Writer's notes: UPDATED 11/20/2006 by Candace and Alice. The theme of family and being kept continues here. I am also continuing the intelligence side story, which will become the focal point when we get to Manaan. Also, I'm adding a quirk to Carth, he lovess military patches. This update features more from a minor character, who plays off of Canderous. The two share a love of weapons, which we see.
My Brother's Keeper – Part II
Kashyyyk – The Great Walkway - Late EveningThe man in the Czerka uniform of green and yellow meandered slowly away, stopping to look at the wares of the shops lining the walkway to the docking level. Czerka Corp hoped to turn Edean into a resort planet, where sentients of all races could come to escape the war and turn a tidy profit in the process. Nearby, the construction of a casino heralded in a new age for the forest world.
The man went down an alley and briefly looked over his shoulder. He expertly placed the paper given to him by Ergot into a metal cylinder as he walked quickly toward his next waypoint. He would alter his pace several times to draw out any surveillance, but he made it appear natural and unforced.
Someone entered the alleyway behind him, but the figure stopped and began smoking a cigarette; he was no one of consequence. The man turned a corner, where a maintenance vehicle sat idling. He avoided eye contact with the woman seated inside, but made an almost imperceptible nod as he flicked the cylinder into the open window.
Immediately, the woman drove off past Ensign Niki Helos. The blonde intelligence officer caught a glimpse of the driver as she sped by down the walkway.
That was strange. A maintenance vehicle in an isolated area. That doesn't make any sense for this part of the walkway.
The ensign popped the retaining strap on her shoulder holster under a blue coat and watched a man walk away. She kept her hand on her pistol under her coat and began walking.
I'll follow him and see what I can find out. It should be safe.
She walked casually behind him, pretending to be a tourist until he began to vary his pace. He turned and looked behind him, trying to make his movement appear innocent. Niki's eyes widened – she was not fooled. This guy has been trained to look for surveillance. What is he up to?
At the Hotel
At the hotel restaurant, Carth rose from his seat. "Thank you for the meal. I should go back to my room. I think there's a holovid playing," he said standoffishly.
Aerin paid the bill and followed after him. "Carth…Carth, I'm sorry. I don't know what to say to make you trust me."
The Captain made a flippant gesture. "Don't worry about it. It's not you, it's me. Hey, look at this store," he said, changing the subject. He stepped into the establishment and began examining a set of patches. He picked one of the cloth insignias up and turned to an employee, who was fixing the air conditioner.
"Excuse me, where did you get these patches?" Carth asked in earnest while Aerin made an impatient expression, furrowing her brows.
The man began to answer when a pale-skinned fellow with sharp yellow sideburns interceded. "If you want any answers, please address your questions to me," he said in a haughty tone through a clipped accent. He wore elaborate silk robes with hand-made leather shoes. He smiled as Aerin approached, watching her every move with great interest.
"Greetings, I'm Eli Gand and welcome to the Emporium of Imperial Delights. I stock the finest wares this side of the galaxy."
The mocha-skinned employee, Matton Dasol, grunted and the two began bickering over Dasol's servitude to Gand.
"Well, if your friends hadn't abandoned you, I would not have you serving out your debt," Eli said saucily.
"Ummm, the patches…." reminded Carth.
Gand scratched his head for a few seconds until Matton replied, "I don't know where they came from, but I served in the Republic Fleet as a gunner's mate during the Mandalorian War and I can tell you they belonged to the 'Sentinels', Revan's personal guard…before she…you know…."
Carth frowned. "I thought they looked familiar. Hey, thanks," he said and put the patch back on the counter. Aerin examined the cloth for a second – something about it felt comforting. "C'mon," said Carth, "Let's move on."
He turned and left the shop with Aerin in tow. Mission and Sasha sauntered up to join them.
"I know you didn't need another unpleasant reminder, Carth," offered Aerin.
"I'm not made of glass. I won't break," Carth chastised. "Eh, forget about it. Revan's history."
Together, they all wandered back to their rooms, but Carth remained for a time, watching the exotic birds flit about. He sat and sighed. As Aerin left with Mission and Sasha, he whispered, "Maybe I am broken."
Outside of the lobby, Ensign Helos caught up with her superior, Commander Ergot.
"Sir, I thought I saw something suspicious down by the loading docks. I followed a Czerka man, who looked out of place there, but I lost him near the Czerka Office. Do you want me to follow up tomorrow?"
Ergot shook his head. "What were you thinking, Ensign? You can't conduct surveillance like that without prior written approval. Return to the ship and write your reports. I want your requests for such action three days in advance next time. Now, you just leave the rest to me."
The blonde woman nodded, concealing her irritation. "Of course," she added as she left.
Ergot turned and walked back toward the elevators that would take him to his executive suite. As he passed Captain Onasi, he gave a curt nod. "Carth…." He uttered with a hint of derisiveness.
The Hotel – The Next Morning
The following day, Aerin was awoken to the sounds of chirping birds, echoing through the deep forest. Before she could move, small hands pried her eyelids open.
"Are you in there? I can see you," said Sasha.
Aerin's reply was, "Ugggh."
Sasha bounced on her stomach until Aerin got up. She lifted the gleeful child and carried her to the fresher. When they had washed, they went to the restaurant and ordered fruit while awaiting the others.
The rest of the team soon arrived and they geared up to head to the Czerka Office, where they hoped to get access to the surface of Kashyyyk. Mission would stay back with Sasha and the intell officers would continue to gather information.
The Czerka rep told them that they would have to go to the Wookiee Village of Rwookrorro to gain access to the Shadowlands. As they purchased supplies, a familiar Twi'lek entered and looked around. He cued in on the group. "Aerin Dakar, what are you doing here?" It was Komad Fortuna.
She turned and her eyes widened with joy. "Komad! It is you. What are you doing here? Are you following me?"
The Twi'lek's lekku curled, showing his mutual joy. "I just knew we would meet again," he said with a wry chuckle. "Frankly, I got bored with Tatooine. Killing the Kraydt Dragon left a hollow feeling in my heart and I got restless. I set off in search of new hunting grounds. Fazza Utral told me about Kashyyyk and that two-headed alien, Mic'tunan'jus Orgu Sorjus, booked me a flight. My head spins every time I say that guy's name."
Aerin laughed at the mention of the Tatooine merchant, who was two life forms in one. She offered Komad a seat and he took it. "Komad, we're here to explore the Shadowlands…it sounds like something right up your alley," she said as the Mandalorian came up and nodded a greeting to the hunter.
The Twi'lek grinned as he slapped Canderous on the back. "Hah, it seems we think alike. What would you say to another partnership?"
Carth approached and put his arm around the Twi'lek hunter. "When it comes to tracking things in an untamed wasteland, I want you on our side."
Komad laughed easily and then unslung his pack. He opened it up for them to see. "Well, I'm already outfitted. I've got medpacs, sensory visors, energy shields, and lots of stims. Some fruity merchant named Eli Gand sells these."
"Gand?" said Carth. "I wouldn't trust that guy."
"His prices were a little high and he seemed a little greedy."
"Plus, there is some issue between him and his employee, Matton Dasol," added Aerin. "It all seems shady."
Komad nodded. "I sensed that too. Perhaps I can track down Matton's lost party?"
The team journeyed toward the Great Walkway to Rwookrorro and they approached a gate, guarded by several Czerka men. Aerin led them up to the guard captain, an arrogant-looking man of middle age. He looked her up and down with a smirk. "Hey Spacer, where do you think you're going? Don't you know enough to keep your property on a leash?" he said, pointing to Zaalbar.
"Zaalbar is not my property!" she answered defiantly, to which the man merely chuckled.
"So, we got ourselves one of those Wookiee lovers, huh? I'll bet he keeps you plenty warm at night," the captain joked insultingly, implying something untoward. His men laughed aloud as Carth and Canderous grit their teeth. Mission seethed silently and Zaalbar looked as if he would burst with rage.
Unexpectedly, Aerin smiled and puckered her lips at the captain. "You don't know the half of it," she replied and then winked at Zaalbar. "Now just let me through the gate or you'll get to experience him first hand. He can be a little…rough." The whole time, she put on her sweetest, most demure face.
The captain took a step back. "Hey Spacer, no need to get hostile now. If you want to go through, I won't stop you…just don't come crying to me when the Kinrath Spiders lay their eggs in you."
He opened the gate and they ventured down the walkway beyond the protection of the Czerka blaster turrets.
On the Walkway
Along their journey, Komad proved his worth by baiting a number of the hideous Kinrath Spiders into traps and ambushes, keeping them from attacking the group. This hunt was proving fruitful and he stuffed his bag with venom sacks and Kinrath stingers.
"We can make a decent credit with these, but mostly, I just find the hunt a thrill," Komad said.
"Why didn't you become a bounty hunter?" asked Canderous.
"I could never see myself hunting people. It doesn't make any sense, but those are my ethics."
"I've always preferred hunting the sentient variety, but I understand and respect your principles," said Canderous seriously. "I think we see eye to eye on many things."
Komad grinned. "I never thought I'd hear that from a Mandalorian. I've always admired your people's love of adventure. I grew up on the Outer Rim, following my father's hunts. He would occasionally speak of the Wars, but mostly, we stuck to ourselves, looking for the best hunting grounds," he said, gesturing with his hands.
"I also followed my father's battles, learning our brand of hunting. What weapon do you normally use?" the mercenary asked with interest.
The hunter brought out a solid, black case and opened it with care. "This one is my finest. It's an Aratech C-20 laser rifle," he said with pride as he began removing the weapon's disassembled parts. "It has improved firing coils for greater accuracy along with a tricked out trigger."
He put the weapon together with expert hands and handed it to Canderous, whose eyes grew large with delight. "May I?" he asked and when Komad nodded, the Mandalorian took the weapon and pressed the stock to his shoulder. He closed one eye and sighted in on a wall. Then, he moved the weapon about with the ease of handling a pencil. "Perfect balance," he said with admiration, "but, does it have power? I've seen the Echani lasers and they don't have much in the way of ruggedness."
Komad smiled. "You're talking to the best hunter on Tatooine. Rugged is my middle name," he said and inserted the power pack into the magazine well. "Give it a try, my friend."
Now, Canderous grinned. He switched the selector to fire and slowly squeezed the trigger, which was perfectly taut. With a little pressure, his trigger finger went rearward and the power coils hummed. A beam flashed out into the wall, leaving a blackened mark. Canderous lowered the muzzle and gawked at the damage. "Oh, ho ho, very nice. You have my respect. I like a man who knows his weapons. I'm going to enjoy having you around."
Komad took the rifle back and motioned down the walkway with his head. "Come, I'm sure there are many things we can hunt together."
As they traveled deeper into the Great Walkway, Czerka patrols became less frequent and Zaalbar became increasingly agitated.
As they rounded the massive trunk of a Wroshyr Tree, another large wooden gate stood in their way. This time, it was guarded by Wookiees. Aerin touched Zaalbar's arm. "We may need you to talk here."
The Wookiee shook his head nervously. "I shouldn't have come. I've put you all in danger."
The Padawan was about to dismiss his concerns, but armed Wookiees ran out and surrounded them. One pointed at Zaalbar. "Madclaw, how dare you defile our village! You and your offworld slime are to follow us; someone wants to see you."
Aerin looked over to Zaalbar and furrowed her brows. Her hand instinctively went to her lightsaber, but Zaalbar motioned for her to hold. "Please Aerin Dakar, you will not be harmed. It is I who must go and face my sins."
The team offered no resistance and they were led into the village of Rwookrorro to the lodge of the chief. As they were pushed inside, a massive Wookiee with coal black fur, wearing a heavy necklace of red jewels, stood and walked over. He looked at Zaalbar, ignoring the others.
"Welcome, my brother, it has been a long time."