Writer's notes: Updated 08 NOV 06. The pithy blurb is a haiku about staying in the here and now. The team faces its first big challenge together and they are hard pressed to survive. Aerin shows more of the tactical genius that she was known for in her previous life. Also, HK-47 is introduced. The update contains more of the sidequests and more interaction and dialog.
The Woman in the Dunes – Part II
Live in this moment.
The starry sky is just there-
Where else can you be?
Myochi
Tatooine – Late MorningA hot, dry wind blew fiercely over the sandy dunes, kicking up a choking dust into the air like a shroud. Tatooine's two suns shined brightly, radiating intense heat across the desolate landscape. Only the shade of the disabled sandcrawler gave any relief from the scorching rays of the twin orbs. The enormous piece of machinery sat immobile, smoking and flaming from numerous rocket hits, spewing acrid fumes into the clear, blue sky.
Only the sound of the wind whistling through the sandcrawler's treads could be heard. Debris was piled up around the shattered tracks, forming a makeshift defensive position. Belaya poked her head up above one of the barricades. Bodies lay strewn about the perimeter, a result of the recent carnage.
"It doesn't look like they'll be coming back," said Belaya hopefully. Her light brown hair hung in sweaty clumps about her face. She wiped soot from her forehead and slumped back down behind the barricade, where Juhani lay next to her, clutching her unpowered lightsaber. A look of poorly veiled desperation covered Belaya's face.
Juhani put her furry hand on Belaya's back and rubbed it gently. "I think you're right. Your leadership kept us safe."
From behind, Aerin and a red-haired man crawled through the sand to Belaya's position. The man's head and arm were bandaged but his expression was grim and determined. He peered over the barricade, pointing his blaster rifle in the direction of some dunes. "They'll be back. You can bet your credits on that," the mining captain said in heavily accented basic.
Using a pair of electrobinoculars, Aerin scanned the surrounding dunes, but none of the attacking Sand People could be seen. She slipped back down behind the debris and handed the binoculars to Belaya, who took them with shaky fingers.
The older Jedi Knight sighed and took a sip of water from a bladder held within her backpack. "How did we get into this mess and how are we going to get out? There is nothing out here. Padawan Dakar, are you sure about that dream you shared with Bastila?" They had been escorting a sandcrawler into the desert sea and it had been attacked by an overwhelming force of Sand People, also known as Tusken Raiders. Now, they were stranded many kilometers from civilization with little hope of finding the Star Map in the endless desert.
Aerin shrugged, not sure of what to make of her disturbing dreams. It was a combination of factors that led them to this dangerous point in time, the dream being one of them.
Bastila and Mission made their way to the pile of debris and hid behind cover. Bastila took the pair of binoculars and began her own scan of the area. She looked back and quickly noted the other defensive positions around the dead sandcrawler; Canderous, the rust-colored droid that Aerin had purchased, and several of the miners hunkered down behind some debris while Carth and Zaalbar munched on some snacks at another position."We're screwed, aren't we?" asked Mission with surprising calm as she counted her remaining blaster power packs.
"Huh?" asked Bastila, who had been distracted with her own thoughts. "Screwed? I'm sorry, that is not a term I am familiar with."
"You know…screwed, hosed, fu-"
"I get it. No, Belaya is an experienced Jedi Knight and has survived many trials," Bastila said as she wiped sweat from her brow that had begun to drip into her eyes. "So, we are not…screwed, as you say."
"Well," Mission said with a huff. "I think we're screwed."
Padawan Shan leaned back against the debris pile and wiped her hand over her face several times. "We'll be fine, Mission. It should begin to cool off and we can make our escape then."
"I don't think so. Last time those meatbags came at us I saw that they had night vision. We won't get far. I told you we're screwed."
"We are not screwed!" the Jedi said, this time a little exasperated. "Belaya will lead us out of this. I am confident of that. It's just that…that everything on Tantooine started so well."
"Yah, it started well, but now we're screwed."
Anchorhead – In the Recent Past
Everything had gone fairly well for the team up to this point. They had landed the Ebon Hawk at the spaceport in the town of Anchorhead and had convinced the Czerka representatives that they were merchants, who wanted to do business on Tatooine. Once in the town, they were able to gather much information about the desert sea outside of Anchorhead.
Outside of the space port, Aerin noticed a woman sitting under a tent that was steaming in the hot sun. Racks within the tent hung reptilian scales in neat rows. Aerin, Bastila, and Mission walked in as the others wandered about, looking at other kiosks, hoping to find more information.
The woman looked beaten and forlorn, her youthful features and dark hair covered in gritty dust. She looked up after taking a sip from a dirty glass of water. "Greetings, travelers," she said with fatigue. "My name is Sharina. Would you care to purchase some Desert Wraid plates?" Aerin noticed two children peering out from behind Sharina's skirt. They were thin and dirty and looked just as tired as their mother.
Bastila looked intently at the plates. "My father was a hunter…more of a treasure hunter, but he knew how to hunt Wraid."
"What's a Wraid?" asked Mission as she felt the hard plates between her fingers.
Sharina pulled one of the plates from the rack and handed it to the Twi'Lek. "The Wraid is the great predator of the vast desert," she said with some hidden pride. She wiped the grime from her cheek, creating a clean spot and her face beamed. "My husband hunts…I mean use to hunt these creatures as their hide is very precious." Sharina's face turned down again and she choked back a sob.
"Why can't you sell these in the market that we saw?" asked Bastila. "I'm sure you would fetch a better price there."
Sharina shook her head. "I need a license to sell these. Being a hunter is an exclusive club. You'll see if you're here to explore the wastes. I'm locked out. To buy a license, it would put me further in debt and then my husband's death would be for nothing."
Aerin looked the plates over with respectful hands. "What do these go for?"
"On the market," said Sharina, "all of these would go for five-hundred credits, but I can't ask that of you."
Aerin put a number of silver strips on the table. "Done."
Sharina's eyes widened in shock. "I-I…don't know what to say. Thank you. This is all we need to get off of this planet and start a new life. Thank you, madam Jedi."
Bastila stepped back and her eyes focused on Aerin in disbelief until Aerin bowed to Sharina and said, "Good luck to you and take care." Aerin smiled to her mentor as she left the tent. "Come, we should go and procure a hunter's license is we want to further explore the planet."
Mission was anxious to learn of her brother's whereabouts and led the team to Greeta Holda's Officially Sanctioned Supplies, which was the Czerka Representative's Office. As they entered, a cold blast of air conditioning hit them and Aerin sighed with relief. "Why don't we just remain here? Call me when we've won the war."
In the shop, a pompous woman looked them over. Ignoring the woman's attitude, Mission approached her. "Hey there, I'm looking for my brother, Griff. About this tall, green, not too bright."
The woman sniffed, turning her chin up. Despite the dirty conditions of the settlement, the Czerka Representative was immaculate, her uniform pressed and her hair coiffed. "Griff…griff, oh yes…him. That…Griff was working as a miner for Czerka Corp., but he was such a slacker and is due to be terminated."
Mission became a bit irate at the insult to her brother, but in her heart she knew the description was true. "Yah, I guess that sounds like him. Do you know where he is?"
"The lands around Anchorhead are filled with hostile Sand People. Your…Griff was with a sandcrawler expedition when it was attacked. We suspect that he has been captured by the Tusken Raiders."
Mission's jaw dropped. "Well, aren't you going to rescue him?"
"It is unfortunate, but Czerka Corp cannot expend the resources to rescue the likes of him," said the female representative coldly. "The mining operation here has been a big bust for the corporation; the ore on Tatooine is tainted and the Sand People's savagery is inflicting heavy losses on Czerka personnel."
Mission looked up to Aerin, Carth, and Bastila. "What are we going to do? We can't just leave him with those Sand People."
Carth looked back down at her. "Don't worry, we're going out there anyway. We'll look for Griff," he said and then looked back to the Czerka woman. "Do you know anything about any ruins out there…ancient technology?"
The woman shook her head as Belaya led the others into the shop. "No, I haven't heard about any ruins, but the Sand People are often seen with strange items beyond their technology."
Aerin saw the others enter and motioned to Belaya. "What do you think about offering our services to the Czerka Corp so that we may have the opportunity to explore the desert?" Belaya thought for a moment and then nodded. A deal was struck in which the team would provide protection to a mining expedition and they would be given a hunting license and a bounty for any Gaffi Sticks that they would recover.
The Czerka woman showed them a Gaffi Stick. "These sticks are the weapons of the Sand People and it would indicate that your team had killed the enemies of the Czerka. You will be rewarded for each one that you bring me."
Outside of the office, the team was approached by an angry Rodian. The Rodian swore at them, "You are nothing more than being puppets of the Czerka Corporation!"
Belaya tried to calm him down. "Sir, what are you saying? We are just helping to protect the expeditions."
The Rodian shook his fist at her. "I am an anthropologist and have researched Tatooine for years. I know that the Sand People only attacked the Czerka Corp because of its ruthless mining operations. And now you're helping them."
"But it's just sand and rocks out there," countered Belaya. "And those Sand People are just mindless savages, so we've been told."
The Rodian shook his head. "No, you've been lied to. The Sand People are intelligent and capable of negotiations under certain circumstances. You can reason with them as I have. However, you would need to be able to communicate with the Sand People first.
"Is there someone who can translate for us?" asked Belaya, now genuinely interested.
"There is an Ithorian droid merchant on the east side of town. Apparently, he has a droid and that can translate…or so he says."
"What about you? You seem to understand them," she asked.
Again, he shook his head. "That Czerka witch has a bounty on my head. If I go outside of Anchorhead, bounty hunters will kill me on sight."
Belaya narrowed her eyes. "Okay, I understand. We wish you luck and I'll remember what you told us."
Aerin then led the way to the shop of Yuka Laka and bought the droid, dubbed HK-47. It seemed very upset with the merchant, but was convinced to forego giving the Ithorian 'a good thrashing'. This was an understatement, but Aerin didn't want to alarm her companions with the droid's violent demeanor
"He's pretty strange for a droid," commented Mission as she examined its glowing, orange eyes.
The droid's eyes flared. "Interrogatory: Who you calling strange, meatbag?"
Aerin laughed at the term, 'meatbag.' "Wow, he's got personality, doesn't he? Well, I think we're ready for the desert. We better get over to the license shop."
Fazza Utral Hunter's Lodge
The team walked into a huge lodge, decorated with the heads and hides of the various beasts that inhabited the inhospitable world of Tatooine. Weathered looking hunters lounged around in hunting attire, some sporting their long blaster rifles or other weapons of death. They glared at the newcomers with distrustful eyes as Belaya led them in toward the bar and shop. There, Belaya and Juhani perused the supplies.
A slow moving Ithorian manned the counter within the lodge, which was bustling with activity. Aerin approached the proprietor. "I'd like to purchase a hunter's license."
Fazza's eyes stalks turned and looked her over slowly. "You? You look entirely too civilized to be a hunter in these parts." He then focused on Carth and Canderous. "Now them, they look like they can handle themselves in the desert."
"Well, I'm buying. Here's the three-hundred credits. I hear that the Wraid are plentiful this time of year."
Fazza raised an eyestalk. "So, you do know a thing or two. Here your license is good for the season. I'd suggest you talk to some of the hunters when you get a chance."
Aerin thanked Fazza and showed him the Wraid plates that Sharina had sold to her.
"Whoa," said Fazza slowly in Ithorian. "Those are some of the biggest plates I have ever seen. I'll give you six hundred for the lot."
"Done."
The team then questioned some local hunters about the area and were told about some of the dangerous wildlife that inhabited the desert. One hunter, a Twi'lek named Komad Fortuna was very helpful about describing favorable hunting grounds for Desert Wraid. "Be care, though, the Wraids have a fierce disposition. I saw you with the plates that we gave to Sharina. Lucas died when the beast played wounded and then sprang at him. I understand that you bought the plates from her so that she could leave here."
Aerin nodded. "It was sad to see her and her children in such difficulty."
"You are very kind. We hunters don't forget such acts. I wish you well in the desert. I'm sure we'll meet again. Just be careful. I've found that if you leave the Sand People alone and show your hunting prowess, they tend to leave you alone."
Bastila stepped up and nodded a greeting to Komad. "We heard a similar assessment of the Sand People from a Rodian anthropologist."
The Twi'lek hunter pursed his lips in thought. "Yes, he is very experienced with them. Don't get me wrong, the Tuskan Raiders are extremely dangerous and often attack without warning, however, I think me and Dorak Quinn over there have a mutual understanding with them."
He then pointed over to the wall, where a trophy of large, reptilian teeth were mounted. "My father was a hunter and he killed the greatest Kraydt Dragon in the area. I've tried to live up to his reputation and have hunted several Kraydt, but the big one eludes me."
"Kraydt Dragons?" asked Aerin.
Komad raised an eyebrow and his Lekku shifted. "Oh, you've never heard of them? Well, if you hear the skies roar and the ground shake…you'll know one is near. Put on your fastest shoes and start running…the other way. You all should just stick to Wraid for now. You'll understand why."
"I was curious, have you ever seen any alien technology out there," asked Bastila.
He shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary. The Sand People do horde some of what they find, but most of what you'll see out there is junk for the Jawas."
Aerin and Bastila bowed politely and stepped away. They had a strange feeling that they would be seeing him again.
Next, they approached a group of Gamorreans, who had gathered in a corner of the lodge. Their small area was filled with trash and Aerin's eyes crossed as they drew near. She pinched her nose. "Excuse me, we were hoping to talk to you about-"
At that point, the largest Gamorrean let loose a torrent of gas that shook the furniture. Bastila gagged.
The Gamorrean looked at Aerin and his fleshy face squinted up. "You, how dare you come here and stink up the place."
"Me? Hey, it was you who let loose the blast."
"No, you're the stink one," he retorted and the other Gamorreans began to point fingers at each other and shout.
Her face green with nausea, Bastila pulled Aerin away. "This is getting nowhere. Let's try someone else."
As they walked away, Mission gave them an obscene gesture. "Man, I hate Gamorreans. Maybe Zaalbar might have a talk with them."
"Zaalbar is not known for his patience or his ability to talk to others," said Bastila, a little confused.
Mission smiled. "My point exactly."
Aerin gave a little chuckle as she patted Mission on the back. "We might have to take him up on that some time. Hey, there's one last guy here. Let's talk to him."
The Twi'lek grimaced. "He looks even slimier than those Gamorreans."
"Well, he might have some good information," Bastila opined seriously. They approached the well tanned man, who looked to be in his thirties. His hair was slicked back and his skin was finely oiled. Despite his being a hunter and an outdoorsman, his clothing was first rate, a loose silk shirt of flame orange and deep maroon with tight leather pants, expertly dyed in mocha. He bore a puppy dog goatee that sat just below his lower lip, which jutted out like a cliff.
"Well," he said directly to Aerin, before they could speak. "What do we have here? A fine piece of feminine fortune has come upon me. You're so hot, you could melt the floor."
Bastila rolled her eyes. "It's just the twin suns of Tatooine."
The man turned to Padawan Shan and a leering grin lit up his face. "My my, two desert beauties. My luck has turned for the better. I'm Tanis Venn, the best hunter on the planet. You'll do well sticking with me. We could make beautiful music together."
"I'll bet you tell all the girls that," said Aerin with a decided lack of amusement.
"Heeey, don't be coy now. I'm just trying to be friendly," Tanis replied with a syrupy tone. He looked Aerin and Bastila up and down, undressing them in his mind. The sound of boots approaching got their attention.
"Watch yourself, buster," said Carth with a growl. "We don't take kindly to your behavior."
Tanis squinted, making a disgusted face. "And who the hell are you?"
"I'm their…guardian, that's who. Why don't you just back off?"
Aerin frowned. "Carth, I can take care of m-" she began before Tanis grabbed her and Bastila's buttocks.
Bastila gasped and held her nose up, but Aerin merely drew a vibrodagger and held it to Tanis' throat; that said it all.
Tanis slowly released the fleshy handful that he held and put his palms out in surrender. "Okay, okay! I get it. You're just as bad as my wife, Marlena!"
Aerin sheathed her weapon and turned about. "The nerve of that guy," she said as she walked away. Though she was angry with the slimy worm, she would be much kinder next time they met. She looked back at Carth and saw that he was still fuming. He's really been overprotective lately. I wonder what's going on?
Having procured their license, it was time to join a sandcrawler expedition and explore the desert wastes. As they went to the rendezvous point, a woman ran up to them and stood before Aerin and Bastila. "I know you've been seeing my husband, Tanis," she said bluntly.
Aerin raised an eyebrow. "You mean that slimy worm in the lodge? Give me a break. He tried to hit on us. You must be Marlena?"
The woman began to laugh. "Why yes, I am. That low down, good for nothing, dirty, double crossing, cheating bastard…You tell him that I have a birthday present for him. He'll get a blast out of it."
"Why don't you tell him yourself?"
"Because I'm leaving this sandy cesspool. He'll have to fix his droids all by himself now. I'll bet he told you he was the greatest hunter on the planet? Well, the cheatingest…. I'll bet he didn't tell you he uses those droids to do all of his hunting. What a cheapskate."
With that, she ran off toward the spaceport…and freedom.
The Battered Sandcrawler – The Present
From behind the barricade, Bastila could see some movement behind a far off dune through the binoculars. She huffed. "I feel so useless. They are out of range of any of my powers." Belaya and Juhani nodded in agreement, but Aerin shrugged, holding a blaster rifle.
Mission bit into a ration bar and chewed loudly, smacking with every munch. "Boy, that Tanis guy was sure creepy…sort of like Holdan was," she said with her mouth full.
Aerin rolled her eyes. "I still don't know why I saved him from his berserk hunting droids. I guess it would have been a horrible way to die…of thirst or blown up by his own droids. I thought he was pretty slimy too for using droids to do his hunting for him. Some great hunter he was."
Bastila thought about how Tanis had tried to grope her. "I can understand how his wife would want to program his droids to kill him…but yes, we did the right thing in saving him," she said with a sigh. She peered over the debris again, but it was still silent.
"Speaking of the right thing, Aerin," interjected Juhani in her accented basic, "I was impressed with how you gave that woman money for her Desert Wraid. I think you saved her family."
"It was nothing. My family has credits. I…I felt bad for her with her husband being killed."
A faint smile cracked Bastila's lips. "You have learned your lessons well. I am impressed."
Aerin shrugged again, not wanting the spotlight. "It's all in my upbringing. My mother taught me to be charitable."
Bastila broke eye contact, but nodded. "Yes…your upbringing serves you well."
Belaya wiped the sweat from her face. Her brown robes were soaked and her hand glistened as it held her weapon. "I think I see more Sand People massing. We must prepare to repel them again."
"We've been attacked eight times already!" protested Mission.
Aerin's blood ran cold. The Force screamed in her mind and the situation went against all of her tactical training. "We cannot stay here. They will overrun us. We must attack them as they prepare their offensive."
"What? You can't be serious?" asked Belaya, "There may be hundreds of them. The Council selected me to lead this quest. We must reinforce our defenses here."
"We would yield the initiative and they would hammer us bit by bit," countered Aerin. "I've studied their tactics and their morale is brittle. A fierce strike could drive them off. I suggest that we build a strike team around our three marines and the droid that I bought…that HK Forty-Seven."
Belaya's face scrunched up in irritation. "That good-for-nothing droid…. Its translation skills did nothing to stop the attacks."
"But he's eager to kill 'meatbags' as he put it."
Belaya shook her head. "We can't just run off into the desert. I've decided that we must remain here and defend."
Aerin's face registered deep disappointment and she crawled off towards Canderous and HK. As she reached their position, she handed the mercenary a bladder of water. "Belaya has decided to have us stay put and defend against the Sand People's attacks. I must follow her orders, but I want to prepare a contingency."
"Statement: I am ready to kill for you, Master," declared HK joyously. "Show me the meatbags."
Canderous nodded as he took a sip of water. "That is a sound idea. What do you propose?"
"If the Sand People break through our defenses, I want you to lead HK and the Marines in a counterattack. If we hit them hard enough, I believe that they will run."
Canderous raised an eyebrow, crinkling the scar along his cheek. He nodded with a grim smile. Aerin gave him a couple of pats on the shoulder and crawled back to where Belaya was seated. Along the way, she looked over to see Commander Ergot hiding behind a pile of rubble.
I guess the Sand People didn't have to file a request to attack. Where's your paperwork now, Intellboy?
As Aerin reached the defensive position, the sound of a blaster bolt striking the sandcrawler caught her attention. The echoing of guttural laughs made her skin crawl. From behind the dunes, dozens of Sand People rushed forward, brandishing long rifles and wicked Gaffi Sticks; the battle was joined.
Through the swirling sand they came by the hordes. The howling wind threw up choking clouds of dust, lowering the visibility. The Sand People looked like ghosts through a dark fog, laughing in their deep, throaty voices.
Several of the mines, that Carth and the marines had planted, detonated, hurling sand, metal, and flesh. The panicked shots of the miners flashed through the dust, occasionally striking a target. Terror infected the miners and several cowered behind the defenses, shaken by the reckless laughter of the enemy.
Amid the chaos and screaming, Carth stood, oblivious to the incoming bolts and slugs.
"Fire your weapons, damn you! Face the enemy and fire your weapons," he urged the miners as the humming reports of blasters tore the air. A miner was hit and sprawled backwards and the sizzle and whine of passing shots grew more intense. Striding confidently up the line, Carth grabbed a wavering man and pushed him back up to the barricade.
The Captain then drew his pistols and began pumping out blaster bolts, unconcerned with the danger. The miners took heart and began to deal out damage of their own.
From the other position, Mission and Aerin squeezed off shots into the onrushing mob. The thwap of rifle bullets striking the sandcrawler made Belaya jump. She took one look at the laughing raiders and turned to Aerin. "I was wrong. We're going to be overrun. I'm sorry."
It was too late, the Sand People were upon them.
AnchorheadThe Czerka port official sat in the shade, sipping a cool cup of iced caffa. His faded orange and blue uniform flapped in the dry wind that blew through the landing docks.
"I hate this forsaken place," he mumbled to himself, squinting to keep the dust from his eyes.
The official was relieved by a sudden shade that blocked out the suns. He turned to see his handler pulling up a seat at the table. The handler's job was to collect information valuable to Malak by handling sources.
"Care for a caffa? It's nice and cool," the official said, wiping perspiration off with a handkerchief.
The handler shook his head. The man was dressed in loose brown robes and he wore a purple mask over his nose and mouth. "No, thank you. I wanted to confirm that you had seen this woman. I have some friends, who wish to speak with her."
The official took the holo image of a young, auburn-haired woman. "Yah, she went into town a few days ago. Quite attractive too…. You can't miss her. I think she mentioned something about exploring the desert seas as an archaeologist."
The handler nodded and smiled beneath his mask. He handed the official a velvet bag full of credits. "Malak sends his thanks."
The official shrugged. He couldn't care less about Malak; all he wanted was to get off of Tatooine and the credits didn't hurt.
The handler walked quickly into town past a kiosk run by a two-headed sentient. He tapped his commlink. "The sighting is confirmed. It appears they went into the Dune Sea. Pick me up in the speeder."
Soon, a tan vehicle rode into view, driven by a short man wearing a round cap and goggles. "Get in, I'm anxious to collect my bounties," the driver said coldly.
The Dune SeaAerin kicked over some debris onto a pair of Sand People and then sliced through a Gaffi Stick with her lightsaber. Her blaster rifle had run dry and she discarded it as the enemy scrambled over the barricades. As the dust churned in the area under the sandcrawler, wraithlike shapes ran about, howling. A cloaked raider rushed out from the dust and aimed his rifle at Aerin. She extended her hand and the weapon flew to her grasp. With a frustrated grunt, her attacker drew a Gaffi Stick and charged, only to be cut down by Bastila.
"The Force fights with me," she exclaimed, thrusting the tip of her sun-colored blade into the head of another Tusken.
Aerin looked quickly at the rifle, pulled the bolt back to chamber another round, and raised the muzzle of the weapon at the rampaging mob. She squeezed the trigger and the stock of the weapon slammed into her shoulder. A bullet shot out of the muzzle and sliced through a Tuskan Raider.
She fired again and blood spattered across the sand as another Sand Person fell. Again, steam fizzled from the barrel as smoke escaped from the muzzle. Something moved in her peripheral vision and she felt a surge of energy through her being. She instinctively tossed the rifle at a charging enemy and he was momentarily distracted. As the raider recovered, Aerin pulled her lightsaber and the cobalt blade raked across his belly, spilling sizzling innards into the sand.
Aerin could see Juhani nearby, wrestling in the dunes with two assailants. The Cathar clawed one across the neck, but the other head butted her. Juhani winced and held her head in pain.
The dark-haired Padawan tried to push through to her friend, but a raider swept her feet with his Gaffi Stick. Aerin landed on her back with a thud and rolled away as the sharp tip of the Gaffi speared the sand.
Scrambling to her feet, her mind enveloped the attacker and she flung him backward into the sandcrawler's treads.
Suddenly, flames swept the ranks of the attackers as an electronic voice exclaimed, "Burn, meatbags!"
A dozen Tusken Raiders burst into flames and ran about, screaming. Automatic blaster fire then tore through the flank of the Sand People and a large shape emerged from the gloom, firing a massive blaster into stunned bodies at point-blank range. The marines followed behind, sweeping the area with their weapons.
Screaming in terror, the raiders fled, stumbling over debris and fallen bodies. Seeing the backs of their enemies, Canderous and HK-47 poured on the blaster bolts until Aerin rushed up.
"Cease fire!" she yelled. "Let them go."
Canderous gave her a disappointed look and HK's eyes glimmered. "Yes, Master…. Statement: That was very satisfying, Master," voiced the droid in a strangely cheerful tone.
As the Sand People scurried off, Aerin breathed a sigh of relief. She scanned the area to see Bastila breathing heavily, covered in soot and blood. Bastila's auburn hair hung limply as her ponytails had come undone. Nearby, Belaya staggered out from the debris, shaking dust from her tattered robes. The quest leader looked about, concern written on her face until she saw Juhani and Mission.
Belaya limped up to Aerin. She looked down at the sand and her face flushed red. "I wonder if I am up to this. This is our first hostile encounter and we are battered and stranded here in this awful desert."
Aerin put a reassuring hand on Belaya's shoulder. "You've done well. Although we are all injured, our team hasn't lost anyone. You held us all together, Belaya."
The older Jedi smiled weakly. "Thank you. It was you who ordered Canderous to counterattack, I take it?"
Aerin shrugged. "Let's just say I had an inspiration."
Belaya took a deep breath and brushed her damp blonde hair from her face. "We need to get these miners out of here and safely back to Anchorhead. I'm going to get them started on pulling some speeders from the sandcrawler." She rallied up Carth and the miners and began to remove the speeders from their storage bays.
Belaya told the mining captain to return to Anchorhead. "We have other business. We may have to destroy the Sand People at their lair…or at least negotiate with them."
The captain grimaced. "Yer very brave, lady. I know this tribe makes its home to the southwest. Beware of the blaster turrets they've stolen and set up around their camp. I wish you all the best, but there's no reasoning with them."
He loaded his men into a number of speeders and they rushed off toward safety. Now, the quest team was alone.
As they watched the miners ride off, they pushed their speeders into place and loaded supplies for the dangerous journey. Belaya had the Republic soldiers gather additional weapons and mentally counted her team. It's a miracle. My entire team survived. I wish I could say the same about the miners. It is the will of the Force.
She walked up to Aerin again. She was coming to trust the dark-haired Padawan's growing skill in command. Aerin very much reminds me of…no, that's silly. Stop your idle thought. Stay in the here and now as Master Zhar would say.
"Padawan Dakar, I want you to assist me as the quest leader. I respect your tactical insight and your skill with your lightsabers."
"Thank you, Knight Belaya. I-" Aerin started until she saw a metallic glint in the distance. The Force screamed through her brain. Instinctively, she ducked.
The sound of blaster bolts sizzling by confirmed Aerin's fears. "Belaya, take cover!" she yelled. Belaya didn't move and Aerin pulled her down sharply. As Belaya hit the sand, Aerin looked off toward the sniper. "Whew, that was close. I think I've spotted the rat," Aerin said quickly. She then looked at Belaya's face. The knight's chest was covered in blood around a charred hole. Blaster shots echoed around them.
The blonde Jedi spat up blood. "G g g… Padawan…." she whispered. "You must complete the quest. You cannot fail…. The Order…must endure. Juhani…please take care…she's so vulnerable. Tell her…tell her I lo-"
"No, hang on. I'm going to draw upon the Force."
Belaya grasped Aerin's blue tunic with sticky, crimson hands. "You must…. The Order…must survive…my whole life…."
Aerin's mind surged with energy and she prepared to let it flow through her, but the sound of a lightsaber behind her made her turn her head.
Three Dark Jedi stood there, ruby lightsabers humming.
Aerin choked out a gasp as her stomach churned. She took a quick look at Belaya, but the knight's face was frozen, eyes locked open in an eternal stare.
The lead Sith spun his weapon about his body and then pointed at her. "We have come for you."