrapnel into its under belly. The dragon roared defiantly as it approached the Bantha. More explosions occurred as it walked, and eventually in succumbed. With a final desperate howl, it fell causing the earth to shudder violently as its huge powerful frame crashed to the ground.
"The deed is done…but to my shame I denied him a final fight…" Komad mused sadly as he approached the corpse. Reaching inside one of the holes of made by the shrapnel, he tugged out a beautifully shaped pearl. It glowed sliver in the sunlight as he approached Drake. Komad smiled and held it out to Drake.
"Here you have earned this…it is yours as a souvenir of this hunt" Drake reached out and hesitantly took the pearl "I thank you for your aid human… perhaps we will meet again farewell…" Komad boarded his speeder and with a final nod of respect to Drake, zoomed away over the dunes back towards Achorhead.
Drake pocketed the pearl in a pouch at his waist, and turned to the party as they approached. Bastila had a look of strange admiration on her face.
"How did you do that?" Drake frowned.
"Do what?"
"That force technique…I've never seen any Jedi do that before…" Bastila asked.
"I don't know…it just sort of…well happened" Bastila tilted her head in confusion but before she could reply, another slightly deep voice broke their conversation.
"Its shame about the Krayt Dragon…" Drake looked up to see a young man standing on the Krayts carcass. The man looked around twenty-three, and was wearing a dark red trench coat, with a dark scaled, leather T-shirt underneath, with dark trousers and black boots, along with black leather gloves. He had a black hilted sword strapped to his back, with two Zabrak blaster pistols holstered at his waist. He had medium length brown hair and dark mysterious green-blue eyes.
The young man dropped down from the carcass, and walked towards the party. Drake sensed the man had no open hostility though he could not learn his intentions, but his aura was slightly dark, but mixed with light as well. The man came to halt a little ways across from Drake.
"Who are you?" Drake asked as the party all gripped their weapons as the man gazed at Drake.
"I'm a bounty hunter if you must know…and right now I guess you could say I'm your opponent…" Drake raised an eyebrow as the man reached back and drew his sword from his back and the blade gleamed menacingly in the sunlight as he held it calmly the blade angled towards the sand. "Just you…Drake…" he pointed at Drake who raised an eyebrow again.
Drake openly smirked and took a step forward. Unclipping his sabre, he held it inactive on his right hand as he stared intently at the young man in front of him.
"What exactly do you want?" Drake asked again.
"Hmmm how do I answer this?" The man pondered "nothing…" suddenly he shot forward at blinding speed. Drake was caught off guard by the man's s pace and quickly rolled under the strike. Drake's blue bladed sabre sprang to life as he turned taking the stance he used against Juhani. Drake eyes flicked to his cheek and saw the blood slowly trickling down his face. He lowered his blade and took a more neutral stance, his blade held vertically beside his body while he gazed at his opponent.
"Not bad…" Drake commented. The man spun his sword around his hand, almost identically to how Drake did it "You're no ordinary bounty hunter…" the hunter smirked and came at him again. Drake was ready this time, and parried the strike at his side, responding in kind but this parried as well. Drake was surprised at the man's skill. He could tell this bounty hunter had fought force users and lightsabre wielders before, but where and why?
Drake attempted a stab at his opponent but was denied as it was battered away, and he quickly intercepted a blow aimed at his side, then did the same for his left. Drake was unprepared for the next move. The bounty hunter shoved Drake's blade to the ground and the drove his forearm into his face, stunned Drake received an elbow in his left cheek and stumbled backwards before regaining his balance. His opponent twirled his sword expertly before catching the hilt and held the blade down towards the ground as he surveyed the Jedi in front of him.
"Now that hurt…" Drake said as he rubbed his cheek with his free hand.
"Hmph…" the stranger scoffed "you could've blocked that…" Drake blinked slight as the man spoke "Don't think I don't realise you're still holding back the bulk of your power…I'm not as gullible or as short sighted as Dark siders…I'd say you're fighting at one-quarter of your full skill and power" the hunter placed his blade on his shoulder and tensed his body "you'll need to better than you have been to defeat me…" Drake had shadow over his eyes. The bounty hunter frowned as Drake chuckled for a few seconds.
"Well you are right in the sense that I am holding back" Drake acknowledged looking up "But…you're wrong about the amount of power I'm holding back…" the young's eyes widened slightly "the truth is, right now I'm fighting at one-twelfth of my full ability…" the bounty took a surprised breath, as a deep blue glow framed Drake's body and his black hair fluttered slightly as his power began to increase.
"Whoa…he's not bluffing," he muttered as Drake took a step forward.
"All right bounty hunter: round two" Drake said as he spun his light sabre around his hand for several seconds before catching it in a reverse grip. "Ding" Drake was in front of the bounty hunter before anyone could blink, his fist rocketing into the man's stomach. Winded the man stumbled, doubling over and then got kicked right in the head by a spinning back kick. He flipped in mid-air land on one knee. He got to his feet, his sword ready, but Drake vanished.
"What the?!" he looked left and right seeing nothing "He's increased his speed…I can't even see where he is!" he heard the hum of a lightsabre, turning to see Drake's right arm pulled over his body, his blade ready to strike. The bounty hunter ducked and then blocked a one-handed downward strike. As he shoved it away, he quickly parried a second left attack, and then blocked a right one.
Drake took a step forward adding to the force of the blow, causing his opponent to lose balance. He seized his opportunity, spinning the man's sword out of his grasp and kicked him to the floor. The sword spun in the air, landing blade down in the ground. Drake had his blue blade levelled at the man's throat.
"Yield…" Drake commanded. The falling man, breathing heavily nodded. Drake deactivated his blade and then held out his hand, helping the man up.
"You're no average Jedi…" the man said retrieving his sword.
"Now who are you?" Drake demanded.
"My name is Falcan" the young responded.
"Falcan? The Falcan?!" the hunter nodded and Drake let out breath of a laugh "that explains you're skill…" the party had approached by this point.
"Who's Falcan?" Mission asked confused, everyone else looked at her in shock.
"He's a bounty hunter from Coruscant, well known for his tendency to keep his bounties alive, you've never killed one I hear…" Drake explained Falcan nodded as he re-sheathed his sword "He was hired by the Republic to hunt Dark Jedi shortly before Revan's death…he's pretty good at it too as you just saw" Mission gazed flabbergasted at Falcan, in his early twenties and able to fight Dark Jedi.
"Why did you challenge Drake?" Bastila asked curious why a Dark Jedi hunter would hunt a light sided Jedi.
"A test…I wanted to see if he's got what it takes to stop Malak" Falcan clarified "I'd say you can do it…" Drake shook his head.
"Not yet…anyway what do you want?"
"To join you…" the entire party's jaw dropped and Falcan laughed
"What?!" Juhani exclaimed
"Come on you could use all the help you can get…" Falcan spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. Drake shook his head with a smirk.
"You're right there…" Drake looked at Falcan and extended his hand "All right you can come along…but no funny ideas"
"Got it…" Falcan replied, shaking his hand. Drake nodded and entered the cave with Bastila and the others close behind him.
"Are you sure we can trust him?" Bastila asked Drake nodded.
"Yeah…Falcan's known for his honesty and loyalty to the Republic when he's called for so he's trustworthy…" Bastila nodded but still looked sceptical.
The Star map opened much like the one on Dantooine had done, but this one had a new set of information displayed, space roots of some description. As he finished he heard Canderous call to him.
"We got company…" Drake turned and saw a collection of three speeders skidding to a stop in front of the cave. Much to his surprise he saw the small form of Calo Nord exit one of them. The rest were filled with thugs, rodain's mostly and a couple aqualish mercenaries as well. Most were holding blaster carbines while some held vibro-blades. Calo as usual had his Mandolorian pistols in hand.
"I have to give you credit…you've led me on quite a chase but no-one gets away from Calo Nord in the end"
"I see you brought some back up Calo…realised we're too much to handle on your own huh?" Canderous taunted with a smirk.
"You got lucky on Taris…the Sith bombardment saved you from a quick and gruesome death…" Calo growled.
"Come on Calo maybe we could work out a deal?" Drake suggested knowing full well what the answer was.
"Sorry but I'm not in this for the credits, you're the only ones who've ever gotten away from me, I've got a rep to protect" He then signaled to his lackeys "Lets got boys…its show time!" Calo quickly fired off a shot towards Drake. Calo's eagle eyed aim was indisputable; he had killed many men with one shot from his blasters and never doubted he'd hit the mark. But it didn't.
Drake simply twisted his head to the side, and the bolt flew harmlessly pass him and into the rock. Calo's eyes widened in fear as Drake's lightsabre ignited with a venomous snap-hiss.
"I missed?! I never miss!" Calo went to shoot again, but this time his enemies attacked. Carth, Canderous, Mission and Hk mowed down the thugs holding blasters, with a heavy barrage of blaster fire. Most of the thugs were ripped apart by the death filled storm of red and white flames.
Bastila, Juhani, Zaalbar and Drake engaged the lackeys with the vibro-blades. It wasn't a battle… it was a slaughter. Falcan walked through the carnage, whipping out his dual, Zabrak heavy pistols. One remaining rodian thug survived the mass butcher of his comrades only to be felled with a well-placed shot through the skull by Falcan. Falcan slowly approached Calo, spinning his blaster pistols.
"You never did know your own limits Nord…" Calo roared and whipped up his two blasters. Three shots, three hits. Both of Calo's pistols flew from his grasp as Falcan shot both his hands, reducing his fingers to molten stumps, then a final shot through his right leg forcing him to crumple to one knee.
"You bastard!" he muttered as Falcan stood over him.
"Takes one to know one…" Falcan replied coldly and levelled one of his pistols at Calo's skull "Goodbye Nord…" the ring of a blaster shot sounded and the infamous Calo Nord was no-more, a smouldering hole in his forehead. Falcan twirled his pistols expertly before he holstered them at the back of his waist. Drake approached the carcass and gazed at it.
"You might want to take his armour…" Drake looked at Falcan "I heard its good for close combat, and offers some protection against lightsabres" Drake nodded and proceeded to strip the armour from the corpse as Falcan retrieved the Mandolorian pistols. Drake held up the armour and threw it to Carth who caught it. Canderous having already procured Mandolorian battle armour from Dantooine didn't need it.
"You take it Carth…" Drake summoned the pistols from Falcan's hands and chucked them to the pilot too. Carth nodded with gratitude.
"Right now what?" Canderous barked.
"It home a trip for you Zaalbar…"Drake stated looking at the Wookie, "Kashyyyk is next…"
"Good, now we got what we came for we should get off this damn plant…I've seen enough sand for one life time…" Canderous growled walking past Drake.
"Yeah I got sand "everywhere"…" Mission agreed following the mercenary Big Z not to far behind. Juhani nodded to Drake and followed.
"Query: do you trust the meatbag bounty hunter master?" HK inquired. Drake nodded as Falcan was out of earshot. What Drake didn't notice was Falcan staring at his right arm, or more correctly the tattoo on his arm with an interested gaze.
"Yes HK I do…so don't blast him…" Drake ordered.
"Reluctant statement: Very well Master, I will regretfully not blast that meatbag (sigh) Statement: I'll return to the ship now master" with that HK left as well. Carth carrying his new armour and weapons hurried after them saying something about trying it on.
Bastila approached and smiled at Drake.
"Well one down…" she stated "three to go…"
"Kashyyyk, Manaan and Korriban…still got a lot of work ahead of us" Drake replied she nodded and put her hand on his shoulder for a second before following Carth. Falcan came next Drake.
"Shall we?"
"Lets go…" Drake and Falcan followed, leaving the corpses of Nord and the thugs to be covered by the sands of time, while they left Tatooine for the more appealing world and environment of Kashyyyk.
Kashyyyk however would be a place more in jeopardy then they realised, as the native Wookies had a plight of their own that would interfere with the parties quest.
Et voila... I'm interested in you guys thoughts on Falcan my OC, reveiws please!!!!