Chapter Twenty Four: Scores
It was early morning, as various sounds of nature chirped throughout the lush environment of a forest world. Trees stood tall and were in abundance, but not so much as to cast the lands below in darkness. The rising sun cast its soft rays on upon the uncivilized moon, leaving an orange glow upon the dewy surface. A gentle breeze passed over the unsullied environment, branches and shrubs rustling as the local fauna awoke from their slumber.
Resting amidst the serene locale was a small lake, its waters calm and home to a number of creatures. Small lizards and rodents scuttled around the waters' edge, but took care not to pass its shimmering threshold. Each would take its drink before slinking back into the surrounding brush. Tall, thin trees sprouted from beneath the lake's surface, each home to a mess of tangled roots that provided shelter to the smaller creatures from whatever dangers may lurk. But as trees planted themselves and thrived within the water, the lake's center went uninterrupted by flora, only a smooth, unbroken surface that reflected the rays cast from the rising sun.
The area was quiet. Peaceful. The only sounds stemming from the quaint chattering of the local wildlife and the whistling of the passing breeze. But the serenity was not unassailable. In the distance, a hum rang out, increasing with volume as its source approached the quiet lake. The noise carried with it a mechanical oscillation, the kind associated with repulsorcraft.
As the hum grew louder, it was accompanied by the snapping of twigs and rustling of shrubberies. The various elements of undergrowth were being brushed aside as some foreign element pushed its way through the previously unsullied locale. Small animals near the lake began to scamper away, fearing the source of the noise. Passing through the final layer of trees, the source of the hum had arrived at the lake. It belonged to an engine, an engine attached to a light platform, upon which sat little more than a light metallic frame. A frame that rose to the midsection of the repulsorcraft's sole pilot.
The figure stood tall, covered head to toe in light-gray fur. A Wookiee, garbed in little more than a leather harness across his chest. One hand on the mobile platform's controls, the other was affixed tightly around the stock of his bowcaster. The bandoliers that hung from his broad shoulders were predominantly empty, as were the blade sheaths upon his back. He had everything he needed right in his hands.
The platform calmed its approached, hovering a short distance above the water's surface near the lake's edge. The hum of the craft's engine dulled until it was almost completely absent. Silence began to return to the scene, buts its denizens did not. The small fauna that fled knew better than to make their presence known. But the Wookiee had little need for them anyway. His sights were set on what sat beneath the lake's depths.
The Wookiee urged his repulsorcraft forward, inching closer to the lake's center. His sharpened eyes began scanning the surface of the calm waters, hand gripping tighter around the stock of his weapon. Nearing the middle of the lake, the hunter halted his approach, coasting to a quiet stop. Soft ripples emanated from beneath the hovering platform, expanding outward before calmly fading.
Removing his hand from the craft's control panel, the Wookiee raised his bowcaster, placing the stock against his shoulder as he gripped it firmly with both hands. Peering over the frame of the platform, the hunter intently scanned the surface of the waters ahead. His breathing slowed as he concentrated, every movement made with utmost precision. Finally, something emerged from the depths of the lake. A small, fleshy object broke the surface of the water, topped with black eyes that seemed to stare off into the distance.
The Wookiee remained silent. Motionless. His eyes affixed to the emerged object, the hunter maintained an unwavering calm and focus. As the blob of flesh and eyes disappeared beneath the surface, the Wookiee remained rigid in his stance. There was a rumbling beneath the lake, and soon the waters began to swell. In an instant, a giant beast propelled itself upward, kicking up a column of water as it breached the surface. The amphibious creature launched itself meters above the stationary Wookiee, a portion of its body still beneath the lake's surface. Widening its vast, toothy maw, the object from before revealed itself to be merely the creature tongue. As he stood beneath the shadow of the cascading beast, the hunter did not falter.
With a single pull of the trigger, the Wookiee released a metallic quarrel from his bowcaster. The charged bolt surged forward, ripping into the creature's flesh and sending it reeling back from its intended prey. The creature fell back with a resounding splash, sending ripples and waves crashing toward the lake's edges. As his prey floated motionless on the water's surface, the Wookiee reached beneath the platform's controls, and returned with a metallic cord attached to a winch. Making a loop, the hunter gave himself some slack before expertly lassoing the loop around the beast's neck. Pulling the cord taught, the Wookiee returned to the control panel, and began to move the repulsorcraft, slowly dragging the felled beast along the lake's surface.
At the water's edge, the hunter continued to pull the beast out of its former home, slowly revealing its stocky yet serpentine body as he dragged it onto the bank. Hopping down from his craft, the beast's size became even more impressive when measured against the towering Wookiee. From end to end, the aquatic creatures stood over five meters long. One third was comprised of its head and elongated neck. Another was comprised of its stocky torso, from which sprouted stout, webbed limbs. The last third, was a long, thin tail. Taking a folding knife from his harness, the Wookiee went to work cutting and severing the slick appendage.
Coiling the collected tail, the hunter secured it to his craft, before detaching the winch from the rest of the creature. Climbing aboard the platform, the Wookiee quickly raised himself and began vacating the area, leaving the tail-less body of the creature he had slain. Returning along the path he had traveled, the hunter sped forward through the forested terrain, eyes set on returning home.
After minutes of traveling, the Wookiee's eyes set upon a quaint cabin nestled amongst the peaceful forest. In a clearing a short distance away, a large black freighter sat, its top covered with natural and artificial camouflage. The Wookiee brought his repulsorcraft to a stop near the cabin's rear, amongst a yard populated with the tools and designs of a hunter. Touching down, the Wookiee picked up his bowcaster, and slung his acquired prize over his shoulder. Dragging the lengthy tail, the hunter eventually draped it over a rack near the cabin's rear door.
Wiping his brow, the silver-haired Wookiee entered the home he had crafted for himself. The sturdy cabin was constructed out of local wood, cut and shaped to mimic Kashyyyk aesthetics. Stepping inside, the hunter hung his bowcaster on a pair of wooden pegs on the wall. Moving throughout his wooden home, the Wookiee passed his kitchen and made his way toward the living area. Standing at the threshold of his destination, the hunter froze as he saw someone awaiting him.
In one of his hand-carved chairs, a single Trandoshan sat patiently, his cold, sharpened gaze immediately affixed to the Wookiee the moment he stepped into sight. The two figures' eyes connected, and the atmosphere grew immediately heavy, even though neither of them had acted. The Wookiee did not understand. A tracker as good as he would have noticed if someone had broken into his home. He could not explain the intruder in his home, as the two continued to offer one another only enduring, bitterly cold stares.
If it was a test of who would be the first to act, the Wookiee had every intention of being the victor. With blinding speed, the furred figure ducked out of sight, rushing back toward the cabin's rear. As he stepped into the kitchen to retrieve his bowcaster, the Wookiee was shocked to see another intruder standing in his way. A Nikto had planted himself between the hunter and his weapon, standing firm, arms crossed, offering only silence and the same bitterly cold stare as the Trandoshan. Once more the Wookiee was frozen in place, wondering if his centuries had finally caught up with him. But there was something about these men. Something unlike anything he was encountered before.
Suddenly, the black-clad Nikto moved. It was subtle, and he remained exactly where he stood, be the intruder offered the quick motion of his head, urging the Wookiee back toward the living area. There was something oppressive, something unforgiving about remaining under the Nikto's gaze. Reluctantly, the Wookiee complied, taking a careful step back toward the room in which the Trandoshan sat. Then another. Then another. Eventually, the Wookiee returned to find the other intruder right where he left him, casually sitting in one of the wooden chairs, casting his sharpened eyes toward him.
The sandy-scaled Trandoshan was garbed in black armorweave protecting his torso and legs, hands and feet going uncovered. From his neck hung a necklace of collected teeth and talons. The Wookiee had no memory of the Trandoshan, but knew well enough why he had come. He had killed and enslaved enough of his peoples that there were undoubtedly countless of them seeking revenge. But before the Wookiee could dwell on the matter, the scaled intruder finally broke his stilled stance. With a quick motion of his head much like his companion's, he directed the Wookiee's attention to a nearby wall.
Two weapons hung from the wall on display. Two swords. Ryyk Kerarthorr blades. Hand-forged weapons possessing long, sickle-like edges, mounted on perpendicular handles. The Wookiee looked to them for a moment, before returning his attention to the intruder. The Trandoshan offered only a quick nod.
Carefully, the Wookiee edged closer and closer to the hanging weapons, never taking his eyes fully off the sitting Trandoshan. Resting a hand on one of the blades, the Wookiee looked for one final clarification, but received only the intruder's enduring glare. Removing the swords from the wall, the Wookiee wrapped his hands tightly around their handles. The Trandoshan began to rise from his seat, prompting the Wookiee to firmly plant his feet. He watched with confusion as the scaled intruder made his way toward the cabin's entrance. Turning his back on him, the Wookiee saw two blackened blades strapped to the lizard's back.
The Wookiee turned to see the Nikto now standing in the threshold between the living area and the kitchen, leaving him only one way to go. He thought of brandishing his blades, slicing through the Nikto and escaping out the back. But something urged him toward the Trandoshan. The hunter couldn't explain it. Was it fear.? Was it honor? Was it fate?
The Wookiee emerge from his home to see the Trandoshan had not yet ceased his movements. He continued to walk, further and further from the home, making his way toward the clearing that housed the hunter's ship. The Wookiee followed in silence, steeling himself and focusing his mind. The Trandoshan led the Wookiee away from his home, past the clearing to a spot unburdened by the surrounding forest. On a nearby hill, there was only grass, nothing to obscure or obstruct. Only the gentle greenery nipping at the Trandoshan's heels amidst the calm breeze.
The Wookiee looked back to see the Nikto leaning against the exterior wall of his cabin, keeping his distance from himself and the Trandoshan. Ahead, the lizard stood patiently in the center of the hill. The Wookiee calmly approached, keeping his head held high, his hands firmly secured around his swords' handles. Finally did the Trandoshan unsheathe the blades across his back. He held in his hands two matte black dueling swords, straight-edged and immaculately sharp. As he awaited the Wookiee, he refused to take his sharpened eyes off of his opponent.
The Wookiee finally came to a stop a few meters across from the Trandoshan. They both stood in silence, only the occasional sound of nature sounding out. As the Wookiee looked to his opponent, he expect some words. Some measure of explanation. Some exposition of intent. At the very least, he expected a sweltering of fiery emotion. But he received none of it. The Trandoshan was unique amongst his species. The Wookiee had never seen a being who carried so much hate in his eyes, but made so little noise. As the two warriors stared each other down, as the two hunters secured their grip on their blades, they both realized that this was a matter beyond words.
Nesk. Direclaw. It would be the end of one of them. Widening his stance, the Trandoshan raised his swords, ready to begin. The Wookiee did the same, preparing himself for the battle ahead. There was no signal to begin. No formal declaration that the fight was on. It was merely a test of who would be the first to act. The Trandoshan had every intention of being the victor.
Upon the hill, Nesk was the initiator, charging forward, kicking up dirt and grass as his feet dug into the ground beneath him. Direclaw steadied himself, ready to block the attack. But as he prepared to absorb the blow, he caught a glimpse of his opponent's eyes. In that instant, he realized there would be no stopping him. Dodging out of the way, the Wookiee leapt to the side as the Trandoshan released a heavy swing of his blades. The attack almost seemed to cut the air itself, surpassing the wind in sound and intensity. Even as he recovered meters away, the Wookiee felt a wave of pressure wash over him.
Direclaw watched as in the distance, undergrowth parallel with the Trandoshan's strike violently shook, as if affected by the attack. The Wookiee's eyes widened at the spectacle, almost unable to process the immense power his opponent wielded. But he would not be allowed to marvel for long, as the Trandoshan was once again on the offense. Nesk barreled toward his foe with the same vigor, same fire behind his eyes. Bringing his swords down once more, the Trandoshan this time managed to connect metal against metal. The Wookiee's legs almost buckled under the pressure of the blow, Nesk's blades pressed against his. Before he could react further, Direclaw found the Trandoshan's naked foot delivered straight into his gut.
The Wookiee was sent tumbling back by impact of the blow and the accompanying shockwave. Direclaw rolled on the grass, almost releasing his grip on his weapons. When he finally righted himself, he saw his opponent standing motionless across from him. As the Trandoshan cast his harsh gaze, the Wookiee could almost feel his will being drained. He felt weak. He felt powerless. He felt defeated. But as the Trandoshan raised his blades once more, he knew he could not resign himself to death.
Direclaw straightened his stance and raised his blades. There was a calm as the two warrior stared one another down, each ready to conclude their battle. Finally, the two immense figures began to run toward one another, hands gripping ever tighter. They ran, growing closer and closer, until finally, contact. The two hunters simultaneously swung their swords with all their might, before continuing past one another for a couple of steps. The two men came to a stop as they both remained upright, standing back to back.
The air was calm. The hill was quiet. The fight was over. Nesk looked to see his blades coated with a layer of blood, a moment later hearing the sound of a Wookiee crumbling to the ground. Turning around, the Trandoshan was greeted with the sight of Direclaw lying face-down in the grass, motionless, small rivulets of red staining the surrounding green.
With a deep breath, Nesk wiped his blades against his thigh, before returning them to their sheaths. He turned to see Vurt slowly approaching, looking toward him with his usual cold stoicism. The two Sith shared a brief look before deciding their business done.
The two walked away from the hill, leaving behind Direclaw and all he had created, as they ventured back toward their ship. Trekking across the forested world, the pair moved in silence as they returned to their vessel parked over an hour's walk away. When the two finally returned to their ship, they entered to find a series of notices flashing on their datapads. Looking over the electronic tablets, the two Sith studied the communications, identical in their composition. After reading over the messages, the pair offered one another a quick, affirming nod, before entering the shuttle's cockpit.
Soon, the Imperial vessel lifted itself from the ground, and began its slow, careful ascent upward, back through the natural canopy they had breached before. As they departed the uncivilized moon, a lone figure looked up at the roaring shuttle, hiding in the brush below. A small, furry humanoid, garbed in rough leathers, hands clutched around a primitive spear.
The tribal denizen stared in wonder as it watched the metal box fly across the sky before finally disappearing into the heavens.