The journey across the wooden walkways that networked the lofts of Kashyyyk's forests only served to agitate Zaalbar further, Seth noticed as he deactivated his lightsaber. The distinct smell of charred kinrath flesh wafted up at him through thin trails of smoke as he stared down at the arachnoid's corpse with a shudder. The kinrath looked like something out of a nightmare, and he quietly hoped that the creatures strictly made their homes within the canopy of the trees, as the Wookiees did, so that he could walk across the forest floor in search of the Star Map without worry.

"With the number of these things that have crawled down at us from the tree trunks, I'm starting to wonder if I should even pause to holster my blasters," Carth said with a humorless laugh.

"Pausing to holster your blasters is what got your Republic in such a rut when we fought you guys in the Mandalorian War," Canderous smirked, patting his repeater.

Seth heard the faintest hint of a held-back snort from Mission, and turned a chastising glare on her. She shrugged. "Sorry, I don't really have any ties of allegiance to either side," she quipped. "I'm just here for the entertainment."

Bastila cut off whatever retort Carth was preparing for the mercenary with a silencing finger in the pilot's direction. "Zaalbar, are we getting any closer to your village?" she asked.

Zaalbar, already several steps ahead of the group and not waiting for them to catch up, gave an affirmative roar. "[Though you shouldn't expect much kindness from my people, even with my presence among you. After my exile, they likely consider me no less an outsider than any of you.]"

T3 gave a concerned bleep, and Seth glanced down at him sympathetically. "They probably won't take too kindly to you either, buddy. I won't let 'em scrap you, though."

The little astromech gave a grateful buzz and sped up to follow Zaalbar. Bastila glanced over at Seth and gave him a disapproving frown. "You've grown attached to the droid."

"I thought that you had moved past disapproving of my 'attachments,' considering T3 should probably be the least of your worries in that department." He crossed his arms over his chest and raised a questioning eyebrow at his fellow Padawan.

Bastila matched his cocksure stance with equal measure, placing a hand on her hip as she stared coolly back at him. "No, I've just realized by now that you'll still do whatever you want despite my objections."

Seth gave a little half-hearted laugh and shrugged. "I really am sorry about that," he said genuinely. "But what use am I to this mission if I'm a carbon-copy of you?"

"Multiple Jedi following the tenets of the Order aren't exactly useless, Seth," she defended with a frown.

He gave her a little smirk, green eyes twinkling mischievously. "I never said I'd be a carbon copy of those Jedi. Only of you. And you've got a bit of a rebellious spirit in you that makes you different, Bastila. Makes you better. Keeps you in touch with who you are, and who you are is a good person. That's what the light side's all about."

Bastila shook her head. "Again, at this point, I know you'll believe what you wish, but I desperately wish you'd see beyond your own worldview and realize that that's not the case. And I apologize if I've been less than a model Jedi for you. It seems that no matter how hard I try, I fail to provide a good example for you."

Seth shrugged. "Don't beat yourself up over who you are, or who I am. As much as you may hate my pointing out, you're not my commander anymore. We're equals as far as rank is concerned, and experientially diverse. You don't have to take it upon yourself to be my role model."

She gave him a small smile. "With all the trouble you seem to get yourself into, I can't help but make it my own personal mission to keep you safe, whether it be from Malak and his allies or from yourself."

Seth wasn't sure how to respond to the sentiment, but luckily he didn't have to, as a Wookiee's roar tore them both from their conversation and to the front of the party. A second member of Zaalbar's species stood toe-to-toe with the Wookiee in question, the barrel of a bowcaster pressed roughly against Zaalbar's throat.

Mission was the first to draw her weapon, aiming her blaster pistol between the offending Wookiee's eyes. An additional pair of Wookiees backing the first drew their bowcasters, and in almost an instant there was the familiar sound of three blasters clicking and three lightsabers igniting.

"Why don't you three put your weapons away, and we won't have to carpet these walkways with your remains," Canderous suggested darkly, his heavy repeater aimed right at the apparent leader's chest.

The Wookiee growled angrily, but nonetheless lowered his bowcaster and encouraged his fellows to do the same with a simple wave of his claw. He turned back to Zaalbar, teeth bared ferociously. "[What are you doing here, mad-claw? And why do you bring outsiders?]"

"[The outsiders are here with business in the Shadowlands, Rrodrr. And I need to speak to Chuundar,]" Zaalbar's tone was threateningly even, as far as Shyriiwook dialogue could be.

Rrodrr glanced at the party and shook his head. "[Business in the Shadowlands? You really are as insane as Chuundar says! Look how soft they are – they wouldn't last an hour in the Shadowlands.]"

"[Well then they aren't really much of a concern.]" Zaalbar took a threatening step towards Rrodrr, teeth bared. "[Now, take me to my brother.]"

Seth's fingers itched for the comfort of his lightsaber as he was stared down by the Wookiee chieftain and at least a dozen armed Czerka guards in the center of Rwookrrorro's throne room. Zaalbar's home village, as difficult on the tongue as it may have been, was an architectural marvel. Seth only wished he'd been able to visit while on amicable terms with its residents. Such as they were, he and the others had been paraded through the village after being relieved of their weapons by Rrodrr and his guard under the scathing glares of the Wookiee residents. Seth had almost been grateful when he'd been shoved into the seclusion of the chieftain's hall until he was staring up into the dark eyes of Zaalbar's brother.

"[What are these outsiders doing in our halls, Chuundar?]" Zaalbar growled.

The dark-furred Wookiee simply glared at his brother. "[You're not in a position to be asking questions, mad-claw. Besides, it seems you choose to keep the company of outsiders as well.]"

"[I am not like you!]" Zaalbar roared angrily. "[You partner with the very outsiders that sell our kind into a lifetime of slavery! I swore a life debt to one who saved me from such a lifestyle.]"

"[A life debt?]" Chuundar repeated thoughtfully, eying the unlikely group before him. His eyes settled on Canderous and gestured at the Mandalorian in a silent question as to whether he was the one who was worthy of such an honor.

Zaalbar shook his head. "[The girl rescued me from slavers involved in the very trade you allow into our halls.]"

Chuundar looked Mission up and down, unimpressed, and gave a shrug. "[You do know the word of a mad-claw carries little to no weight, don't you?]"

"Zaalbar's more trustworthy than the cowardly chieftain selling his own people, I'd say," she retorted, her tone biting.

"[My partnership with Czerka is what's keeping them from taking Rwookrrorro by force,]" Chuundar defended. "[Sacrificing a few every now and then for the many is the best way to protect my people.]"

"Oh, and I suppose you're just doing this out of the goodness of your heart, then?" Carth asked, sarcasm dripping in his tone of voice. "Not for the benefit of your own personal Czerka guards or the weapons they provide?"

"[Those weapons are distributed for my people and aid in their protection when they venture into the Shadowlands,]" Chuundar defended. "[Advanced Czerka weaponry gives my people the edge they need in a wilderness far more dangerous than any you've experienced, human.]"

"[What happened to Father?]" Zaalbar pressed. "[He would never have stood for an arrangement like this!]"

"[Father is dead, Zaalbar,]" Chuundar responded, "[crippled with grief over his oldest son resorting to madness.]"

Zaalbar's proud stance immediately slumped with the weight of the news, and Mission moved forward wordlessly to put a comforting hand on her friend's forearm. Seth bit his lip as an unsettling silence fell over the hall.

Finally, with a heaving Wookiee sigh, Zaalbar broke the quiet. "[Then there is nothing else for us here.]"

"[But there is something for me here,]" Chuundar added, and from what Seth could pick up from Shyriiwook vocal inflections, his tone was dripping with smug superiority. "[If your company is to be walking about my Shadowlands, then I require a favor for your trespassing on my land and your use of my people's resources to get down to the surface of our world.]"

Seth sighed, crossing his arms. "What exactly would this favor entail?"

"[It's a small task,]" Chuundar responded, "[and it shouldn't take much time. There's a crazed Wookiee living in the Shadowlands who was exiled from our village. He's slandering my name to our hunters and sowing discord among my people who also tread the surface.]"

"Can't imagine why he'd do that," Mission muttered under her breath.

If Chuundar heard her, he paid her no mind. "[I'd like for you to silence his claims. Permanently.]"

"And if we don't find him?" Bastila pressed.

"[You'll run into him, I'm sure. But you'll want to return with news of his death. Zaalbar will stay here with me until the job is finished, so if you desire to leave Kashyyyk with him alongside you, you'll do as I say.]"

"Forget it!" Mission burst out. "You can't just take Zaalbar from us!" She glanced over at Seth, then to the others. "He… he can't do that, can he?"

Chuundar gave the Wookiee equivalent of a laugh. "[This is my village. I can do as I please. You have no weapons and certainly not enough manpower to overwhelm my Czerka protectors or my loyal followers. Zaalbar stays with me. He'll be returned safely to you upon news of this crazed Wookiee's death.]"

Seth folded his arms. "Fine. But I don't leave anyone behind alone. You want us to trust you with Zaalbar? Let us leave behind a company to ensure his safety."

The chieftain seemed to mull the option over thoughtfully. "[That's reasonable enough, I suppose. Decide among yourselves who will stay and who will go, and meet Gorwooken at the elevator basket. He will take you to the Shadowlands.]"

Mission immediately turned to the others, concern for her best friend clearly written across her features. "I have to stay here. I can't leave Big Z."

"I wasn't going to ask you to," Seth said quietly, placing a gentle hand on her back. She forced a smile at Seth that he immediately saw through, and he rubbed soft circles between her shoulder blades in silent support.

"[This is my fault,]" Zaalbar roared woefully. "[I shouldn't have insisted we come here.]"

"Nonsense," Carth assured. "We wouldn't have gotten access to the lift down to the surface without talking to Chuundar first. You couldn't have known he'd kidnap you as a condition for using it."

"We aren't going to leave you out to dry, either," Seth added. "We're coming back for you. And Mission's gonna make sure Chuundar holds up his end of the bargain."

"Damn right I am," the Twi'lek growled through gritted teeth. "He so much as lays a furry finger on you and there will be hell to pay."

"We should leave T3 with them too," Bastila suggested. "He's got plenty of hidden weaponry should things go south here, and his wheels likely won't gain much traction on the forest's surface, anyway."

Seth nodded. "That's a good idea." He glanced again at Mission, feeling an uncomfortable lurch in his stomach at the thought of leaving her with someone like Chuundar for any amount of time. "Without their weapons, we need to leave them with someone fully able to defend the party," he said thoughtfully. "A Force user."

Bastila folded her arms. "Wouldn't you think that we need as much guidance from the Force as we can get down in the Shadowlands?"

"We can't just leave them with the short end of the stick!" Seth argued. "I can stay behind. You guys go ahead and find that Wookiee."

"Don't forget the reason we came here," Bastila prodded. "Seth, I need you down there to help me find the Star Map. Only you and I have seen its location in our visions."

Seth was unsure how to answer back to that, but luckily Juhani cleared her throat at that moment and he didn't have to. "I can stay here with the others. You two must focus on finding the Star Map while searching for the crazed Wookiee."

Seemingly put at ease, Seth nodded and relaxed his posture. Carth glanced over at Canderous. "Seems like we'll have to keep playing friendly for now, Mando."

The Mandalorian warrior shrugged. "Tolerating you doesn't mean I have to treat you as a friend, Republic."

Mission rolled her eyes at the exchange and turned to Seth. "You'd better go, the sooner this is done, the better."

Seth nodded. "Yeah. Stay safe, okay?"

She laughed. "I think I should be the one telling you that."

"You're not the one being left behind in what's looking to potentially be enemy territory."

"I'm also not the one heading down into an abyss even some Wookiees don't survive. I'm serious, Seth. Be careful down there."

"You know I will be," he assured.

"Good. Because you're pretty cute and I'd hate to see a face like that go to waste." She smiled as she joked, but was caught in her fear as her voice broke slightly. "Damn it," she whispered, blinking furiously as her eyes teared up. "Why do you keep putting me in positions where I feel like I'm saying goodbye for what could be the last time?"

He pulled her into a tight hug, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck as she clung to him tightly. "I'm coming back, Mission. That's a promise." He ghosted his lips across the crown of her head for a split second before breaking away, and she smiled miserably up at him. "By the way," he whispered, "I think you're pretty cute, too."

Mission rolled her eyes. "You're such a nerf-herder. Just hurry back, okay?"

"Okay."

"Ready to roll out, lover boy?" Canderous asked gruffly, and Seth nodded, heading for the door behind the others.

Zaalbar stepped forward to catch Seth's arm. "[Thank you for continuing to make sacrifices on my behalf. If I had another life to swear, it would be to you.]"

Seth nodded. "No problem. It's a value ingrained in my head from the military – No man left behind." He dropped his voice to a low whisper. "But if you feel you owe me something, promise me this. You keep her safe. If I can come back to her and hold her in my arms again, you can consider us even."

A/N: For those of you confused by the fact that Zaalbar's life debt was sworn to Mission as opposed to Seth, it's a part of my effort to rewrite the beginning chapters and make the plot more coherent. If you'd like more details, they can be found about halfway through the rewritten Chapter Three. (: