Chapter 43: Hunters in the Shadows
Author's Notes: Hey guys, so I noticed I had not filled in a part on one of the earlier chapters in 39 when Calak was supposed to see the vision of the Star Map. Well, that's fixed now. Must have skipped over it when I meant to check before I posted, or just outright neglected to in my haste. Please let me know in a review or PM if you spot any further or previous mistakes as well.
Calak led Matton to the ship where they found the others waiting.
"Calak!" Bastila said as she came to the entrance ramp, having sensed his presence getting closer. "Did you find the Star Map?"
"Not yet," Calak told her.
Bastila looked down in disappointment then turned to the two new arrivals.
"Matton isn't it?" she asked. "What brings you on board our ship?"
"Captain Calak here found out that Eli murdered my crew," Matton told her.
That was probably the first time anyone had Calak 'captain', but then he had pretty much been the leader since they left Dantooine.
"He escaped into the Shadowlands and then Calak offered to give me a ride to Manaan," Matton continued.
Bastila smiled. "Calak is a kind man."
Calak's heart skipped a beat at that compliment.
Bastila then turned to Jolee. "And who are you?"
Her eyes widened as she spoke. "Wait, I can sense the force in you!"
"Jolee Bindo," the old man told her. "I'm a force user who's been living here for twenty years."
"Twenty years?" Bastila repeated. "But… surely you could have returned to the order in that time?"
"I had no desire for that," Jolee said flatly. "The order is much too strict and arrogant! I may follow the Jedi way, but not completely to the point that it is long winded and dogmatic like the Jedi Council!"
Bastila recoiled at those words. She had for a long time had a deep faith in the wisdom of the council. Of course, she at times questioned them, but still trusted their wisdom. To meet someone who was so… against their ways. She looked into him and felt his presence in the force.
"You are not a Sith," she stated. "But your strength in the light… it is so…"
"Weak?" Jolee guessed. "I am neither light nor dark, merely a humble Gray Jedi. One who follows the path of helping others and maintaining peace like the Jedi do, but I do not follow the Jedi Code! Regardless, I've decided I'm going to join your little adventure to save the galaxy."
Bastila said nothing but seemed uneasy. Meanwhile, Carth and Canderous who had both come to greet their comrades, stepped forward.
"Nice to meet you, Jolee," Carth said. "As long as you aren't a follower of the dark side, I say welcome aboard."
Canderous huffed. "Been living on your own here huh? That takes strength! I like you!"
"Mandalorian eh?" Jolee asked. "Well thanks I suppose. Just don't go butchering wildlife when I'm around. Met a few of your fellows recently that were doing that."
"Did you now?" Canderous asked, intrigued. "Well, perhaps we'll meet more soon enough."
They moved the items from Eli's shop onto the ship.
"You guys take whatever you like," Matton said. "Since Eli's out of business I feel its only fair."
Calak looked at the electric shielding belt. Could be useful if he couldn't block a burst of force lightning on his lightsaber in time. But he was probably more likely to run into a sword user, and Brejiik's belt and armband were able to ward a number of those off. He shook his head.
Once they were done loading the last of the dozen or so items on board from the small shop, Calak turned to his crew.
"Alright, now that that's taken care of, we should probably head back to the Shadowlands."
"I came across what I believe is the Star Map you seek in the lower areas," Jolee informed the others. "I've never managed to activate it though, so it may be difficult."
"Regardless, it's all we have to go on right now," Calak said.
"We may need more of our crew down there," Bastila said. "If the Lower Shadowlands are truly more dangerous its best not to take chances. We'll take two parties down there."
"But the Wookie guard didn't want to many of us down there," Calak reminded her.
"We'll go without being seen then," Bastila said. "You, Juhani, and Jolee can come with me. As Jedi we should be able to leap down into the Shadowlands relatively easily."
"I guess we'll have to take the longer way," Carth said gesturing to himself, Mission, and Canderous. "T3, HK you can stay with the ship and our new passenger."
"What? Afraid I'll take the ship?" Matton asked. "Tempting, but that would be no way to repay someone who brought my crew's killer to justice. At least somewhat."
Calak looked at him. "I don't sense any greed in him, Carth. But I guess we should at least be certain."
"Statement: Not to worry, Master! If he tries anything funny, I will gladly shoot him!" HK said.
Calak looked at T3. "If HK tries to shoot him unnecessarily, electrocute him."
"Dwoo woo." The droid beeped in agreement.
It was settled. Calak and the other three Jedi leapt through the trees, swinging on vines like wild people as they descended into the Shadowlands. This would have been much more difficult for the others who were not force sensitive. Carth and the others arrived an hour later on the wooden elevator. All except for the two droids that remained at the ship with Matton.
But as the crew reunited in the dark lands, the sun above was already setting. It had been quite a busy day, frightening away poachers and causing a killer to flee, then moving the shop's inventory on board their ship. Still, they had a bit of time left before it was dark… at least above all the shadows here. Jolee led them along the path until they reached a shimmering purple forcefield that stood out clearly in the darkness.
"Guess we might as well make camp and set up a watch," Carth said.
"I'll go on first watch," Canderous stated, patting his heavy blaster.
They laid on the ground, which was thankfully soft with the grass. Jolee lit a fire to keep them warm for the night. It wasn't a comfortable rest, with some of them clad in armor. But they managed.
When they all awoke the next morning (which like yesterday, couldn't really count as a morning thanks to all the shadows blocking out the sun), they ate some of their rations and walked up to the forcefield. Jolee reached out his hand and deactivated it after a moment, but informed them it would turn back on automatically after a while. They rushed through and went down a long tunnel going to the depths of Kashyyyk. It was dark, so Calak and the other Jedi lit their lightsabers, two blue blades, and Bastila lit one of her yellow ones, and Jolee's green was added to the mix as well. Now they had a group with every sort of Jedi there was, two guardians, a sentinel, and a consular. With any luck, their team would be enough to stop Malak soon.
The Lower Shadowlands were even darker, but still filled with grass. How they survived without sunlight down here Calak didn't know. Perhaps they evolved to do so and live from the nutrients of the soil. Regardless, there was much growth of long vines and ever-present ginormous trees here.
Calak felt a familiar shiver of cold here.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Bastila asked looking at him. "The dark side is strong here. The Star Map is close."
Calak nodded. Juhani and Jolee also felt the presence of the dark side. The others didn't, but they were on edge due to the physical darkness around them. Predators could be hiding anywhere, and it was possible that the creatures here could feed on that darkness and disguise their presence. Calak wondered if there might be another Terentatek here, or they might run into the one from yesterday that chased the poachers away.
But as they continued warily, Calak heard something. The sound of metal clashing. Focusing ahead, Calak's eyes widened as he saw a lone Wookie engaged in a sword fight with a… a Mandalorian? That must have been another of the group that Jolee had mentioned. Two more Mandalorians stood off to the side, watching the duel as their fellow took the Wookie on singlehandedly. The Wookie growled as he struck back ferociously, but then the Mandalorian slipped past his guard and cut the Wookie deeply across the chest. The Wookie howled in pain then drove his blade forward, penetrating a gap in the Mandalorian's armor and piercing his organs. The Mandalorian fell, then his fellows charged forward to finish the Wookie off. Calak shook off his surprise and ran forward, twirling his still lit blade.
He leapt at one of the Mandalorians who didn't notice him. Calak cut through the top of his helmet and head. The second Mandalorian looked in surprise.
"Jedi!?" He exclaimed.
The Wookie seized the opportunity to slay him while he was distracted. The Wookie let out several deep breaths then groaned in pain and clutched his wound which was bleeding profusely.
He growled in his canine language as he looked at Calak then at the sky above. "Ah Great Bacca! Please let this one not be one of the Czerka."
He then turned to Calak and spoke directly to him in a desperate tone. "Please, help me! I am wounded and fear I don't have long to live without help!"
Calak looked at him and had to agree, it might take several hours for him to bleed out but he'd never make it back to the nearby village. He deactivated his lightsaber and extended his hand.
"I'll help you. Just give me your hand."
Reluctantly the Wookie reached and took Calak's hand. Calak focused and channeled the force, it found the wound and closed it. The Wookie was surprised by the event but soon looked at Calak in gratitude.
"Thank you, I would not have expected an outsider to help. My name is Grrwahr."
"What happened to you?" Bastila asked.
"My hunting party and I were ambushed. You've seen them," Grrwahr aid. "Our attackers are armored from head to toe. I've never seen them before even among Czerka. They fight like outsiders, without honor. Appear out of nowhere, I could not see them, but I had learned to smell them."
"They're Mandalorians," Calak told them. "A very warlike group of outsiders. They are not friends of me, if they attack the innocent."
"The war with them might over, but I guess there are still more battles even after," Carth said.
Canderous hummed. "They are likely from one of the less respected clans that rely on stealth to kill. I wouldn't mind killing these cowards. They are no better then the scrap takers on Dantooine, if not worse."
"Will you help me avenge my fallen comrades?" Grrwahr asked.
"Yes," Calak promised. "We will bring them to justice. You just rest."
Grrwahr growled in appreciation at those words.
"Mission and I shall go ahead and scout," Juhani said. "We're both able to disappear as well."
Mission nodded and activated her stealth generator belt. Juhani meanwhile, closed her eyes as she called upon the force and blended into her surroundings.
"Those blasted cowards won't attack if we have our weapons out," Canderous said. "I know their kind. They'll only strike if our weapons are sheathed."
Calak clipped his lightsaber to his belt.
"Good thing we have the force," Jolee said.
"I think some of us should stay and watch over this Wookie," Bastila said.
"You're right," Calak agreed. "Can't leave him alone. Those other Mandalorians might come and find him."
"I'll stay," Carth volunteered.
"You should have one of us with you," Calak said, referring to the Jedi of their group. "We should be able to sense the Mandalorians if they come, even if they are cloaked by stealth generators.
"I'll do that," Bastila said. "Jolee knows where the Star Map is so you'll need him. I'll stay here and use my Battle Meditation, it should help you and the others when you run into trouble."
"Good idea," Calak said. "I guess that leaves the rest of us together huh?
He looked at Jolee and Canderous.
Bastila sat cross legged and looked at him in concern. "Be careful, Calak."
"Thanks," Calak said. "You too."
They made their way forward, keep senses about them. Calak and Jolee both had their lightsabers on their belts while Canderous had his heavy blaster over his back. But Calak could sense the lifeforms, albeit with difficulty. The dark side made it difficult to center oneself here. Yet Calak also felt the strength of Bastila's Battle Meditation coursing through him, and his senses sharpened. If not for that he might be unable to sense anything at all.
Calak led Jolee and Canderous down the path to the south. He didn't know where Juhani and Mission were but could feel they were close, extremely close. Perhaps they were simply staying nearby and would strike when their comrades needed them. The three of them soon came across a set of Wookie corpses, the victims of the Mandalorians no doubt. Calak could also sense... a bloodthirsty set of presences. Then, they appeared, three Mandalorians in their full suits of armor.
Calak was not caught off guards, not completely any way. He had known the Mandalorians were here beforehand, unlike the hapless Wookies. And he could sense their presence. Two of the Mandalorians held vibroswords, while the third carried a blaster. The two sword wielders charged at the two Jedi who both reached out with the force. Calak sent an invisible wave of energy that pushed his Mandalorian back, while Jolee sent out a bright burst of lightning. His Mandalorian screamed as his suit was supercooked by the electrical force attack and then fell. The blaster user, however, had looked at Canderous, recognizing his armor that was clearly Mandalorian based.
"You're one of us!" the man said.
Calak and Jolee both drew their lightsabers as the distraction took place. The Mandalorian Calak had pushed back slowly got to his feet. Canderous had likewise reached up and drawn his blaster which he aimed.
"Wait!" the Mandalorian screamed.
But Canderous just shot a series of bolts that hit his fellow Mandalorian then rotated the barrel so that it kept firing and hit the other.
"Good riddance to cowards like you!" Canderous said.
They looked at the bodies of the fallen murderers, looting their weapons and armor which could be sold for very good prices. There was also a key to a vehicle.
"The Mandalorians must have some method of transportation nearby," Calak said.
"Looks like a swoop key," Canderous noted. "We tend to have those guarded by two-part codes as well though."
Calak noticed a datapad among the collected effects of the Mandalorians, opening it he found an entry on codes and found one labeled 'Swoop'.
"Guess we'll have to find the other code keeper," Calak said.
They continued south and soon heard something. A scream!
Calak's eyes widened in concern as he recognized the voice. "That's Mission!" he yelled.
They ran forward at top speed, soon seeing Juhani dueling another Mandalorian while two others had Mission pinned down and were working to undo her armored pants.
"Get off me!" the young Twi'lek screamed in a mixture of fear and anger. "No!"
"Ha! We were lucky to run into a cute little Twi'lek like you to enslave!" one of the Mandalorians holding her down said.
Mission screamed and with remarkable strength that Calak had never seen her demonstrate before, kicked one of her attackers off. But the other redoubled his hold on her. Calak felt a burst of rage as he lit his lightsaber and threw it at the Mandalorian. It didn't penetrate the special iron of their armor, merely bouncing off of it. But it did cause them to look back as Jolee reached out and trapped one of them in a force stasis field. Calak charged at the other one who drew a vibrosword. Mission meanwhile, seized on the opportunity to pick up her vibroblade where she had dropped it after being attacked and then slid its blade between the gap of the armor, slitting one of her assailant's throats.
"That's what you get for trying to rape me!" Mission said spitefully.
Calak defended against a strong strike from the Mandalorian he was battling. The man was formidable and well trained, he struck with savage yet well-placed swings befitting a man of his culture. But Calak, having been trained in the force and the army, put up an impenetrable defense in the form of Soresu, then shifted forms to Ataru, he let out a series of spinning flurries that quickly broke the Mandalorians guard and Calak stabbed through the visor of his helmet. The same technique he'd used against a Mandalorian on Dantooine he recalled.
Calak looked and saw Juhani finish off the Mandalorian she was battling as well.
"Phew thanks," Mission said as she adjusted her pants.
Calak walked over and embraced her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, thanks to you," Mission said. "Why do I always seem to attract this kind of attention?"
"Probably cause your species is famous for selling themselves as slaves," Juhani said.
Mission sighed. "Well, I'm never going to be a slave!"
Calak nodded. "Not while I'm around."
She giggled. "Whatever, Dad!"
Calak sniggered. "Well, you want me to get some adoption papers and make it official?"
They both laughed, Juhani smiled and even Canderous cracked a smile. Jolee, though, watched in confusion. They looted the Mandalorian corpses and found the other key and code. Continuing down the path south, they came to a set of swoop bikes that must be the Mandalorians.
"Well, if there are any more, we can finish them off," Calak said.
He and Canderous worked the controls of one of the one of the swoops and soon after inserting the key and inputting the code, it started up. But instead of taking it, Calak set off its alarm. The sound echoed through the forest. That would draw the attention of any other hunters. Juhani and Mission disappeared while Calak, Canderous, and Jolee stood at ready. The two Jedi focused and felt a few presences coming. Then a twig snapped nearby and Jolee sent a bolt of lightning out in that direction. Another Mandalorian appeared as his stealth generator was fried, along with him as he screamed.
"Jedi Interlopers!" another Mandalorian yelled. "How dare you interfere with our training on this world!"
The speaker appeared, he was clad in red armor, which marked him as a leader of his band. Calak recalled Sherruck on Dantooine who had the same armor color, and led a similar operation, though Sherruck had at least been direct. This leader was-
"You are the most cowardly Mandalorian group I have ever met! At least others of your kind didn't hide in the shadows all the time and wait for victims to let their guard down!" Calak shouted as he lit his lightsaber.
Jolee did the same with his green blade and Canderous aimed his blaster. It was no contest. There was only the leader and one other purple armored Mandalorian left. Juhani cut the leaders head off from behind, right between the gap of his armor at the neck while Canderous and Mission shot the last soldier.
"How does it feel to be killed by a sneak attack, Mandalorian?" Juhani asked the dead corpse as she picked up the head of the leader.
Calak felt it was a just deserve for them.
"That should be all of them," he said. "Even if there are more they should scatter since we killed their leader."
"We should take this head back to the Wookie," Juhani said. "Let him know justice has been done."
"Agreed," Calak said.
They headed back to where Bastila and Carth still guarded Grrwahr.
"Have you avenged my brethren?" Grrwahr asked through his growls.
"Yes," Juhani said. "We slaughtered them all."
"Without mercy I hope," Grrwahr replied. "Then I Grrwahr, can return without shame to my village. My hunting party will be rebuilt, but I will never forget my first pack! We hunted together for so long. Thank you for your help outsider. May Bacca watch you."
Calak guess that was some kind of blessing so he felt it appropriate to do the same.
"May the force be with you."