Chapter 34: Hunters Get Hunted
Calak, Bastila and their comrades all headed east into the Dune Sea. This area was largely unexplored and rumored to be even more dangerous then the area near Anchorhead. For over three hours they walked under the twin suns, following the map the chieftain had given them they saw a herd of Dewbacks and Banthas and eventually the cave came into view as well. It was a large opening in a mountain side and Calak could just make out two figures in the distance before the entrance to it. There was also something else in there too, Calak could feel a large presence in the force. That had to be the Krayt Dragon that lived in there and-
"You really think this could be the same Krayt Dragon that killed my father?" Bastila asked, echoing Calak's thoughts.
"It's possible," Calak said. "How many Krayt Dragons could really be on Tatooine? This one's only about ten miles from Anchorhead where we met your mother."
Bastila nodded. "Seems so."
They continued on, wondering who was outside the dragons lair, perhaps they could help them?
…
Up ahead, the two hunters, one a greenish yellow Twi'lek and the other a dark haired human watched the sleeping form of their immense quarry. They had set up a trap outside the Kray Dragon's lair and were now waiting, hoping the dragon would come out, but it didn't seem to be enticed to do so.
This was an exceptionally large dragon. The Twilek, Komada Fortuna had seen one many years ago when he had accompanied his father here on this world as a young hunter. This dragon appeared to be an even bigger bull, and he required a large amount of food to sustain himself. The Bantha herd in this area had been reduced drastically to sate the dragons appetite, eventually the dragon would run out of food in this region and likely go after the nearby human settlement. These circumstances had forced Komad to forgo his usual sense of hunters honor, normally he would have gladly faced the dragon in combat with his blaster, alongside several other hunters perhaps. But his plan required a minimum of two, and there wasn't much other way to split the profits equally, as the inside of a Krayt Dragon bore two valuable pearls, any more then two and there was a chance that other hunters who were less honorable might try to kill Komad and take both pearls for themselves.
"I'm tired of waiting Komad!" Komad's partner said. "How big can this dragon of yours be? I'm going in!"
He charged into the cave, passing the mines that had been laid since they recognized the signal that both he and Komad carried on their remote. Komad grit his teeth, that man was one of the few honorable hunters that he trusted to have his back. But he was also young and rash. Komad had often warned him that charging in could be his downfall, and finally he was proven correct. The younger hunter went inside the cave and saw the full size of the Krayt Dragon. He screamed as it got up from its resting position, realizing too late he had no chance against the beast on his own and it took only a single step forward then swallowed the poor man with only a few bites.
"Oh dear," Komad said as he watched in dismay.
Now he was on his own. He didn't know if he was ready for this now. The mines would at least weaken the dragon, hopefully kill it. But if that failed then Komad needed someone with heavy firepower. Maybe he would have to retreat for the moment, come back with another hunter.
"Hello?" a voice asked from behind.
Komad turned around in surprise and saw a human male leading a group of eight others. Three other humans, two males, one female, a Twi'lek girl, Wookie, and a rarely seen Cathar as well as two droids. Komad was sure he'd seen the leader a couple days ago.
"Well it's you!" Komad exclaimed. "From the hunting lodge correct?"
"Yeah, Calak Star!" Calak said.
"Ah, well your arrival is most opportune Calak Star," Komad said in relief. "I'm hunting a Krayt Dragon. It's in this cave napping, just received a snack in the form of my partner though."
"Thought I heard a scream," Calak said.
"Dumb kid," the gray-haired human said. "I'm all for hunting large predators but only a fool goes in up against that without a plan."
He sounded like a Mandalorian, and looked like one with that big gun. The tattoos on his shoulders seemed Mandalorian as well.
"Well I have a plan," Komad said before looking around, noticing there were the nine newcomers. "I had laid mines around the entrance."
"Mines? That's not very sporting," Calak said.
"No, but nor is traveling with a large party," Komad said. "Unless in dire circumstances."
"I was hunting Sand People," Calak told him.
"Ah, that's an exception I can agree with," Komad said. "And so is this… and the mines. You see this Kray Dragon has eaten much of the resources in his territory, if he deplete his food supply here he will move on to another location, which could endanger Anchorhead or another settlement."
"I see," Calak said.
"We'll gladly help you then," the human woman said. "We're Jedi, sworn to defend the innocent."
Jedi? Good, then they were probably not likely to betray Komad for profit.
"Thank you," Komad said. "Well, now that I have a reasonably large team of hunters I think I can adjust my plan. I won't have to use Banthas to lure the dragon in, this should be good enough. Maybe a few less mines as well."
He took a moment to dismantle a few of the mines then turned back to them.
"Alright, here's the plan. I'll go ahead and shot the dragon to get its attention. Then once the mines are all used up it should be severely weakened enough for us to kill it with our blasters… or laser swords as you Jedi use."
"Lightsabers," Bastila corrected him.
"Whatever," Komad said. "Everything understood?"
"Yes," Calak said as the others in his crew nodded.
"Good," Komad said. "I'm glad I don't have to risk going up against the nearby Sand People tribe. They're very dangerous, more so then the neighboring one that has been harassing Czerka."
"So we've heard," Canderous said.
"Statement: This will be a glorious hunt! My biggest assassination yet if I get a shot!" HK-47 said.
Suddenly the ground began to shake and a loud sound came as well.
"What is that rumbling sound?" Komad exclaimed. "He must have decided there were enough out here to be of interest to him! Oh he's a big one!"
The dragon emerged from its cave, its thick hide a mixture of green and yellow, its fangs and claws enormous with a pair of horns on its head. Calak was sure that if it came to battle, one mistake against the Krayt Dragon would be fatal, had he entered the cave and been in the confined space it would have probably been his certain doom since he would not have adequate room to move around.
Calak, Juhani, and Bastila all lit their lightsabers, while Carth Canderous, Komad and all their other companions drew their blasters. If the mines failed it would probably take everything they had to take down this dragon. Good thing Canderous had a heavy blaster cause Calak wasn't so sure the smaller blasters would be enough to penetrate that oversized hide.
Soon the mines exploded underneath the beast. It went through several before it howled in pain and then continued forward.
"Now!" Komad shouted.
All the blaster wielders shot their weapons, sending bolts firing at the already wounded but still very dangerous creature. The Krayt Dragon passed more mines and as it approached Calak, Bastila and Juhani all struck with their lightsabers. Those all served as the finishing blow to bring the immense creature down. Three differently colored blades swung at it, Juhani stabbed it in the throat while Bastila cut its lower jaw, and Calak leapt up onto its head and inserted his blue blade into its brain. The Krayt Dragon, the largest predator on Tatooine… fell and died with a final roar.
Calak, who had jumped off the dragons head before it fell, landed extinguished his lightsaber along with Bastila and Juhani while the others holstered their blasters. Calak then walked over to Komad.
"It's done," the Twi'lek hunter said in remorse. "To my shame the fight was rather rigged with the mines. But at least he somewhat of a final fight."
"I don't think that we would have survived that fight on our own," Bastila said. "At least not all of us. The mines were necessary I believe."
Komad then drew a vibroblade and walked toward the dragon's corpse. He cut it open and after a moment pulled out two shining white pearls.
"The spoils of the hunt," the hunter said. "Never waste them. Better extract whatever meat you can as well."
He pulled out large chunks of the dragon flesh and put them in a large set of crates he'd brought along that were climate controlled. Calak meanwhile, chopped off the dragons legs with his lightsaber. He, Juhani, and Bastila could use the force to levitate them.
"Well, this should fetch a good price as well," Komad said. "Not many people get the chance to eat Krayt Dragon meat. Better hurry back to Anchorhead before it spoils."
Good thing Calak's backpack was temperature controlled. He stored what meat he could in there as well. They'd have a good supply of dragon meat for a while. Komad handed Calak one of the pearls.
"Thank you for your help Master Jedi. Good hunting, or crusading for the Republic. Whatever you are doing."
The Twilek then headed back to Anchorhead on his speeder with his supply of Krayt meat.
…
With the dragon out of the way, Calak and the crew of his ship entered the cave. It had several bodies inside, including what looked like a Dark Jedi. It also had a dark feeling too it.
"Looks like Malak did leave a guard here," Bastila said.
They inspected the Dark Jedi's corpse, he had a few credits in his pockets, as well as a belt of some kind.
"A Nerve Amplifier belt," Bastila said as she examined it. "This is used for protection against mind powers. Malak must have given that to him in the event that he was captured so he wouldn't reveal any information. Most Jedi wouldn't think to strip him of a belt."
"It's like my Republic Mod armor," Calak realized. "Could be useful."
They searched the rest of the cave, finding the chewed and rotting corpses of the dragon's victims as well as bones. Then they saw the three spiked structure in the back near a belt that had somehow been separated from its wearer. Bastila approached it and searched the pockets, finding a holocron shaped device inside.
"This has my father's name on it!" she said excitedly.
She activated it and saw holograms of her and her family. Most of them were of her and her father, but there was one with just her and her mother. She looked at the first few with small smiles of remembrance and then frowned at the latter.
"Well, the force brought us here to confront my past and perform our mission at the same time," Bastila said.
They turned to the spiked mini structure in the cave. Calak touched it and like the one on Dantooine it opened, releasing an orb which shined. The orb projected a hologram that revealed another part of the map leading to the Star Forge. Calak drew his datapad and took a picture of the image. It still wasn't complete, and probably wouldn't be until he found the next three pieces unless there was another way.
"Anyone else get the feeling that finding this Star Map in the back of a Krayt Dragon's lair is more than just a coincidence?" Canderous asked.
"I do," Carth said.
"It feels too suspicious," Mission agreed.
"This Star Map is generating a large amount of power," HK said. "Much more then I would expect of a mere hologram projector."
"The Star Map is an artifact of the Dark Side," Juhani said. "The Krayt Dragon was likely drawn here by it, only to be enslaved as I was until my journey down the dark path was halted thanks to you Calak."
"A pity we couldn't save the Krayt Dragon as well," Bastila said. "But it was a mere animal. No reasoning with it like we could you Juhani."
Calak lit up his lightsaber and pointed it at the map. "Well, we got what need from the map and it's not gonna be of any use to anyone if we manage to destroy the Star Forge. So…"
He cut the orb hologram projector in two, then stabbed the middle of the map at the bottom. The dark feeling in the cave suddenly dissipated.
"May no other creature be enslaved by the darkness here," Calak said.
"Say now that we got the Star Map, you think we can leave this planet soon?" Mission asked. "I got sand 'everywhere'!"
"I think I agree with that. We'll just tie up any loose ends we have and then get off of here," Calak said. "We'll deliver the holocron to Helena, talk to Czerka and… anything else we might need to do."
Bastila hesitated. "I… don't know if I want to give the holocron to my mother."
"Bastila," Calak looked at her.
"She got my father killed with this!"
"You don't know that," Calak countered. "What if you are wrong about her? The Jedi say that emotions can blind you to reality, but you don't even give your mother a chance because you're angry over the past! That's the same!"
Bastila looked at him in surprise. While Calak could understand putting emotions aside, he still felt outright trying to eliminate it was going to far, and probably impossible.
"Hear your mother's side of the story," Calak urged. "Do that at least."
Bastila sighed. "Alright."
Suddenly there was a sound in the distance, growing closer. The sound of-
"That sounds like engines," Carth noted.
"Who would be out here? Besides us that hunter?" Canderous wondered aloud.
The sound of the engines were getting closer. Calak and the others headed toward the cave entrance to get a closer look. Sure enough they saw a group of about six speeders coming this way.
"Who is that?" Mission asked.
The speeders were soon close, and Calak looked at the driver in the front one. His blood froze under the immense heat of Tatooine as he saw the goggled and turban wrapped head.
"Calo Nord!" he exclaimed.
The bounty hunter they'd thought to have died on Taris from the collapsed ceiling got out of his speeder. His accomplices did the same. There were a total of fourteen of them. Calak saw a wide variety of different species. Two Selkath from Manaan, two men in Sith uniforms that looked like able bodied warriors as they carried blaster rifles and double-bladed swords, a pair of Wookies and Dark Jedi, and six others, three Aqualish and three Rodians. With Calo that brought the total number of enemies to fifteen.
"I have to give you credit. You've led me on quite a chase," the bounty hunter said. "But no one gets away from Calo Nord in the end.
"I see you've brought some backup Calo," Canderous said. "Figured out we were to much for you huh?"
"I just happened upon a fair number of hunters as well as a few Sith Warriors and Dark Jedi," Calo said. "They were happy for the chance to be paid as well as serve their master. You got lucky on Taris. The Sith got in the way there but that won't happen again."
"Yes, this will be my crowning moment!" one of the two Dark Jedi said. "I haven't heard from our fellow Dark Jedi in Anchorhead for the last few days. I assume you had a hand in that. Well, I shall avenge them and send you to Lord Malak, Bastila!"
"I'll never go to him!"
"That's fine, cause I wasn't planning to let any of you live!" Calo stated.
"But, bounty hunter! That one is wanted alive!" the other Dark Jedi said. "You'll be paid much more if you manage that!"
"Sorry I'm not in this for credits. I've got a rep to protect!" Calo stated. "No one I hunt lives."
"No! She is wanted alive! Kill the others but leave her!" the first Dark Jedi ordered.
"I hired you not the other way around!" Calo countered.
"I am Sith that makes me your superior!"
Calo drew one of his heavy pistols and then shot the Dark Jedi before he could even ignite his lightsaber.
"Any objections? Calo asked the rest of his hired help.
None of the others spoke up.
"Good! Attack!" Calo shouted.
The bounty hunters, surviving Dark Jedi, and Sith warriors all readied their weapons. The crew of the Ebon Hawk did the same.
"Take cover!" Calak ordered. "Light up your shields!"
They ran for the still mostly intact dragon corpse which provided a large amount of cover.
Calo looked at the corpse of the dragon. "I always wanted to hunt a Krayt Dragon. Guess I'll get the pearls when I'm done killing all of you!"
Too bad one of those pearls was gone.
With the dragon's body covering them, they seized on the chance to turn on their energy shields. The bounty hunters pursued them, with the melee fighters going out in front. Calak and his female Jedi partners stuck at the front. First came the Dark Jedi, Sith Warrior Wookie and two of the Aqualish with their swords. Blaster fire sounded nearby as the others tried to get them through the Krayt Dragon. Juhani went for the Dark Jedi and the Sith Warrior took on Bastila their double blades clashing against each other, cortosis laced metal against yellow plasma energy.
Calak meanwhile took on two of the alien warriors at once. Mission climbed on top of Carth for a boost as she scaled the dragon's corpse and threw a grenade out at the bounty hunters. Poison was released and infected a few of them. They coughed and began choking as Mission jumped back down before they could aim at her. She then activated her stealth generator and ran out.
Calak was forced on the defensive for a moment, until he lashed out with the force and sent one of the alien hunters back. This allowed him to take the offensive and cut down the other before throwing his saber at the other. Unfortunately, the Dark Jedi dueling Juhani trapped her in a stasis field. The Cathar's focus was entirely devoted to her fighting, the main weakness of her form of Juyo. The Dark Jedi could have finished her off had he so chosen, but instead he turned to Bastila who clutched at her throat.
"Knock her out!" the Dark Jedi ordered his Warrior companion.
The Sith Warrior used the long handle of his weapon to conk Bastila on the head. She collapsed, knocked out.
"No!" Calak exclaimed as he ran over to protect her and Juhani.
The Dark Jedi sent another force attack at Calak, this time in the form of lightning. Calak tried to block it with his lightsaber like he had last time, but missed. The lightning hit him and he screamed then went down. The Dark Jedi then pulled Bastila over his shoulder and ran back the way he came, the warrior followed behind him. But then there was a blaster shot and scream.
Calak feared the worst, but as he scrambled to his feet and got a good look, he saw the Dark Jedi had fallen to Calo's blaster pistols before he could use the force to run to safety at an immense speed. Well, that took care of another dangerous foe, but Calo was quite a marksman to be able to kill two Dark Jedi in the space of just a minute.
But with the Dark Jedi dead, his power keeping Juhani in place had faded. That gave her the opportunity to leap at Calo. But the Bounty Hunter had activated a shield of his own, a shield unlike any other that Calak had seen. It glowed orange, it must have been a new type of shield. And it must be very durable, for it had withstood the strike of Juhani's lightsaber and caused her to recoil. Calak saw Calo aim at the Cathar to deliver a finishing blow.
"No!" Calak said as he lashed out with the force again, pushing Calo off his feet and causing the two blaster bolts to fly up into the sky.
The knockdown allowed Juhani to regain composure. "Company coming!" she shouted.
Calo Nord aimed another set of shots at her, but she managed to deflect them. Calak could sense more enemies closing in, the bounty hunters were coming around.
"Calo is mine!" Canderous stated as he drew his vibrosword. "Come on Nord! Lets see which of us was really Davak's top dog!"
"Gladly!" Nord said. "I have armor on you don't Ordo! I've got you in the bag!"
"We'll see about that!" Canderous said before looking at Calak. "Go get the other enemies. This one is personal! I want to fight him one on one! That's the way of the Mandalorian!"
Calak nodded. "If that is your wish! Come on guys lets go!"
He and the others now took the offensive, running out around the Krayt dragon to meet the other enemies coming. This left Canderous and Calo to duke it out.
Calo holstered his twin Mandalorian heavy blasters and drew his own vibrosword came toward Canderous who blocked it with his own. They both exchanged a mixture of strong and fast blows. Canderous's blade hit Calo on the shoulder, but the armor under his clothing completely negated the damage. Calo struck back and Canderous had to back up to avoid the blow. He quickly activated another shield he had, a Mandalorian Melee shield he'd gotten at Czerka. It would protect him against a few melee strikes at least.
Calo followed through, Canderous managed to block a few blows then struck a riposte, which only ended up hitting Calo's armor again. Calo grabbed the Mandalorians arm and then struck as well. He hit Canderous, his blow negated by the shield. But another couple of those and it would probably fade. Canderous shoved as Calo struck again. Canderous then managed to push Calo off. He was larger and stronger, but Calo had better defense thanks to his armor, as well as the unique energy shield protecting him. It must have been a high kind and seemed pretty powerful as it repelled Juhani's lightsaber with ease. But even if was super advanced, Canderous doubted it would defend against both energy and melee attacks. True Calo had armor for that, but Canderous knew one place on his bitter rival that wasn't armored.
He let out a battle cry and Calo did the same, the Mandalorian Warrior, and the Bounty Hunter that dared to use pistols of his people's make. Even his armor was modeled after Mandalorians. Seemed even though he wasn't a Mandalorian himself, he admired Canderous's culture. But Canderous had no admiration for Calak. He was just an imitator, one that would soon be put down.
Both of them struck at the same time. Calo hit Canderous in the stomach and Canderous stabbed Calak, through the face. It worked, the bounty hunters last blow was repelled by the last of Canderous's shield for the current charge. But Calo wasn't so lucky, his high grade energy shield only worked against energy, but not stab wounds. Canderous pulled his vibrosword out, its blade covered in blood. Calo Nord stood standing for a moment, defiant against death. But then he fell. Canderous smiled and picked up his heavy repeater rifle from where he'd dropped it to engage in melee combat with his rival. He made his way around the dragon as the sounds of other fighting died out. Canderous was relieved to see all of his comrades had survived. They were all formidable warriors, or soldiers, whatever they called themselves. Some might still need improvement, but they were sufficient in each of their own areas. Canderous was proud to fight by their side.
"Well that's another hunter dead," Carth said. "Won't miss that bloodthirsty little man!"
"Me neither," Mission agreed.
They stripped Calo and his accomplices of their weapons, armor and credits that they could carry. Canderous took Calo's armor for himself, it was a bit small but if they could find a good armor smith they might able to replicate one in Canderous's size. That was a perfect prize for the Mandalorian, he looked forward to it as they walked back to Anchorhead.
Author's Notes: Well, since I had Calak having whole crew I knew I needed to have Calo (it feels weird with their names being so similar, not to mention all the C's in the main crew, Calak, Carth and Canderous). Put them all together they'd be All C Star Team. I also had the Krayt Dragon get a final fight unlike in the games. Still pretty rigged though. Ah well, fun to add a few differences when you aren't restricted to just having two companions. Cause lets be honest, it would pretty unrealistic to out there on a dangerous mission with just two people all the time.