Chapter 24

I would like to thank my reviewers, those who added my story to their alerts and favorites, and to all anonymous readers.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or Prototype.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The smooth surface of the railing rested heavily against his open palm, the auburn floor more durable than he had expected. When Alex stepped onto the elevator he'd thought it would fall apart by the smallest touch, Voren thanked the force that didn't happen as they descended down into the darkness. The musty breeze at the top had now disappeared, replaced with a dank and moldy smell that made him convulse slightly as it entered through his nostrils.

On the other side stood Canderous, grinning as he leaned over the edge and watched as the ground came closer by each second. Thinking back, it must have been almost ten years since he last went on a good hunt, three years before the start of the Mandalorian Wars. Hunting down people who owed Davik money on Taris didn't count in his book, finally, he could get neck-deep into the danger this forest offered. It's said the Shadowlands was as dangerous as Dxun's jungle; he would put it to the test. He could see the ground in the distance, causing him to abandon his position and focus on his equipment. Only a fool would venture into a forest as dangerous as the Shadowlands with faulty equipment, finding no problems, he stood in the center waiting eagerly.

The elevator gave off a thud as it touched the ground, sending small vibrations through the wood. Canderous was first to touch the crumbly wet ground underfoot, the tall trees blocked out the light from above. Only the smallest slivers of light made it down to the ground, casting a sullen sort of light on the area. The path ahead was filled with large vines sticking out and entering the ground, and the sound of animal cries entered his auditory senses. To the side of the elevator, a campfire burned brightly. The Wookiee sitting close by merely nodded in their direction before going back to staring into the fire.

Voren now stood beside his Mandalorian friend, sending out small ripples through the force. To his great dismay, he couldn't sense any other Wookiee in the vicinity. If he had to constantly focus on sensing this other 'Mad-claw', then their journey would take much longer, and he didn't want to spent a minute more than he absolutely had too down here.

"We better set out," Voren said, resting his palm against his lightsaber. "We also need to find the Star Map."

"You're positive it's down here?"

Voren nodded. "In my vision I saw a forest surrounding the map."

"Any idea where?" Canderous asked, "This is a big place."

"Sadly no, and searching the entire forest with the force would take weeks."

"Our best bet is to ask someone," Canderous noted, pointing at the path ahead. "Chuundar mention Czerka expeditions right? The path has been traversed recently by a group of people, we should follow it."

With those words they began to march through the forest, both prepared to react to any sudden movements. Many people have disappeared down here, most disappearing's could be blamed on the Terentateks, an extremely dangerous animal with the terrifying ability to negate the force. It was this ability that had accurately named them 'Jedi killers', it was also the reason why the Jedi had almost hunted them to extinction. They didn't get long, however, before stopping at a small clearing. Voren approached the area first, seeing a large hole in the ground with cracks in the form of a spider web. He'd hate to think about what animal did this. Then it hit him.

"You don't think Alex did this?"

"Well," Canderous began, traced his jaw-line. "he is a fat bastard."

Scanning the area ahead, he continued. "It seems a set of footprints originating from the crater and joined the group we're following."

The duo continued in the direction of the expedition, only stopping once to deal with a vicious pack of Katarn. Unlike the Katarn, which possessed slender bodies with rodent-like tails and the capacity to climb, this pack had large trunk-like legs and only two small manipulator arms dangling in front. This sub-species also possessed two large tusks and had more rounded out edges than the main Katarn species. The pack had charged at them probably thinking they'd get an easy meal. The beasts were superior in terms of strength and ferocity, but they stood little chance against superior technology. Canderous' repeater dropped two of the beasts before they were even close, and Voren dealt with the last three with a quick series of sequences.

Voren didn't know if the display had any merit, but they didn't encounter any more Katarn as they continued. He couldn't see mare than a few meters ahead through the thick vegetation, but he knew they were closing in on their target. A good thing too because dusk were setting in, casting the foliage with more shadows and murk. As nightfall descended, the sounds of the forest began to ebb. Soon new sounds emerged, the rumbling growls of predators walking their territory and a gently hum. A hum that felt very familiar, the realization hit him as they neared. It was the sound of a lightsaber.

In a small clearing, a dark-skinned human male fought gracefully against four surrounding Katarn. The lightsaber flew through the air, creating a laser show of black and green. Voren could see the man tiring and prepared to join the fray, he wouldn't let another Jedi die if he could help it. With a tremendous burst of speed, the man defeated his enemies before help could arrive. The illuminating light from the blade allowed Voren to see the man's face; he was bald with a graying black beard, his dark-colored eyes spun to attention, narrowing as the duo approached.

"Ah, the damnable racket of battle! Watch yourself," He warned, gesturing towards the dead Katarn. "even more of these crawling beasts are hiding in the underbrush."

"I didn't know there was another Jedi here on Kashyyyk." Voren noted. "Who are you?"

The man reattached his lightsaber to his belt. "And the Jedi Council informs you of everything?" He said, tone sarcastic. "As for who I am, I'm Jolee Bindo. Follow me to my camp and we can talk for a bit."

Voren nodded, this Jolee fellow did seem friendly enough. Besides, they needed to camp for the night anyway.

"Alright, lead the way."

Jolee guided them through the vegetation and about one kilometer ahead, ventured off the traversed path and into a small clearing. This 'camp' was actually a small, handmade hovel located under a toppled woshyr tree. The cut-out windows were protected only by small stripes of bark, with light shining through from a fire inside. The interior was as one might expect a one-roomed cabin. At the far end, a handcrafted fireplace with a metal pot resting above and beside it a sink. An intricate series of ducts connected with the sink and through the tree, providing the sink with sluice water. On closer inspection, it seemed to be crafted from leftover scrap metal. The little furniture adorning the cabin was carved out from the tree itself.

"Well, welcome to my home, such as it is. Take one of the stumps and be comfortable." Jolee suggested, planting his feet next to the fireplace. "We should discuss a few things."

"Yes, I feel there's a lot you could tell me."

"Don't coddle me, child." Jolee berated. "I'm neither a Jedi nor your master. I'm just an old man that's been lost in the woods for far too long. My days of glory are behind me, but perhaps there is something I can help you with."

"If it's not too much to ask, you could let us stay the night and answer a few questions."

"I suppose I could." Jolee began. "No one should be out in the Shadowlands at night, not even a Jedi."

"You'd take in strangers?" Canderous asked skeptically.

"And why shouldn't I?" Jolee asked, squinting and giving a hard smile. "Are you planning on killing an old man in his sleep? Didn't think so, now what's your names?"

"I'm Voren," he jerked a thumb to his side. "The Mandalorian is Canderous Ordo. Now who are you really?"

Jolee hummed as he tasted the soup. "Haven't you heard? Jolee Bindo is the crazy old man in the dangerous woods. I'm content with the impression I give."

"I sense the force in you, strongly." Voren noted. "And you use a lightsaber. You are a Jedi."

"I follow the Jedi Way and I command the Force, yes, and I suppose that makes me a Jedi as much as anyone." Jolee mused, twirling his lighsaber hilt in his hand. "But I see more grey than light and dark. Frankly, both extremes annoy me. Of course… I have felt the rumblings of change…"

"I sense you are a servant of the light, whether you will admit it or not." Voren countered. "I do not feel the taint of the dark side within you."

"What he said," Canderous nodded in Voren's direction. "You're either a failed padawan or a deserting knight."

Jolee's eyes darkened for a second. "Let's just say that I was a strapping young lad with a head full of hair, and Coruscant was a small town with a well, heh heh."

"Ok, let's leave it at that." Voren said. "Have you seen anyone strange recently?"

"I see all sorts of strange things," The old man smiled. "Mushrooms can do that to you. If you're referring to a person, perhaps, if you describe him."

"He would be wearing a leather jacket with a hood."

"Can't say that I have."

"Then what about a crazed Wookiee?" Canderous asked.

Jolee nodded. "Maddened with grief, yes, but not crazed. I helped him pass to the lower forests where only a Wookiee could follow. Some other matters will determine if you can follow." He said, mysteriously. "There is a barrier that… well, we'll talk more of that in a moment."

He wanted help with something, Voren realized, everyone wants something. But the way Jolee said it was strange, as if he was referring to something else. Then it hit him.

"You know about the Star Map," he stated.

"Now why would you be asking about that, hmm?" Jolee asked, not bothering to wait for an answer. "I knew that had to be why you were here. The problems of a few Wookiees don't amount to anything before the concerns of the Jedi. No, you are here for the map."

So the old man did know things, even if he spoke in half-truths. This actually created an opportunity he wouldn't let pass by.

"I admit," Voren conceded. "the Star Map is our primary concern. But I'm not blind to the Wookiees suffering; and Chuundar is keeping one of my friends hostage until I find this crazed Wookiee. If this Wookiee could be convinced to stand up against Chuundar, then both of our problems would be solved. If you know something, please tell me."

Jolee leaned back against the wall. "Kashyyyk is an interesting place, more so than anyone suspects. If Czerka knew, heh, the planet would be a strip mine. The Wookiees have their legends that they were not always here, but it is more than that. The trees themselves are strangers."

"I suppose there's a point in their somewhere?"

Jolee made a face. "What I'm saying is that there are literally walls in your way, and you won't find what you need without my help. And my help has a price. You must do a task for me, and then allow me to join with you. I will then remove certain barriers in your path."

So he not only wanted help, he also wanted transportation. Voren scratched his beard, Jolee did mention fighting the Sith. That experience would be useful in the days to come, and apparently without him their mission here on Kashyyyk would end in failure.

"Seems I don't have much of a choice."

"Good," Jolee leaned closer. "Now listen carefully. Since they began expanding in the Shadowlands, the Czerka have left me alone for the most part. Until recently, anyway. A group of them set up camp not far from here. Poachers is all they are. Id' like them removed from this place."

Removing a few Czerka scum seemed easy enough, Voren thought, he might even enjoy the ordeal. And by the looks of Canderous' grin, he would too. But there was still one problem he didn't understand.

"I have no problem with removing Czerka from this place," Voren announced. "But why do you want to join us?"

"You presumably have a ship," Jolee said, while shrugging. "I've seen all I wish to here. Isn't that enough? I mean, I'm really sick of the trees."

Voren stared at him in silence. It was bogus, and Jolee knew he knew it.

"And perhaps your destiny might show me something new." Jolee added warily, showing that he wouldn't elaborate more on the matter.

Voren sighed. "Where are they and how many?"

"They are not that far northeast of here. There are usually five in the area, as far as I can see. The Captain of the lot is the one that earned my ire." Jolee narrowed his eyes." Mishandle my garden, will he? Hmph!"

"You might as well make yourself comfortable," Jolee continued. "First thing in the morning I want them gone."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

With one precise stab of his blade, Alex killed the last of the giant spiders that had ambushed him in the forest's lower levels. Ugly creatures with fat, red-pigmented bodies and tenacity beyond all reason, they had tracked him for over a kilometer before finally springing their trap. He had barely begun to wonder about Kashyyyk's dangerous undergrowth dwellers before five of the giant spiders suddenly converged on him at once, trying to immobilize him with thick strands of web and poison. Despite having the advantage of surprise, it had been a miscalculation in attacking the forest's newest predator.

Not having to patience for another attack, Alex abandoned the undergrowth for the upper levels of the forest. He'd been following a group of Czerka before realizing they neither knew nor had any interest in his target, but they did lead him deep into the forest where a glowing wall halted his progress. It was a peculiar sight, a force field of red energy. The obstacle had an obvious flaw, its height. One that Alex took advantage of with a simple wall-run against one of the nearby trees, briefly wondering who put it there as he descended towards the ground on the opposite side. A mystery to be solved another time, now; he had some hunting to do.

Leaping from branch to branch, he ascended a hundred meters before continuing in a steady pace. At this distance, he could remain undetected from any creatures on the forest floor and at the same time offered him a greater field of vision. Once he reached a good distance from the wall, he took a more level heading, albeit one slightly downwards. The forest canopy stretched at least another two kilometers above him, consisting of the branches of mighty trees overlapping one another for support and carrying many thousands of species on their broad terraces. Insects crawled and swarmed in the bark, birds flew in flocks around nesting grounds. The air was full of animal sounds and the rustling of leaves, but for each step carrying him deeper into the forest, the sounds dissipated.

He saw glimpses of the great predators in the area through his thermal vision, stalking and accessing their prey. He paid them no head as he continued leaping, if they attacked he would deal with them as he did the spiders. Four times did he descend to the ground, as he came across bodies belonging to humans and Wookiees. All four of them had suffered from animal attacks; the latest body was even torn to bits. The different pieces had once belonged to a Wookiee, but what could his attention was a grey object. A datapad that had survived the attack. Alex scanned the information it contain, a list of four members of the hunting party. He'd found four bodies, however, he couldn't be certain they were the same. Being a shapeshifter, it was logical that Rulan would take one of their shapes.

His search continued for almost throughout the night without progress, if there had been traces of the hunting party, they were now gone. Alex imagined them suffering a violent end brought on by the various beasts lurking in the shadows. It was then he heard it, off in the distance, a voice talking. Being careful not making any unnecessary sounds, he snuck closer and hid in the underbrush. The voice belonged to a Wookiee, who appeared to be walking in circles, talking to himself. Alex observed quietly for a while before letting his presence be known. The Wookiee seemed like every other Wookiee he'd come across, big, furry and annoying. His target was a shapeshifter, leaving him with little choice in the matter. Besides, he'd just spent the entire night in the forest, alone. He could use someone to talk to for a bit.

The Wookiee became startled as he exited the underbrush, taking a defensive stance.

"Why do you disturb me, human?" the Wookiee growled. "Grarwwaar comes to the Shadowlands to get away from your kind."

Grarwwaar, Alex thought, was on the list.

"At last!" Alex said, "I've found you."

Grarwwaar smiled, showing his large pointy teeth. "So you have uncovered my little secret. No matter, this body has grown tiresome to me. Maybe I can find one more to your liking, human."

Grarwwaars body convulsed, not unlike how his own body convulses when changing shape, Alex noted. In front of him stood a dark-skinned human male, wearing brown Jedi robes. Rulan swung his vibrosword in a menacing manner, and entered his preferred stance. Alex was impressed, Rulan's transformation was as quick as his own, but he seemed to have the same limitations as well. Rulan didn't seem to be able to change material things, his weapon remained the same.

"I'm relieved," Alex began. "That you can't transform technology, because that would have made you a serious threat."

Rulan took the insult to heart and charged forward, firmly planting the blade deep into Alex's skull before he could react. Satisfied he didn't have to go through a prolonged fight; Rulan took a few steps back and waited for the inevitable collapse of his opponent. Only, it never came. What he saw made him truly fearful, a thing that shouldn't be possible. The hooded man's skull was split open, but he still stood there, unmoving. His face was pulling itself together by hundreds of small tendrils, and within a few seconds, was back to normal.

"It seems you only have the strength of a human," Alex noted condescendingly, giving off a challenging look that radiated superiority. "I suppose I could still have some small use of you."

"How are you alive?" Rulan asked, taking a step back. "You should be dead."

"Oh, it will take more than that to kill me."

As the shock dissipated, Rulan relaxed his posture and pulled his hand against the tip of the blade. Grinning smugly as he rubbed his fingers together.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked.

"You'll see."

Rulan's body convulse once more, ending up in a familiar form. It should be, because Alex was staring at a perfect replica of himself.

Alex's grin disappeared, this could be troublesome. "Copying me, that's not cool."

Rulan shifted his position and his feet crossed, left in front of right. He spun on his left foot, the right coming up and out, catching Alex squarely in the jaw. The force caused his body to fly backwards, finally resting against a woshyr tree. Alex threw off a log trapping him against the tree and stood up, wrinkled his nose as he inhaled the dust cloud.

He has my strength, Alex thought, still reeling from the shock.

Alex ran forward, jumping over a rock as he raced towards his enemy. His right arm rose as he neared his replica. He swung his arm against Rulan's jaw, positive it would connect. This time too he was caught by surprise as his fist hit air, receiving an upper-cut instead. Alex sneered; his opponent not only had his strength, but his speed as well. Rulan followed up his initial attack by spinning around, using the momentum of his swing, and delivered a crushing blow against Alex's midsection.

He recovered quickly and engaged Rulan in an exchange of punches, neither willing to let up. Gaining the upper hand, Alex delivered a decisive blow, creating some distance between them and giving him some time to observe his enemy. His strength and speed were equal, but his stamina wasn't quite the same, evident from Rulan's inability to keep up over an extended period of time.

Alex engaged again with a palm against Rulan's throat. A gurgle escaped the man's mouth when his windpipe was cut off unexpectedly. Keeping his hand in place, Alex lifted Rulan's body off the ground with a running push. Rulan struggled for balance midair, unable to find it before his body was slammed into the tree behind. The force of the impact sent vibrations over the area.

Alex let go of Rulan and grabbed the falling man by the hair. As Rulan touched down, Alex pulled his head back, and slammed it against the tree mercilessly. Further expanding the cracked crater in the wood.

A groan escaped Rulan's lips as he began to understand that he couldn't win this fight. Not a second later, a brutal punch from Alex blindsided Rulan in the side of his head. The crater in the wood crunched even farther in and a crack extended nearly one-and-a-half meters. With a shattering bang, the tree collapsed inwards, sending splinters in all directions.

As the dust settled, Alex stepped back and watched his handiwork. Rulan's body slumped against the ground, breathing erratically and observing Alex with fear filled eyes.

Alex tilted his chin to the side and frowned, he'd expected more from a fellow shapeshifter. His opponent might have been able to copy his basic characteristics, but unable to replicate his more advanced functions. His momentary lapse of focus gave Rulan a chance to escape, a chance he took. His body convulsed, and a small primate rushed through the underbrush. Alex raced quickly behind, and entered a small clearing filled with lookalike creatures.

Tach, small simian creatures, was everywhere. Some playing, others sleeping.

Smart, Alex thought, hiding in a Tach nest.

Alex stalked the area, observing for any sign of Rulan. He raced forward, grabbing one of the Tach and slammed it against the ground. The other Tach rushed from the area at the unexpected attack. Leaving Alex alone with a single Tach, unable to keep its transformation, it reverted into a large deformed creature with pale skin, it had a wide mouth and a deep set of eyes.

"So this is how you really look like." Alex stated.

"How?" Rulan asked, trying to raise his body but failing. "How did you know it was me?"

"Thermal vision." Alex explained, "Unlike all the other primates here, your brain is lit up like the fourth of July."

Rulan simple rested his head against the ground, not understanding the reference.

"You might be able to change your appearance, but you can't hide that superior intellect." Alex knelt beside Rulan, "I guess compared to an ape, you're quite smart."

"Just get on with it," Rulan said, grimacing. "Or are you going to insult me to death?"

"As you wish."

Alex let his feeder tendrils crawl over Rulan's body, and with a mental command, they consumed him.