Author's notes: More Jolee for everyone! Just so you know, the Derlac is a very loud creature (a bird, I believe). Anyway, check the CUSWE (Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia) for details. theforce. net/ CUSWE .

miss kilis wale – Sister, actually. (bows) Thanks for those kind words, I hope I don't disappoint you in the future. Here's the next chapter.

Dark Lord Daishi – Yep, he knows. Here's some more.

X X X

Chapter 21 - Purification

X X X X

She didn't really care. After all, she mostly dreamed about the Star Forge or the Star Maps and that could get pretty tiring after a few weeks. This time, Bastila was at least several kilometers away from her, so she didn't have to worry about the Jedi reading her thoughts and emotions through the bond. Then again, Jolee seemed to fill in for her. The old Jedi was quite the opposite of Bastila and Revan couldn't wait to introduce him to her. Hopefully Bastila wouldn't lecture her so much from now on and waste time and energy on Jolee, who was quite stubborn when it came to the question of the Council, the Dark Side/Light Side alignment or the Order itself.

"Couldn't sleep?" Jolee´s voice asked from behind her. She didn't turn around, still watching the faint sunrays piercing the shadows. It was still dark, though.

"Not really. I'm too wary of the environment. It's so full of life."

Juhani woke up soon because of the sounds of their voices. Mission, however, was still mumbling in her sleep. The Cathar softly shook her, but she didn't open her eyes.

"Uhh…leave me alone…I wanna sleep…it's still night…"

Jolee rolled his eyes. "Hmpf. There's no morning here. All you can do is count the hours of your sleep. You wake up as you please. The one thing that's good about living here."

Mission finally opened her eyes and yawned. Since the others were glancing at her and apparently waiting for her, she attempted to get up, which took her longer than usual, because she was still tired. While she attempted to overcome her need to sleep, the others discussed the next course of action.

"So, what can you tell me about Chuundar, Jolee?" Revan asked. She might as well find a weakness before she would kill the Wookiee.

The old man snorted, "Czerka Corporation was smart to put him in power." he said flatly, "He's as good at destroying Wookiee culture as dropping corpses full of Ardroxian Flu. Will you work for him or against him, I wonder?" he asked with an enigmatic smirk, "I will be interested to see."

"You don't have a recommendation?" Revan asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Uh, sure, how's this: think for yourself." Jolee retorted, "I don't care for politics, and I'm big on letting people figure things out for themselves."

"You mentioned that some things are best left for the morning, Jolee. Could you tell us about the Star Map now?" Juhani asked before Revan could (against all odds) say that that was just fine with her.

"Yes, of course." Jolee said, nodding to her, "Kashyyyk is an interesting place, more so than anyone suspects. If Czerka knew the half of it, they'd turn the place into a strip mine. The Wookiees have their legends that they were not always here, but it's more than that. The trees themselves are strangers. What I'm saying is that there are literally walls in your path, and that you won't find what you need without my help, and that help's got a price. You must do a task for me and then allow me to join you."

Juhani frowned – this was getting more complicated by the minute.

"The Czerka Corporate hunters come down here, but they've mostly left me alone...until recently. A group of them set up camp northeast of here. Poachers is all they are. I'd like them removed. The captain of the lot is the one who's earned my ire. He doesn't respect the environment, like all the rest of Czerka." Seeing Mission's hand slip to her belt and reach one of her blasters, he shook his head. "No, no. If I wanted them killed, I would have done it myself. Besides, you could call it a little test."

Revan bit her lip, frowning. We have no time for this.. There was no doubt the aforementioned old man would hear her.

Heh. Too bad, kid. I'm a stubborn old man in the scary woods – I'm not easily persuaded. You still have to do it.

"We will look on to it." Juhani said at once.

"Good, good. I'll be waiting for you here. Now go. Shoo!" Jolee almost chased them out of the hut. The trio left, following Jolee´s directions. He watched them until they disappeared in the fog. There was little doubt that soon Czerka would be long gone.

X X X

Jolee watched with interest as two strong auras passed nearby while he was doing his usual check of the "garden". They were both human (not your typical visitor in the Shadowlands and they didn't have the distinct Czerka air around them) and both strong in the Force. That was reason enough for him to follow them. He found them, quite soon, actually, wandering seemingly aimlessly through the forest. While he could easily see the taller one in the dark – it was a young man, but the other figure that was practically leading him by the hand, was much harder to spot. Pitch-black robes that practically screamed "Sith" at him, including a Dark Lord issue hooded cape. Plus, swirling dark emotions, though elements of Light were still present around this person… barely. The shadowy shield blocking them was too strong.

The dark figure suddenly slowed down, though it remained walking, Jolee could sense wariness as the free hand moved to the lightsaber on their belt. The figure's companion also noticed the sudden tense atmosphere.

"What is it?" the man asked quietly.

The cloaked head turned its head slightly, scanning the surroundings. Jolee quickly sneaked closer to the spot he knew the terentatek lived. He was relatively safe from the Great Beast, as the Wookiees called it – he knew how to distract it. And to summon it, as well. If his suspicions about the dark one would prove true, he had several advantages in case he would need to fight.

"I think we're not alone…" the face underneath the hood remained veiled and the voice, although audible for the few seconds, was quiet. It was very hard to tell the person's gender – compared to the man, he or she was short, but still tall for a human. But the military posture, authoritative personality and strong will were obvious enough. This person was the leader.

"We should move on then." The man suggested. He had far more Light in his heart than the other person, though well protected underneath the layers of darkness. It made Jolee wonder how long that Light would last there, when the man accompanied someone with such bitterness and anger within their soul.

The cloaked figure nodded, though still gazing around as they continued to the weird machine Jolee knew was no use to activate. But a Sith and a Jedi together in the Shadowlands was an unusual sight – even more than the time he saw a silent Derlac (which was more than shocking at the time). As they finally reached the weird computer, the man stopped, gazing at the immense machine.

"This is probably it."

The cloaked figure didn't say anything – it immediately went for the strange metallic object nearby, predator-like. The person pressed a button on it, as if they knew exactly what they should do. But the thing remained closed.

"Na duana gi bei coora tarpe." The dark figure hissed in Mandalorian. It could be translated as "Someone will pay for this." Or was it "I will kill someone for this"? Jolee wasn't all that fluent in Mandalorian, but it was definitely one of those two.

"Calm down, Revan." The man pleaded. Obviously, he spoke Mandalorian better than Jolee and judging by his almost begging tone, it would seem that the second translation was the more probable one.

"I haven't come this far to go back empty handed." The figure – Revan – growled. It seemed to suddenly notice the giant object near the map it sought. "This is a… computer terminal." Revan carefully said after examining it. Gloved hands traced the mechanism as gently as they did with the map.

"Want some help with that?"

"No!" Revan snapped, too quickly. Jolee watched with interest – not the most trusting by nature, the Sith. He knew that well. "No, I can do this, Malak." Revan added in a slightly apologizing tone. "Just try to relax – I'll have this fixed soon… I think."

Malak seemed to sulk, "Right, relax a few feet from a terentatek." He muttered, but turned away from the cloaked figure and proceeded to guard the only entrance to the area they were standing in, subconsciously glaring in the general direction of Jolee´s hiding place.

Minutes passed, maybe even an hour, until Revan finished tinkering with the machine, triggered some sort of hologram and began talking to it in a strange alien language. Malak, who kept an eye on his companion all this time sulked again – Jolee could only smile. Clearly, speaking in a complicated archaic language completely unknown to a standard human was something Revan did often… to Malak´s annoyance. After a few minutes of what seemed to be peaceful conversation, the hologram bowed to Revan and faded. The cloaked figure returned to the metal object and pushed the same button once again. And this time, it collected its prize.

X X X

So, the semi-aged Jedi wants us to scare some kids off his lawn. Revan thought tiredly. This was getting worse by the minute.

There were several katarns standing in their path, feeding on something, so Revan got a chance to vent some of her frustration. Before Mission or Juhani could notice, she raised her hand. The animals stopped dead in their tracks. Whatever they now saw in front of them terrified them, since they couldn't tell that it was just an illusion. Juhani didn't even have a chance to attack them – the katarns ran away as fast as they could. Mission gave Revan a quizzical look, but she merely shrugged.

Juhani frowned. "That is a very cruel way to paralyze creatures."

"Yes. But an effective way." Revan retorted.

What caught her interest was the corpse that the katarns were feeding on. It was in bad condition now, but still in one piece. A dead Wookiee, judging by the fur and height of the dead body.

Mission found something near the corpse. She examined it closely and stood up to show it to the others. "It's a bolt casting. Big Z uses similar ones, but this one has a family crest on it. Zaalbar taught me something about Wookiee culture." She added, seeing the puzzled look Juhani was giving her. Mission gave the bowcaster bolt casting to Revan, who immediately saw the markings on it. Meanwhile, the Twi´lek searched through the remains of the Wookiee.

"Hey, look at this!" she held up a datapad.

Juhani took it and frowned. There was no doubt what the datapad was. "It is a slaving contract. I can tell without reading it. This Wookiee was one of Chuundar´s – a traitor of his kind, selling his own people to Czerka." She finished bitterly. "I have no doubt that the Holder of Laws would be quite interested in this. If the 'mad-claw' we are looking for killed this one, then he is a hero in my eyes." Juhani gazed at the corpse with obvious disgust.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That the Wookiee we're looking for might just be someone high-ranked that could put an end to this? I'll bet all my credits that Chuundar wouldn't like that."

Mission had a point there. And there was also the fact that the bowcaster the Wookiee was holding seemed to be upgraded… Damn Czerka, she thought. As if it wasn't enough that they are willing to sell anything. Now they are willing to sell anyone as well.

The voices she now heard were a sign that they weren't alone. Indeed, they soon saw the camp of the Czerka poachers Jolee told them about. There weren't many men there – five guards and a crew captain whose very presence made Revan sick. She stopped Mission and Juhani, making her way to the camp alone.

"Who are you, another civil merchant like that coro-slime up in the docking bay?" The very friendly greeting from the commander made Revan despise them even more. "I don't make deals and I don't persuade easily. Mess with my profits and I'll see you dead."

"I paid the docking fee. Who cares where I go?" she shrugged.

The commander snorted. "So you're playing tourist? That isn't smart. But, that said, if you want some good paid work while looking to die…I might have a job for you. I'm Commander Dern of Czerka Corporation. Are you interested?"

"No, thanks. I'm leaving."

"Good. I'm not down here to direct traffic."

It was obvious that the commander's brutality was the only thing keeping the emitter guards from running away screaming. So, Revan struck fear into the minds of three guards, fear of the Shadowlands, the creatures that lived there… needless to say, they were all soon typing some code into the emitters. Without a word, Revan slowly walked to the other end of the camp, where the remaining emitters were still active. Dern noticed her.

"Why are you still here? I thought I told you to…" Loud rumbling sounds were heard. "What?" the Czerka officer looked around himself, but all he saw were the frightened glances of his men.

Revan instinctively threw herself to the ground behind the active emitters before anything happened. Seconds later, a large beast emerged from the shadows. It was taller than the humans, with large claws on each paw and strange fangs coming out of the side of its mouth. Sharp spikes were growing out of its back and when it roared, it sounded like an entire Wookiee village was roaring at the same time.

Revan quickly waved to Juhani and Mission, who crawled to where she was – behind the sonic emitters. It was relatively safe there. The beast charged at the Czerka poachers.

"Run! RUN!!!"

The guards really didn't need that order, seeing as they were already sprinting away from the creature, dropping all of their weapons. The beast chased them away, but fortunately didn't notice the three figures hiding behind the emitters. They waited a few minutes to make sure that whatever the thing was, it wasn't coming back. Revan stood up, helping Mission and Juhani get to their feet. Mission grabbed one of the emitters for support, panting heavily, but smiling nonetheless.

"Whoa…talk about diplomacy. That dealt with the poachers, I guess. Hey, Alexa? Is it just me, or did you use a Mind Trick on them?" Mission asked, her eyebrows raised.

Revan shrugged, "I could have used other means of persuasion – weak minded fools can be affected not only by the Force, but by slick words as well."

"What do you think was that…thing?" Juhani asked, staring at the footprints the monster left.

"I don't know, Juhani and I hope it won't be coming back. It couldn't really get a good glimpse of it. I don't regret it, though."

Creatures born into darkness. Monsters of pure evil. She remembered her studies of ancient beings of the Dark Side. And the roar she heard reminded her of one she heard far away on Korriban, in one of the tombs of the Valley…it made sense. The Great Beast. Feasts on the flesh of Force users. Terentatek.

Juhani´s voice brought her back to reality. "I suppose we have completed the task Jolee gave us. We should return to his hut while it is safe."

There were no unusual tremors in the Force – as if the events that happened seconds ago never took place. Thankfully, Jolee´s hut wasn't far away and they arrived even sooner than they expected. He was still standing on the doorstep, waiting for their arrival.

X X X

Their lives have been spared…interesting…and unexpected. The Jedi Council sends an impulsive rogue kid on some highly important quest without a stalking Master right behind her? Either the Council has changed over those years or she had earned their trust. And there's absolutely no chance of probability for the first one…

"So, mission accomplished?" Mission asked, smiling. Jolee reached out through the Force to check once more whether it was really true or it was just him. He also smiled, satisfied on the outside, curious in the inside.

"Yes, I could feel it as you walked near. And you spared them…interesting."

He gazed directly at Revan, who grimaced slightly. The old man seemed to be barely holding back a chuckle now.

"You mentioned something about eliminating barriers? Could we get on with it?" Juhani prodded – for the first time, Revan was grateful for that.

"Yes, yes. Of course. We did the old man's task, so now lets get on with our quest, right?"

"I did not mean to offend you, but time is against us."

"She means that the Council will lecture us until the end of the universe if we fail them." Revan added.

Jolee raised an eyebrow. She knew just how to manipulate people, to talk them into doing what she wanted them to do. And she wanted him to feel he wouldn't succeed in infuriating her… well, they would see about that.

"Um, I was just wondering…" Mission quietly began. "Would you really like to join us, Jolee? We could use someone that would be able to shrink Bastila´s immense ego and you seem to be just the kind of person we're looking for! Besides, how many kilometer high trees can you see before you've had enough?" She said, laughing again.

Jolee shrugged, "If you're in charge of your task, my dear, then why not? Although I thought I said that you need me to eliminate those walls. You presumably have a ship and I've seen all I wanted to here." Mission shot a pleading glance at Revan.

"Well, I do believe Bastila needs someone that would give her a few good lectures and I am getting a bit tired of being the center of her attention. And if that's all you ask in exchange for the information about the Star Map, I don't really see a problem – I'm sure no one will object. Could we go now, please?" Revan said impatiently – enough good deeds for one day.

Jolee nodded, "Yes, yes, of course. I noticed the older paths some time ago. You probably wouldn't have found them on your own. There's also a Czerka repulsor field blocking your path. I've seen it installed – I know how to deactivate it. And on the other side…ancient answers. And perhaps a Wookiee you were seeking. I just hope he's in the mood for visitors."

Mission hopped away, but then tripped over something, landing on the dirt. "And I thought Bastila was bad." She muttered as she picked up the item she tripped over – a severed droid head. It was damaged, but there was a recording on it. She pushed a few buttons.

"Playback: 'I don't get it. That merchant said there was salvage down here. We need Matton to work the sensors.' ... 'When he gets back we'll... wait... I'm getting something. Oh, it's Eli. Good. Maybe he'll point us in the right direction.' ... 'Eli! What the... ! But you got your money, you double-crossing snake! We had a deal...'" then the sound of blasters firing.
Mission gasped slightly.

"We should tell someone about this." Juhani noted calmly.

"Hey, I think the guy owning the stall in the docking bay is called Eli!" Mission noted. "And the other guy's Matton."

"Then we should tell Matton." Juhani suggested. Revan sighed, but they needed a new stash of medpacks for the journey into the Upper Shadowlands.

X X X

Mission nodded in the stall's direction when they returned to the docking ring. She and Revan then came to the owner, who smiled smugly.

"Hello again. What can I do for you, most valued customer?" Eli asked brightly.

"Valued until you can't pay." Matton noted coldly, "Watch your credits."

"You hurt me, Matton. It is the debt of your crew that keeps you here, not me." Eli noted, all-too-brightly.

"This droid head was on the forest floor." Juhani noted coldly. "Mentions both your names."

"Droid head? On Kashyyyk? Let me see that!" Matton took the droid head from Mission and examined it.

"It is nothing, I'm certain. Eh... just rubbish from the forest floor." Eli said desperately.

"Mere rubbish? It's D-A02, the repair droid from my ship! What was this doing in the forest?" Matton demanded.

"There's a recording on it says he had the droid and its owners killed." Mission noted.

Matton´s eyes immediately darted into Eli. "Eli, you snake! You said my crew jacked the ship without paying the repair bill!" he shouted angrily.

"Well... that is... eh... it's not how it looks." Eli said, backing nervously away from Matton, "You see, a good mechanic is hard to find and..."

"And what?" Matton demanded, "I thought I owed you! You tricked them into the Shadowlands and killed them all while I fixed your freighter in orbit!"

"Do not kill him, Matton. Eli is through. Vengeance will not solve anything." Juhani immediately preached. Jolee rolled his eyes. Revan was too bored to do even that.

"Now keep your head, Matton. It was just business." Eli pleaded and made a run for it. He bolted out of the settlement and Revan watched his presence head for the Shadowlands.

Matton growled audibly, "That Thaylian bog-slime. Do you know that I have been here thirty-six days, slaving to pay a debt in good faith? All for nothing. He killed my crew... who knows where my ship is."

"It was best this way. " Juhani assured him.

"Well, I could have shot out his legs and let him crawl around for a while, but I consider this far more merciful." Matton said.

"What are you going to do now?" Mission asked with genuine curiosity.

Matton shrugged, "Well, there's not much for me to do but stay here. I've no ship, so I may as well make a few credits." he said. "It'll probably take a while to convince Eli's suppliers that I'm the new boss, but eventually I'll buy my way off this rock. I might as well give you a few credits for your trouble." He handed Revan 500 credits, which she took gratefully. At least some people knew when to pay up. "If you spend them here sometime, all the better. Safe flying to you – hope to see you again." He said with a smile.