Chapter 35: Deception and Sincerity

Calak led his group back toward Anchorhead. They got out of the Eastern Dune Sea and soon saw the ruined Sandcrawler the Tusken Tribe had crippled. They headed in that direction, coming close to ruined speeder and other junk. This must be a place where salvage was dropped off.

"Anyone!" a voice suddenly screamed in fright and struggle. "I'm trapped under here!"

The voice seemed to be coming from a pile of wooden debris a few feet away.

Calak's instincts urged him to run toward the voice. It sounded like a woman was trapped under all that junk? But as he took a step forward, the force told him something was off. He cast out with his mind, feeling the nearby area. There wasn't anyone else here besides him, the other

members of the Ebon Hawk's crew and... a group of about six other life forms nearby as well as something that seemed to be covering the land nearby.

Carth however, sprang into action, not suspecting something was up.

"Hang on miss! We'll find you! Keep shouting!"

"Carth wait!" Bastila exclaimed, also sensing something was up.

"Wait? For what?" Carth looked over his shoulder incrediously at the Jedi. "There's a woman trapped under the rubble there!"

"Yeah we got to help!" Mission agreed as she followed.

The two of them ran, while Calak, Bastila and Juhani hung back, sensing something wasn't right through the force. T3 was scanning with his systems, Zalbaar likewise hung back, though watched his best friend attentively. Canderous and HK-47 though, didn't care.

"Statement: I say we leave the foolish meatbag woman to die or shoot her ourselves," HK said.

"Over here! I can't last much longer the woman's voice called. "I'm so thirsty!"

Carth and Mission determined the source of the noise to be a nearby pile junk among the many.

"Guys stop! Something's not right!" Calak called.

But the two didn't listen.

"We're here miss!" Mission said as she and Carth reached the pile that the voice seemed to be coming from.

Carth frowned. That rumble didn't look big enough to hide a human. Suspicion was beginning to kick in. But too late.

"Please help! I can't get out!" the voice said before turning from panicked to emotionless counting. "Three, two one."

Calak gritted his teeth in concern, knowing that counting likely only meant one thing. He tried to reach out with the force to pull Mission and Carth back out of harm's way, but they were just out of range! The bomb exploded!

"No!" Calak screamed.

"Arrr!" Zalbaar roared in concern as for Mission.

"Carth! Mission!" Bastila and Juhani cried out.

T3 beeped in concern.

"Mocking Insult: Stupid compassionate meatbags! Trying to help others will only get you killed in the end!" HK-47 said.

Carth and Mission were alive, but the explosion had given them mild burns across their body. They wouldn't be moving without treatment. Good thing both Calak and Bastila could use Force Heal or they would have probably been on Kolto for days. But the ones who planted the bomb then revealed themselves. A group of six Gammoreans and an assault droid. Calak recognized a few of them from the Hunting Lodge a couple days ago. They hadn't been very friendly.

"We got you! We got you good!" Their leader said in his language of pig squeals while pointing at Calak and the others. "Now you hand over whatever you got if you want to live!"

One of the Gammoreans looked at them. "Seven against seven! Too fair!"

"And they got blasters!" Another noticed.

"Shut up stupid!" the leader cursed. "Only...

He looked at them. "Three of them have ranged weapons. We have assault droid as well with high powered shield thanks to Vorn!"

"That right!" another Gamorrean who must have been Vorn said. "After this we can find ourselves a Krayt Dragon as well!"

He then turned to Calak. "You give up whatever valuables you have! My droid is equipped with very high-grade weapons! Most of us dislike technology but I've learned how useful it is! It will blast through shields in seconds!"

So, they used a droid to help them take on hunters with blasters as well as Krayt Dragons. Still Calak quickly thought of something that could catch them off guard.

"You stinky pigs should leave now!" Calak said as he stepped forward and grabbed his lightsaber from his hip.

The blue blade sprang to life. The Gamorrean's eyes all widened at the sight. They'd expected ordinary hunters, not Jedi.

"If you wish to battle, I promise you I will be your doom!" Juhani said as she followed Calak's example and lit her own blue blade.

Bastila reluctantly drew her lightsaber and activated the twin yellow blades as well. Canderous, Zalbaar, HK, and T3 all readied their blasters as well.

"We have some of the best weapons in the galaxy!" Canderous said. "My Mandalorian Heavy repeater might not be the most accurate, but should break that droid's shield no problem!"

The Gamorreans hesitated.

"Uh, I think we better try for easier prey. Three Jedi is not what I had in mind!" the leader said.

"Let's go!" another pig said.

They ran off. Calak watched them go with their little tails between their legs. Once they were a reasonable distance away, he and the others made their way to the wounded members of their party. Calak and Bastila healed the worst of the burns, but Carth and Mission were still too weak to be able to walk for at least an hour. Calak picked up Mission and carried the young Twi'lek in his arms while Juhani and Bastila both supported Carth by having each of his arms around them. They made the rest of the across the dessert without incident thankfully. Still the heat was taxing and they all had dry throats by the time they reached the Ebon Hawk. Calak set Mission down on her bed on the female's side while Carth was taken to the men's bunk.

"Rest Mission," Calak said.

"I'm sorry," the Twi'lek said.

"For what?"

"Not listening to you," Mission said. "I just heard that screaming and then thought I had to act. You'd think after being betrayed by my brother and living on the streets of Taris would be enough to teach me to not always trust things."

"We all make mistakes," Calak said cupping her cheek.

Mission leaned into his touch. "You know, you're probably a better brother to me then Griff was."

That surprised him.

"I'm a little old to be your brother, nearly forty," Calak reminded her.

Mission giggled. "Maybe Father then. I think I'd like having you as a father."

"Not so sure about that," Calak chuckled. "I mean, I'd be away from you if we were living on Derallia right now."

"Who knows?" Mission asked. "Maybe I would have joined you?"

"Maybe," Calak admitted. "You'd probably be more trained in combat if you were my daughter. You would have grown up learning to hunt and survive on a remote world of jungle and seas."

"Sounds more beautiful than Taris," Mission said. "Were they more open to aliens?"

Calak nodded. "They were better. But no place is perfect. Worlds in the outer rim have to fend for themselves, but we looked after our own. I can promise you one thing Mission. I never would have abandoned you, for whatever reason."

He took her hand, she squeezed it.

"You're the best Calak. Zalbaar is my best friend but it feels nice to have someone even more dependable who I know will always be there for me."

"Always," Calak promised. "Now, get some rest."

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. It wasn't a romantic gesture, but he'd grown to care for her deeply. She blushed.

"Are we gonna leave soon?" Mission asked as he was about to turn to leave.

"Still have to take care of a few things," he told her. "Including your brother."

She frowned. "I have half a mind to say just leave him."

Calak could sympathize. "He was wrong to abandon you. But I could sense his fear when he said his life might be in danger. Whatever lies he told, that wasn't one."

Mission sighed. "Well, I may be mad at him but I don't want him dead. Try and help him, I guess. And thanks… for saving him."

Calak nodded and turned toward the hall leading to the rest of the ship from the girl's side. He was surprised to see Bastila there.

"Oh Bastila!" Calak exclaimed.

Her face was scrunched up.

"Hello," she greeted curtly.

"Something wrong?" Calak asked.

"No," she said. "I was just coming to tell you that Carth is laid down. Some rest and he'll be fine. We should probably rest as well. We all had a long day today."

Calak nodded. But looking outside the window he saw it was not yet sunset.

"I still have something I can take care of real quick. And I think you do as well."

Bastila looked at him uncomfortably. "My mother."

Calak could sense her emotions. Confusion, hesitation, reluctance and… anger? No it didn't feel like anger. Calak's force link with her gave him an idea of what went on in her head. Every day it was getting stronger. He could see a vague image of Helena in Bastila's mind, but also… Mission.

"Are you certain you're okay?" Calak asked. "How long were you watching me and Mission?"

"Long enough," Bastila said.

"Are you angry that I was with her?" Calak asked.

"No, why would I be?" Bastila asked. "She is your friend after all. Or perhaps… more. She said you made a good father figure."

"Yeah," Calak said. "But no need to be upset about it."

She sighed. "You're right. There is no emotion there is peace. We mustn't let our emotions cloud our judgement. We must shut them out."

Calak shook his head. "Without emotion we can lose our compassion. Empathy is a part of emotion, not all of them are bad."

Bastila shook her head back at him. "Even acting on emotions that come with good intention can have disastrous consequences. Revan and Malak went off to war because they cared. Their hearts were in the right place but they ended up becoming a worse threat."

"And what would have happened if they'd listened to the council? Do you really believe they would saved lives by doing nothing? Did the council really have a plan in development?"

"I don't speak for the council," Bastila said defensively. "But I… support their decision."

"Even if they let people die?" Calak asked.

"Sometimes taking action quickly is not the best path," Bastila said. "Today before we got back was a perfect example of that."

"Maybe so, but not taking action at all is no better if not worse," Calak said.

He took a breath to calm himself. "Let's just go and see your mother. Then you can decide whether or not to forgive her."

Bastila nodded. Calak also grabbed the Tusken Chieftain's Gaffi stick. They stopped at Czerka Corporation first.

"What's this?" the representative women asked as she looked at the only gaffi stick that Calak had.

"The Chieftains Gaffi stick," Calak told her.

She frowned. "How do you only have his gaffi stick and not any others?"

Calak had known that would look suspicious, but fortunately he'd thought of a lie on the way here.

"I snuck into his enclave and killed him when he was asleep."

"And the rest of his tribe?" the representative asked.

"Will likely begin fighting each now to decide a new chieftain," Calak lied.

The officer hummed. "That would be what savages like them would do. I doubt we'll get as many attacks from them now."

Calak smirked. They would get fewer attacks indeed. But the Tuskens would live in relative peace.

The officer stepped into a nearby storage room for a moment and soon returned with a large case.

"There, twenty-five hundred credits out to be enough for that Chieftain as well as however many Tuskens have slaughtered each other by now."

Calak nodded. That made up a quarter of the amount he'd paid to buy HK. But he could still use more.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Calak said. "Is Griff here?"

She nodded. "We gave him a job working in the store. Even he can't mess that up."

Calak walked over to the little store in the building where Griff was moving Merchandise for Greeda.

"Ah, my savior!" the Twi'lek male said in eagerness before appearing to sadden. "Mission didn't come with you I see."

"No, she got a little injured on the way back," Calak said.

"What?" Griff exclaimed.

Calak could feel his concern. So he did care about his sister even if he had left her behind. At least he wasn't completely heartless.

"Where is she?" Griff said. "She's not badly injured, is she?"

"No," Calak assured him. "We got ambushed by some Gamorreans in the desert. They had a bomb, fortunately it was a weak one that only caused mild burns. We healed her and she's resting my ship."

"I have to go and see her," Griff insisted. "My shift is almost done."

"Alright," Calak agreed. "Wait here when it is. Me and Bastila have something else to take care of real quick then we'll be back."

Griff nodded.

Calak and Bastila headed to the cantina where they were lucky enough to catch Helena.

"Back already?" the older woman asked with sarcasm. "Took you long enough with those great powers. Do you have the holocron."

"I do mother," Bastila said into her pocket and drawing it.

"Ah took you long enough," Helena said reaching out.

But Bastila pulled it back. "Before I give it back, I want to know. Why did you force my father to go on all those treasure hunts! Let me guess, it was greed! You wanted to live in an expensive mansion!"

Anger rose in Helena now. "Fool girl! You never accepted that your father loved going on his treasure hunts! I tried to keep him from the dangerous ones but he wouldn't listen! I swear you were just as stubborn as he was! He tried to go for the pearls to pay for my treatments but he wouldn't have it!"

"Your treatments." Bastila repeated, awestruck.

"I'm dying Bastila," Helena looked down. "It's been a long time coming. And at this points there's nothing that can be done. Your father did want to be a treasure hunter to become rich, but when we discovered my illness, he changed it to have me cured for good. But it never worked. He went for those pearls and this happened."

Both Calak and Bastila who was no longer blinded by her resentment of the past could feel her sadness and guilt.

"I'm so sorry Mother!" Bastila said in remorse. "I thought that you were just greedy! But why did you give me to the order? Maybe if I were here with Father I could have helped!"

"What do your father and I have to show for all those years of treasure hunting?" Helena asked. "Nothing. Maybe with your special abilities it could have been different, but maybe not. I didn't want that life for you. I wanted you to make something of yourself, use your great abilities to their full extent, if not for me then for the rest of the galaxy. And from what I saw on the holonet you've been doing that."

"You've seen me on the holonet?" Bastila was surprised.

"You've appeared several times. You stopped the Sith in several battles. Though it's been a while since I saw one. I was afraid you had died in the war," Helena said. "But I'm glad you made it here. You at least gave this old woman some comfort for her final days. I don't expect to live then a few months without the treatments."

She walked over to her daughter and wrapped her arms around Bastila. Slowly the younger woman returned the hug.

"I never thought this would happen," Bastila said. "Any of it. Reconciling, but also finding you're dying. There has to be something I can do!"

Helena shook her head. "There isn't."

She opened the holocron and looked at the pictures of their family together. After scrolling through them she handed it back to Bastila.

"Keep it Bastila. So you can remember your father. It won't do me good for more then a few months. You will hopefully live longer."

Bastila took the device back, but sniffled as she did so. She pocketed it and then drew something else from the pocket. Credit chips.

"Please Mother, take these credits. They should be enough to buy passage to Coruscant and get a doctor. I can send more as well," Bastila said.

"That's sweet of you dear but I couldn't," Helena said. "There's nothing that can be done!"

"I have to try!" Bastila insisted. "I was such a rotten daughter! Blaming you because of naivety."

Helena sighed. "And I was hard on you as well dear. I don't know if it would work but perhaps it would buy me some time, or at least make things more comfortable."

"Whatever can be managed," Bastila said. "I hope to at least see you again. I have my war against Darth Malak to fight but if I ever win. I'll come to Coruscant."

Helena smiled. "Thank you Bastila."

She then turned to Calak. "You, please take of my daughter."

"I will," Calak said, giving a smile.

Helena then made her way out of the cantina. Calak and Bastila then decided to have dinner there.

"So do you feel better now?" he asked.

"Yes. That brought a lot of peace," Bastila said. "More then I thought it would. Thank you for urging me towards it. Though it shames me, all my training and I was giving in to my emotions. Yet you were willing to urge me to forgive. And you also chose to deal with the Tusken Raiders peacefully when so many wanted them killed outright."

"I was tempted at times," Calak admitted. "But if I think things there is a chance to do it peacefully, I'll try."

Bastila smiled. "You're only a padawan, and yet you speak like a Jedi Master."

"You're a Padawan too," Calak pointed out. "And you are the biggest weapon we have against armies of Sith."

"Guess we're both naturals in our ways," Bastila said.

They both looked away from each other, Calak's heart seeming to skip a beat. She was rough around the edges but she had good intentions for the galaxy and was dedicated to the way of the Jedi. She was also confident and capable, maybe a little too much as she could be occasionally arrogant like when they met on Taris.

"But you have more compassion and understanding then I think I do," Bastila continued. "You spared Juhani in the grove, helped me reconcile with my mother, and so much more. And we've only just found our second Star Map. Three more to go."

"Well, here's to whatever more adventures we embark on," Calak said.

"Jedi aren't supposed to desire adventure and excitement," Bastila said.

Calak shook his head. "What's the point in denying yourself the joys of life. What's there to fight for?"

Bastila didn't answer right away. "I'm… not sure. What's right?"

"That is a good cause, but you shouldn't forget about yourself. Just don't do anything at the expense of innocents," Calak said.

"Well said Calak," Bastila said.

They ate their food and then headed back to Czerka where Griff was getting off. They led him to their ship and he immediately ran to Misson's bed side.

"Griff?" she asked in surprise.

"I'm here sis," Griff said as he knelt next to her. "I won't leave you. Not this time."

"Not that you can be of much help," Mission said through gritted teeth.

"No, I can't," Griff said looking down. "If anything I'd probably just get you more hurt.

"I could sense his concern when I told him you were injured," Calak said.

"Yeah. I was worried. But please sis, I need your help!" Griff said quickly changing to a pleading tone. "I'm sorry I abandoned you on Taris."

He sighed. "The truth is… I… I thought you would be safer there."

"Safe?" Mission repeated.

"A lot of the people I borrowed money from, Davak and the Exchange, among others. They were threatening me," Griff explained. "That's the other reason I left Taris. They threatened to kill me if I didn't pay up. I didn't know if Davak would send bounty hunters after me or not. But I didn't want you to be near me in case that happened."

"And you were okay with Lena being near you?" Mission asked.

"She was a grown woman!" Griff countered. "You were just twelve at the time. I told you to make yourself strong before I left remember? I hoped that if I left you behind it would like I didn't care. It's true I did blame you at times. I thought if I didn't have to take care of you I could have made it on my own. But I… missed you. I really did. I was drunk when I told Lena I blamed you. But it was my fault too. I always gambled and drank away my credits. Using my get rich quick schemes."

"Which never work," Mission snapped.

Griff nodded. "But this one can't possibly fail."

"So what is it?" Calak asked.

Griff looked at the pilot. "Since Taris was destroyed I learned that Tarisian ale has become somewhat scarce. And very very valuable! I know this guy in the Exchange who could make a fortune selling it! And I know the recipe!"

Mission frowned in suspicion. "I don't recall you ever brewing that! You even tried it at one point and it didn't work."

"Lena taught me after we left," Griff said. "I have most of the ingredients or can acquire them, but there is one that's a bit out of the way. A tach gland. That can only be found on Tach creatures found on Kashyyyk."

"Well, lucky for you we have Kashyyyk as one of our destinations," Calak said. "Guess we'll be going there next. Of course, we have a couple other things to deal with first. Like earn some more credits and return to Dantooine to see if we can find a family for our stowaway."

Sasha was still living in the cargo hold. She didn't bother them and hardly left that spot, but she didn't belong here on a ship. Especially not one that was going off into danger. Unlike Mission she wasn't trained in combat and had been a slave. Hopefully things would change for her soon. Maybe Griff as well.

"How long will that take?" Griff asked.

"Well, I'll be heading to the Swoop Race tomorrow to try out. Might just stay for one or two more days," Calak said. "Then head to Dantooine and see if I can find help for Sasha, shouldn't take more then a day to at least hand her to some authorities that can help there. Then I'll head to Kashyyyk."

"Four days? Oh good. Cause I have just over a week till my friend from the Exchange comes!" Griff said. "About ten standard days!"

Calak clenched his teeth. "Well, hopefully we can get you a tach gland quick enough!"

They'd have to hurry, for Griff's sake. Hopefully he was true to his word and nothing went wrong. Calak would at least try to help him, even if he might not deserve it. Still, he could change. Calak had felt his remorse and concern for his sister. Seemed he did care about her, hopefully that care would be the start of a new road for him that would be better.

But for Calak needed to earn a few more credits. Good thing Griff had ten days.

Authors Notes: Okay so I added a few extra enemies once again as it was very unlikely that just three Gammoreans would attack a group of nine. I also added in a little scene with Mission which I thought was nice. Good to have a little heart to heart I think.