Writer's notes: UPDATED 27 NOV 06. Again, the section is about the casting out of old orders and the pithy blurb is about freedom; the freedom that the Wookiees seek.
Bastila's demons take hold of her and the link between she and Aerin works to Bastila's detriment. While Aerin is temporarily relieved of her darkness, she transfers it to Bastila, who has a first taste of passion.
Sad Stories About the Death of Kings – Part II
I know not what course others may take;
But as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
Patrick Henry
The Shadowlands – Jolee's Home
Jolee Bindo's quaint home, built within the hollow of a giant Wroshyr Tree stump, was now a shattered mess. It had been the scene of a violent confrontation between Sith assassins and members of the quest team. Broken glass lay mixed in with bits of food, scattered flour, and smashed furniture. Most disturbing however, were the dead bodies of Sith assassins.
The team dragged the corpses from Jolee's house and laid them on the forest floor. Having recovered her composure, Aerin bowed to Jolee. "Master Bindo, please accept our apologies. We meant no harm to you. We only wished to help you with the Kinrath Spiders."
The old man crinkled his face and furrowed his brows. "Oh, don't give me that 'Master' nonsense; I'm not a Jedi," he said brusquely. "So, why are Sith assassins bursting into my house looking for people I don't even know?"
Aerin glanced over to see Bastila tending to Kyle's numerous bruises. "It's a long and complicated story," she told Jolee. "We'd better get out of your way. Again, I'm sorry for the inconvenience we presented."
Old Bindo stroked his gray goatee and pursed his lips. Aerin could see that he was thinking. "Star Map, huh? Maybe I can help you…."
The Padawan raised an eyebrow and Jolee continued, "But first…I need you to do something for me."
Aerin exhaled and rolled her eyes. What do I look like, a valet? First the Republic, then the Order, Chuundar…now this guy.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, Missy. You want my help or not? Okay, that's better. Northeast of here is a Czerka camp where they are poaching Tach Monkeys. It's bad for the environment and it's damn annoying. Convince them to go away…without any broken necks or scattered body parts, mind you."
Fighting back the urge to say something sarcastic, Aerin nodded. "We'll be back in the morning to do this. I have to return to the village first."
With that, the four departed, leaving Jolee to bemoan his damaged house. "No respect these days…no respect," he mumbled as they walked into the mist.
As Aerin walked beside Bastila, she said in a low voice, "Something is happening to me. I feel like I'm losing my mind sometimes, like someone else is inside of me, forcing my actions."
Bastila whispered back, "You must focus, Padawan. We are relying on you. We will do the Cleansing Ritual when we return to the village."
Aerin stopped and grasped her mentor by the arm. "Bastila, I am struggling with something I cannot see. If I should fall to the Dark Side, you must kill me," she said forcefully.
Padawan Shan narrowed her eyes behind a veil of mist and pulled away from Aerin. "Do not be ridiculous. We must work together to ensure that it doesn't happen."
As Padawan Shan strode briskly ahead of Aerin, she focused her mind and tried to draw upon the Force for council.
Master Vandar…please…please, I need you. What must I do? I cannot control this situation mush longer.
The Czerka Area – Late AfternoonCommander Ergot entered a room in a run down motel away from the docks, the agitation on his face clearly visible. On the bed lay a woman, dressed in shredded gray robes. Although mostly healed, she was covered in cuts and bruises and was painfully plucking splinters from her skin.
"You know the dangers of summoning me here," said Ergot impatiently, "My cover could be compromised." He looked at the injured Sith and smirked. "I see you failed. All you had to do was eliminate the Jedi and leave the rest to me…. I still expect a reward."
I can't believe these incompetent Sith. All they had to do was get rid of the Jedi. Then, with that Carth out of the way, I'd emerge a hero to the Republic and be done with this foolishness.
The woman growled under her mask. "Of course, but first, you must send a signal to Malak that Bastila is here. Malak's fleet has been returned to full strength; you must bring him here."
The Commander fidgeted for a moment. "The risk is too great. I would be discovered." Ergot had made a decision.
The Sith saw something in his eyes, but it was too late. Ergot drew his blaster and aimed at her head. Sparks erupted from the muzzle of the weapon and a bolt struck her in the stomach. The Sith doubled over and weakly reached for her lightsaber. "You can't even shoot straight, you piece of Bantha Poo," she croaked as Ergot rushed up and pumped two more bolts into her chest.
As the woman lay dying, wafts of smoke floating up from her body, the Commander exhaled slowly.
"I…I couldn't risk it. I still have a name and reputation to uphold. Fortunately, my training can defeat Jedi mind probes. I will have to put this on someone else."
Ergot picked up a few, carefully selected items and put them in his bag. He then rushed out the door, wiping the knob hastily as he fled. The Commander was not truly dark of heart, but in his small mind, he justified what he was doing as his way to be the man his father wanted.
In the Shadowlands
Down in the Shadowlands, Aerin's team rendezvoused with Canderous and they made their way back up to the Village. They returned to the hotel and the team split to their respective rooms. As the others walked off, Bastila pulled Aerin aside. "Come, we must meditate."
"But we have a traitor in our ranks. We must find out who sent the assassins after you."
Bastila shook her head emphatically. "This is more important. We must attend to this first, then we will attack that problem."
Aerin sighed her disapproval, but nodded her assent. The two women went to Bastila's quarters and the elder Jedi sat, cross-legged on the carpet. Dim lighting surrounded her form as Aerin sat before her. Soon, their breathing became as one and their mental energies blended.
Aerin's tense muscles relaxed as she could feel Bastila's mind flowing through her, soothing the earlier rage. On the other hand, Bastila twitched faintly as if battling some unseen demon in her mind.
Images ebbed and flowed through the psionic link and Bastila's breathing became erratic. An image floated hazily in her mind, becoming clearer despite her wishes.
A tall, blond man stands beside a tall, silver spire. He is handsome and powerfully built, muscles rippling beneath the Coruscant sun. His blue Jedi robes accentuate his physique and match his intense, confident eyes.
Bastila squirmed against unseen bonds, unable to break the meditative link. Perspiration formed at her brow in contrast to Aerin's serene face.
A woman in matching robes runs into the man's embrace, her black hair spilling over his shoulders. She pulls back to drink of his deep gaze. "My love, I have secured us a fleet from the Supreme Chancellor. Now is our chance to save the Republic…now is our chance for glory."
Padawan Shans body shook and she lick her dry lips; her breathing came in ragged gasps. Her face pinched up and her head tilted back, exposing her delicate throat. Her lips parted as if to receive a kiss.
The couple enters an opulent room, full of sensuous delights and useless luxuries. The man kisses the woman and slides her robes off, which crumple to the floor. His hand caresses her and her head tilts back as her lips part. They maneuver themselves to a waiting bed…the woman's eyes close as she pulls the man to her. At the moment of climax, the woman's eyes open…they are catlike and yellow.
Bastila shrieked, falling backward and severing the link. Aerin's eyes opened, surprised. Seeing Bastila quivering, Aerin grasped her, but Bastila did not seem to be aware of what was happening.
Padawan Shan looked about, wild-eyed. Pulling away from Aerin, she stood abruptly. "I…I am fine. You must leave now. I think we are done here."
Aerin furrowed her brow with concern, "Why? What is it?"
Bastila shook her head, averting her eyes from the other Jedi. "It's nothing. The meditation just took a lot out of me, that's all." Perspiration glistened across her forehead.
Aerin still wasn't convinced. "Are you sure?"
She nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, I'm fine. Please, just let me rest. We will speak no more of this."
Aerin stood, uncertainty evident in her voice, "Okay, if you say so. Call me if you need anything."
Bastila nodded again without hearing as Aerin headed for the door. She gulped hard, licking her lips.
As Aerin departed, rejuvenated and calm, Bastila remained seated on the plush carpet. She choked and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I can't do this…I don't have the strength." She curled up into a ball upon the floor, crossing her arms to hold herself. "Master Vandar, I cannot do this. You must take this burden from me."
In her mind, she saw the diminutive Jedi holding out his hand. Weakly, reluctantly, she took it. She closed her eyes and wiped her cheek. "I understand, Master. I am all that stands in the way of darkness."
Near the Ebon Hawk
After leaving, Aerin went to the Ebon Hawk to retrieve some gear. Near the docking area, Commander Ergot approached her, a contrite expression on his face. "Ma'am, we have a problem. I know I have been harsh and disagreeable with you, but we have to work together now. I have discovered that we have a spy in our group."
Aerin raised an eyebrow. "I have determined the same thing. What brought you to this conclusion?"
"I am not at liberty to say, Ma'am, but rest assured, as the head of counterintelligence for this mission, I will get to the bottom of this."
Aerin's mind reached out and looked into his thoughts, but all was well; Ergot was not hiding anything. The Jedi gave him a furtive nod. "Very well, I trust that you will keep me informed of your progress. I'm not a micromanager and, since you're the expert here, I won't presume to tell you how to do your job."
"Thank you, Ma'am. Oh, I also wanted to tell you that I infiltrated a Czerka lab and procured doses of Kinrath Spider antidote. It would seem that Czerka is also determined to develop a pharmaceutical empire here and that many of the enslaved Wookiees end up in Sith shock troop units. I also learned that the lab is the heart of Czerka operations and they are heavily armed there." Ergot smiled as he took credit for Ensign Helos' work.
Aerin returned a smile; they would all need to work well together if they were to complete the mission. "Good work, Com…errr, Haman," she said, remembering to use his first name.
At the Hotel
In the morning, Aerin urgently looked for Mission and found her on the balcony, looking out at the birds, flitting about the giant trees of the forest. "Mission, thank the Force I found you. Zaalbar's been captured," she said.
The young Twi'lek turned abruptly, dropping a small fruit over the railing. "What? How?"
"It was his brother, Chuundar. They have him and Carth down in the Wookiee village."
Mission's face twisted up and she furrowed her brows. "Z has a brother? Why are they holding them? Can't we talk it out?"
Aerin shook her head. "Zaalbar told me everything…. He was very ashamed of the whole thing, but he was cast out because he stood up to his brother who is enslaving the Wookiees."
Mission brightened somewhat. "I knew it was because he did something good, I knew it!" Then, her look of concern came back. "But a Wookiee enslaving Wookiees? Why would Chuundar do that?"
"Money."
The Twi'lek sighed sadly. "Just like Taris…nothing changes no matter where you are. So," she said, looking Aerin in the eye, "what are we going to do about it?"
"Canderous, Bastila, and I are going back to the Shadowlands. If we do something for Chuundar, he'll let our people go."
"No."
Aerin looked confused. "What do you mean, 'no'?"
"I mean that you left me out and I'm coming along," Mission answered with a determined expression.
Aerin was about to speak, but Mission's eyes said it all. From the room, Sasha looked at her two caretakers. "Big fuzzy okay?"
Aerin smiled at her reassuringly. "Yes Sasha, we just have to go and get him."
As the team gathered in the lobby, Aerin filled them in on the day's plan. They would proceed to the Czerka camp and set up a surveillance. "As you know, we have to do something for that Jolee character before he'll help us get to the renegade Wookiee so that we can get Carth and Zaalbar back. So, we need to chase the Czerka off somehow without killing them," she said as Canderous made a disapproving face. "I will join you in the Shadowlands later. There are a couple of things I need to take care of. Kyle, can I have the droid head?"
The marine passed the battered head to her and Aerin continued, "Juhani and HK, you're with me. Bastila, you have the team." Bastila looked at her, seemingly surprised. I want to show Bastila that I have faith in her; it will help to build greater trust and cohesiveness.
Padawan Shan took a deep breath and shook off the doubt that had clouded her mind. It was too late to turn back anyway. "Very well," she said. "I will do my best." She checked her lightsaber, which was clipped to her belt and made sure that her pack held the proper supplies.
Komad Fortuna looked her rig over and gave her a thumbs up. "You'd make a great hunter, Bastila," he said.
The Jedi gave him a slight smile as she zipped up the pack. As she led the team down the walkway, she took a look back, over her shoulder. "Yes, there is no turning back," she whispered to herself.
Aerin then walked to the hotel shops and saw the Emporium of Imperial Delights. Juhani crinkled her face and clenched her clawed hands. "My Cathar blood boils to think about how that shopkeeper tricked the mechanic."
HK's eyes flashed. "Query: Master, would you prefer that I roast the shopkeeper or electrocute him?"
Aerin stifled a laugh. "Ummm, neither for now…just be ready."
They approached the effete, pasty-faced Eli Gand, who made a wide sweeping gesture with his arms before bowing. "Welcome fair ladies and droid, Eli's Emporium is open for your pleasure," the shopkeeper said gushingly as he waved his servant over. "Matton, get over here," he added impatiently.
Matton hurried over and nodded to the customers as Aerin produced a droid's head and a data chip. She knew what was about to happen, but feigned ignorance.
"What could I get for this? We found it disabled on the surface," Aerin asked and Matton's eyes widened.
"Hey, that's Cee-One Oh Nine! That's our droid. How did you find it?"
Juhani gave him the data chip. "Our party discovered this with the droid."
Eli attempted to take it from Juhani's hand, but Matton seized it first and slid it in a computer. Eli's face scrunched up and turned bright red. The chip then played back the recording as Eli began backing away. Matton's jaw dropped as the last words of his crewmates sounded off and he turned his head slowly to face Eli, who was timidly reaching toward a weapon.
"Supposition: If you were to touch that weapon, meatbag, I would turn you into charcoal…. Please, do it for me."
Eli pulled his hand back, shaking. "Matton…Matton, it's not what you think," he said, trying to laugh it off. "I…I was just…just…your skills as a mechanic were so needed!"
Now, Matton's face turned deep red and he was about to leap at the slimy shopkeeper, but Aerin held him back. "I know what you are feeling, Matton. Do not let your rage get the better of you. Do not make the same mistake I made."
Eli smiled sheepishly for a second before bolting out the door of the shop. As he ran down toward the great walkway, Aerin winked, sending Eli smashing into a wall with her power. "Don't worry, he won't last long on the Great Walkway. Those Kinrath Spiders…."
Matton let out a feral scream. "My crewmates…killed by that core slime. And I thought that they had just abandoned me to that creep."
"Matton, we heard what the droid had on its memory and knew that you had to hear it. This was no accident."
He sighed, letting all of his rage out. As the energy left him, he sank into a chair. "Whoever you are, thank you. You know what? I'm giving you the run of the shop. Take whatever you want…free. Maybe this will become Matton's Emporium?" he mused.
Aerin thought for a moment about the brewing conflict with Chuundar. "Matton, I have a strange feeling you're going to want to sell this place quickly and move on. I wish you well," she said as she took a handful of patches for Carth. She looked at the one from the 'Sentinels', Revan's personal guard. For some reason, it appealed to her and she stuck it in her pocket.
Leaving Matton to sort out his affairs, they set out toward the Wookiee village and passed the surly guards again. Along the way they saw an expensive gold bracelet lying on the Great Walkway. "Observation: Meatbag Gand wore this."
Aerin stooped and picked it up. She then noticed body fluids pooled on the walkway nearby. They looked up to see Eli's carcass encased in a web high in the trees.
Juhani shrugged. "Although I regret his death, I am somehow relieved. As I mentioned, my family lived in servitude on Taris in squalid conditions. My father…my father was once a proud warrior, a leader in his own right," she said, holding her head high before casting her gaze downward again. "To be reduced to a groveling serf broke his will…he degenerated into drinking and fighting. Soon, he was just a rambling drunk, deep in debt to Davik Kang, until he was killed by thugs for the reward."
Juhani stopped and leaned against the railing. The wind blew gently, ruffling her soft fur. Aerin held her tightly as HK scanned around, oblivious to any emotion. Juhani took a breath and continued, "Davik's men put my father's debt on my mother and she was forced to slave away in the LoCity Cantina for a pittance. She could barely feed us both, so she gave me all we had. I can still see her emaciated body, wracked from starvation while the fat Tarisian nobles would occasionally tour our hovels to see how the wildlife survived."
"What happened to your mother?"
Juhani sighed and wiped her nose. "Ravaged by disease and starvation, she died. A tiny amount of the most common antibiotic could have saved her, but there was no mercy for aliens on Taris."
"I'm very sorry, Juhani. I will do everything I can to defeat slavery wherever I see it."
"Thank you. You are too kind. You…you remind me so much of someone…a Jedi on Taris, years ago. She was the one, who saved me after my mother died. It was because of her that I journeyed to Dantooine and became a Jedi."
Aerin smiled. "Then she was a wise Jedi. Come, let's continue this later. I'm glad you are with us, Juhani."
The Cathar took a long look at her fellow Jedi; something was indeed strange.
The Shadowlands – Mid Morning
In the damp of the forest floor, Bastila walked beside Mission, their feet softly squishing in the wet mulch. Canderous had led his team down a different path with specific instructions to parley with any Wookiees unless directly threatened.
The young Twi'lek's mind raced with distracting ideas of how to rescue Zaalbar, so she spoke to keep herself focused on the here and now. "Bastila, you're a Jedi and all that…. Do you ever use the Force to…you know…do small stuff like trip rude people?"
"I'd never do that, Mission. Such a use of the Force shows a lack of discipline and immaturity-"
Mission furrowed her brows. "What, are you saying I'm immature?" she blurted. "Who do you think you are, big, fancy Jedi? Why, I outta-" Mission shouted until an unseen foot swept her off her feet, dropping her on her butt.
Mission's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Did you just trip me?"
Bastila's eyes looked up, giving an innocent expression while she covered her mouth. "Of course not, Mission. You really should be more careful as there are a lot of dead branches about."
Up ahead, Kyle Durren knelt and held a fist up. "The Czerka Camp is up ahead."
As instructed, they set up a surveillance and watched the Czerka men poach Tach Monkeys. As expected, Aerin arrived soon thereafter and they devised a plan. After the discussion, Padawans Shan and Dakar spent some time grooming and creating flattering styles with their robes. When they looked positively stunning, they nodded their readiness.
Aerin and Bastila wandered into the camp, observing crates, labeled 'Tach Glands'. In a small clearing, stood a man in the green and yellow Czerka uniform with a nametag reading, 'Commander Dern'.
"Hello there," called Aerin gaily.
"Shush! You'll scare off the Tach Monkeys. I'm not here for my health you know," the man scolded.
Aerin made a sheepish grin. "Oh, sorry. What are you doing out here?"
"What does it look like? We're trapping the monkeys to sell their glands for pharmaceuticals and ingredients. The profits are huge. Now, please be quiet or you'll bring out the beasts?"
Bastila looked around, feigning fear. "Beasts?"
Dern smirked. "Yes, the great beast of wild Wookiee legend…. It's for real. But don't worry too much, dearie, we have sonic emitters to keep the beasts at bay. The high-frequency tone drives them nuts."
Aerin nodded. "Oh, I see-"
"Thank you very much," finished Bastila.
Aerin gave her a glance with a raised eyebrow. I guess he's not into vulnerable women. We'll try again elsewhere.
As they moved out of hearing range away from Dern, Aerin leaned over to her companion and whispered, "We must disable the sonic devices."
"Yes, but remember, no bloodshed," Bastila reminded emphatically.
The two women sauntered over to one of the sonic devices. A Czerka guard sat next to the tripod, reading a holonovel. Seeing them, he leapt up. "Oh, you startled me. What are you women doing down here? Am I dreaming?"
Aerin slid up to him and ran her finger along his lips as translucent swirls of power coiled around her. He shuddered. "How terrible it is for you to be down here," she said. "How sad and lonely."
As she walked around him, he turned to follow her. "Uhhh, yah, this posting sucks. I've been down here for two weeks in this cesspool," he replied.
Aerin tip toed up and whispered in his ear, "It would be so easy to leave. If the sonic emitters failed, you could all leave and it wouldn't be anyone's fault." Her lips brushed his earlobe.
"Y…Y…yes. That could be done. All you need to do is enter this code and shut down the grid using the switch…. It's easy."
Aerin looked him in the eye. "You best get a head start," she said as she entered the code into the tripod. Obediently, the man dashed off into the forest.
Soon, there was a deep rumbling noise with the shaking of bushes. An ear-piercing shriek sounded and a shadow appeared at the edge of the clearing. Darkness swirled around its form, which was much larger than a man. Commander Dern screamed and fled for all he was worth, leaving a trail of dampness in his path. The beast shrieked again, sending chills down Aerin's spine, and it ran off in pursuit of the Czerka.
Aerin's heart pounded as she hid behind a bush. "What…the…heck…was that?"
Bastila trembled nearby. "I think…that was a Tarentatek. I could feel the evil that permeated its aura. We must be cautious…I did not think any of those beasts survived the Great Hunt."
"The Tarentatek? Like the ones Master Deesra spoke about?"
"The very ones. We should do what we have to do quickly, before it returns. We are not strong enough yet to face such a monster."
When they had recovered, they grabbed the Czerka supplies, including the Tach glands and scampered back to Jolee's home. Canderous was already there and told them he had fought numerous beasts, but his progress was eventually blocked by a force field.
"Ahhh, the work of the Czerka…fools they are," announced Jolee as he walked up to them. "Yes, I know that force field and can get you around it. However, I am modifying the agreement. Now, you will be taking me with you when you leave."
Aerin looked him up and down. "I don't see why not, but why do you want to come with us? It's going to be very dangerous."
"Don't you think I might have figured that out when the Sith assassins attacked? I'm old, but not senile yet. As for why I want to join you…twenty years on Kashyyyk have been enough. When you start to speak to the Tach Monkeys and refer to them by name…it's time to leave."
Mission giggled and Jolee gave her a mock stern look. "You think I'm joking? I miss the thrum of a well-tuned hyperdrive. The closest thing I have is the mating call of the Uller Beast…but that's…ugh, frightful. Well, let's not sit here jabberjawing, c'mon."
Aerin shrugged. "Hey, you're welcome for stopping the Czerka."
Jolee sniggered as if she were an idiot. "Smart-mouthed kid…. If you want a 'please' and 'thank you' I suggest you go hang out with the high-society folks back on Coruscant. Now, get moving."
As they walked off toward the force field, Aerin shot Bastila a glance and then twirled her finger around her ear while rolling her eyes. What a nutcase.
As promised, Jolee was able to get them through the force field and the group split again with Canderous leading his force down another path. Aerin pressed forward along the main path with Kyle at point, scanning ahead with his NVGs.
As they patrolled down the descending walkway, Aerin's commlink vibrated. "This is Canderous, we have been engaged. I'm returning fire, over," he said calmly. Blaster shots and screams could be heard in the background.
Aerin's eyes grew big. "What's your position? Who are you engaging? Over."
Static clouded the commlink between the sound of explosions and more blaster fire. "…heavy fire…. Jamming on a b… We need back…"
"Canderous…Canderous!" called Aerin.
There were no more transmissions.