I don't own Star Wars or any of the characters.
A few hours after the Journeyers had encountered Xesh, three Je'daii fighters rendezvous over the crashed Rakata ship. Ranger Hawk Ryo maneuvered his fighter over the barren landscape. The Twi'lek Je'daii was soon joined by the fighters of Ranger Rori Fenn and Temple Master Quan-Jang.
"Master Quan-Jang, Ranger Fenn—right on time. Drop in for a closer look?" spoke Hawk.
"Copy that. Your lead." sent back Rori.
The three fighters flew over the crash site of an unfamiliar ship. Hawk pulled out his comm. link, contacting Temple Master Kora Ryo.
"I believe this is the same ship Fury Station detected. Master Kora, are you receiving visual?" asked Hawk.
At Kaleth, the Temple of Knowledge, Temple Master Kora Ryo received her ex-brother-in-law's transmissions loud and clear. The white skinned female Twi'lek Temple Master responded to the Ranger's transmission.
"Yes, Hawk. Your signal is strong here at Kaleth. Are you certain this is all the same ship?" wondered Kora.
Suddenly, two gigantic rift worms burst up from the ground. They opened their three part mouths, hundreds of sword like teeth encircling the beasts' jaws. The Je'daii had to be careful around the rift worms. Those jaws could tear a fighter in two.
"Abyss creatures are getting bolder." observed Quan-Jang.
"And ranging wider. Strange." said Rori.
Hawk dove out of the path of a rift worm, barely missing his wings being clipped. The Twi'lek Je'daii flew over the wreckage, catching sight of partially eaten alien-looking corpses.
"One vessel, yes. Rift predators have found the remains—mostly charred, alien-looking skeletons. Any thoughts, Kora?" reported Hawk.
"There's not much left to work with but from size alone, I can tell you it is not one of our sleeper ships. Too massive." informed Kora.
"What of the crew, Kora?" questioned Hawk.
"Nothing. Both ship and crew are unlike anything ever seen before in the Tython system. Be wary, Hawk. Since that ship crashed, all of the Temples have been reporting unusual weather. I know it may sound strange, but I believe Tython is reacting to the mass death of those Force sensitives. A huge Force Storm is developing." explained Kora.
"Copy that. We're catching some dangerous air up here already. Master Ketu was right—no one could have survived this…" sent out Hawk.
Hawk caught sight of an escape pod.
"Wait. Master Quan-Jan, Ranger Fenn—do you see that small vessel outside the main wreckage? An escape pod?" spotted Hawk.
"I see it." told Rori.
"Affirm." said Quan-Jang.
The rift worms swarmed bellow the Je'daii's fighters. They would have to clear the ground in order to land. The three Je'daii armed their laser-cannons, prepared to shoot the rift worms upon command.
"Hawk Ryo out. We're going dirtside to investigate." spoke Hawk.
"Fire over a wide area. Scatter the rift creatures back to their holes!" commanded Quan-Jang.
The Rangers' fired upon the Temple Master's command. The sound of laser-fire filled the air, alongside the blood curtailing howls of the rift worms. The Je'daii kept firing their laser-cannons until the rift worms finally scattered. The three quickly landed their fighters and explored the crash site.
Quan-Jang examined the escape pod while Hawk and Rori searched the rest of the wreckage. The science master ran his hand over the writing on the escape pod, recognizing the writing.
"Interesting. The technology of this escape pod…very unlike ours. But these symbols are in our own language—Aurebesh… They say 'Predor Tul'kar.' The prominence suggests someone of importance. Perhaps the ship's captain?" theorized Quan-Jang.
Hawk recognized some mechanical wreckage that was not part of the alien ship.
"My niece—Tasha Ryo—this wreck is her speeder." realized Hawk.
Rori found the shattered remains of two swords. She picked up the remnants of the two swords, instantly recognizing the personalized sigils on the shattered blades' hilts.
"These belong to Shae Koda and Sek'nos Rath. I know the sigils on the hilts… What would Shae Koda and Sek'nos Rath be doing here? And what could have done this to Master Madong's durasteel?" questioned Rori.
A roar caught the three Je'daii's attention. The three quickly drew their weapons, scanning the area for the approaching threat.
"More scavengers?" asked Rori.
A large reptilian creature charged into the crash site. The Je'daii calmed when they saw it was only a riding mount.
"No Riding mount." said Hawk.
Hawk sent out calming waves through the Force. The riding mount calmed, nudging its head against the Twi'lek.
"Easy...nothing's going to hurt you…!" soothed Hawk.
Without any warning, a wounded Rancor charged into the clearing. The riding mount shrieked, fear overtaking all its other instincts. Hawk prepared to draw his sword, Rori raising her own blade.
"Well, maybe a wounded Rancor might." sarcastically said Rori.
Quan-Jang approached the Rancor, upon seeing the creature's wings. The Je'daii Master sheathed his blade, sending calming waves through the Force. The Rancor stuck its nose in Quan-Jang's face, inhaling the master's scent.
"Shh, shh…Butch. We know each other. Pain. Yes. I can take that away." calmly spoke Quan-Jang.
Quan-Jang placed his hand on the creature's forehead. The Je'daii Master breathed deeply, concentrating on taking away Butch's pain.
"See? Better now. Hmm. These blisters…an acid pool? I trust you didn't take Shae with you into it…" quietly said Quan-Jang.
Quan-Jang turned to his fellow Je'daii. Rori and Hawk could sense the concern radiating off the Temple Master through the Force, his face remaining an expressionless mask.
"The escape pod is empty. A battle took place here. Our three young Journeyers against whatever survived in that escape pod. But where are they now?" deeply spoke Quan-Jang.
"I am sensing…something in the Abyss. It flickers in and out of the Force…an attempt to hide? Our three young Je'daii?" wondered Rori.
"I sense…something else. Pain…strong emotion. Dark emotions. It's gone now. Swallowed up by the storm." sensed Quan-Jang.
"Master Kora is right—the storm is growing. Flying the hunters over the Abyss would be foolhardy. Even in clear weather, energy from the Abyss can scramble a ship's senses. Blast! One of them should have stayed here to let us know what we're dealing with. Tasha knows better!" exclaimed Hawk.
Quan-Jang turned to Butch, stroking the winged Rancor's chin.
"Perhaps the hunters are grounded, but Butch was born to the storm. She can fly it." told Quan-Jang.
"'Butch'?" questioned Rori.
"Shae Koda named her. You two take Sek'nos' mount—it may scent its rider. I will follow shortly. Rancors have thick hides and her wounds are not severe. Perhaps I can stop them from above." explained Quan-Jang.
Quan-Jang mounted Butch while Rori and Hawk climbed onto Sek'nos' mount, riding off into the storm.
XXX
Shae Koda was frustrated. She had been trying for the past half hour to get her comm. to work, but all she got was static. Shae wanted to throw the comm. to the ground and stomp on it, but restrained herself. She was a Je'daii Journeyer. And she would act like it, no matter how much she wished to give into her frustration.
"I give up! Storm's still jamming the comm.! There's no chance of contacting anyone." huffed Shae.
Shae was not the only Journeyer growing frustrated. Tasha had grown increasingly irritable and sore the longer they continued walking.
"I hate this place! My garments are ruined, I'm soaked, I'm filthy, and all the plants scratch. Look, my hands are bleeding!" complained Tasha.
"Oh, for…Suck it up, princess. I told you to keep to the rocks, but, no, you had to walk over the 'nice soft sand.' I told you it was mucksand!" sharply spoke Shae.
Sek'nos ignored the girls' argument, keeping his attention on the storm that raged all around them.
"Seen a lot of storms on Tython, but never one this massive." observed Sek'nos.
"Me neither. And it keeps getting worse. What's causing it?" wondered aloud Shae.
Tasha pointed ahead of her, getting the other two Journeyers attention.
"Who cares what's causing the stupid storm! But if you want to find the stranger—that's where he's gone. The Abyss of Ruh!" stated Tasha.
Shae resisted the urge to groan and smack her forehead.
"Great. Just great. Had to be the Abyss. I went there with Master Quan-Jang a month back to get some specimens and I almost died!" muttered Shae.
"Yeah, but 'almost dead' isn't dead. Tracking in the Abyss is always tough, but it's a challenge I was made for. I've got a nose like a tracker cat!" gloated Sek'nos.
"yeah. And the face to match." mocked Shae.
"You like my face. Admit it!" teased Sek'nos.
"Not as much as you like it! Maybe the princess likes it even better." joked Shae.
Tasha had had enough of her companions' useless banter. Turning on her heels, Tasha Ryo faced Shae Koda and Sek'nos Rath.
"Enough blather. Let's find this Xesh and be done with it!" exclaimed Tasha.
"'Blather'?" said Shae.
"And you quit calling me 'princess'!" snapped Tasha.
The three Journeyers made their way into the Abyss, Tasha at the lead. The path they took was rocky and unstable, causing the three to cautiously watch each footstep. Shae could not help but remember who was the one to suggest the current path the Journeyers were taking.
"Whose bright idea was this anyway? Oh. Right…" commented Shae.
Tasha ignored the red head, storming down the path ahead of her two traveling companions.
XXX
Xesh stumbled further into the strange landscape. His mind is dazed—his wounds burn. The land is strange hand harsh, slicing at him as he stumbled on. Liquid that should cool burns him. The storm hammers at him.
What happened? The ship exploded before the crashing! He remembered that. But why did it explode? Perhaps sabotage—but by whom? The crash concussed him. His wounds rob him of his strength. He is drained by his confusion. Darkness takes him
XXX
From the dark moon of Bogan, Daegen Lok watched the Force Storm gathering on Tython. He had witnessed many storms on the planet from his prison. This mass of clouds swirls with a dark energies of hurricane force. It is unnatural. And completely intoxicating.
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