Strange World • New World by TruView

FanFiction Author's Note: On the surface of Dathomir, force-user Usiku Tano searches for her own truth. Very much in the tradition of the knights of the old republic, those (usually much younger recruits of the order) on this rite of passage were encouraged and sometimes compelled to engage their deepest darkest fears... unaided. Every journey was different and did not always meet with success: Some came into the knowledge that the path of the Jedi was wholly incongruous with their hopes, dreams, and desires; while the lucky ones were indeed chosen by fate or circumstance to bask in the warm glow of the light side of the force, an untold number never-to-be-seen-again, merely vanished without a trace; and still, a smaller percentage came back totally... changed.

On this alien world of a planet steeped in darkside energies, the strength, fortitude, and cunning of this Togrutan, Mandalorian-styled gunslinger will be tested. In the recent loss of her clone guardian, Omega, her spirit will reach a breaking-point but will she still have the presence of mind to ward off the subtler and more nefarious influences of the twilight side of the force? Or, will she succumb under the weight of a drowning depression? Bereft of both her progenitor, Ahsoka Tano, whom she has never known and the one person she could count on above all else, Omega, Usiku will have to push on ahead carving out her own destiny. Can she do it? More importantly, will she want to?!

[Planetside, Usiku travels alone through a dark crimson wilderness]

Concealed by the lengthening shadows of a dark forest whose unchecked vegetation grew thickly, Usiku waited with quiet determination and simply watched. Perfunctory at first, her interest grew as she witnessed a dozen or so of those hellhounds running along the riverbank in a desperate search of their elusive quarry –in other words, her. She followed their progress with tired but smiling eyes noticing the widening gap between them. When they were completely gone from sight, she waited a few extra minutes before taking a tentative step forward out into the dying light. Suddenly, a handful of those same beasts returned. Mouth agape, she drew in a deep breathe and exhaled it slowly attempting to calm herself. The sheer tenacity of these four-legged persuaders was starting to annoy her. They had circled about nearer to where she had originally exited the waters and then parked themselves lazily out in front siting back on their haunches like a mean pack of reservoir dogs. Their tireless efforts were starting to delay whatever progress could've been made had not the entire day already pass.

Breaking into the planetary atmosphere, her ship, the furious angel, came down hard eventually traveling parallel with the land after executing an impossibly smooth turn in a perfectly parabolic angle. That maneuver however caught the attention of many ravenous animals along the surface, in particular a wild pack of rat-like dogs she'd not seen or read about in any of her preparatory research –but no study of an entire planet by conscientious xenologists is ever truly complete; New species are being discovered everyday, even on the most popular of planets (not to mention the meddlesome hand of evolution). Why should Dathomir be an exception?

In any case, these burgundy-colored canine-vermin stubbornly trailed the ship for over 3 kilometers. Well out of sight, R3 deposited its near-human payload and flew figure eights for a few turns in an effort to confound the creatures before lifting back up into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, they had already caught the tasty scent of a fertile female going about on foot. Through the force, the menacing approach of this deadly pack of carnivorous hunters pressing in on her awareness felt like a sharp needle puncturing skin. She had moments to apply the malodorous leafy green petroleum jelly masking her natural aroma from their heightened senses. Immediately after doing so, she made the snap decision to toss one of two backpacks just beyond the edge of the river knowing she couldn't outpace the dogs hauling both bags over her shoulders, if she did have to run.

Looking back, it was still the right decision. However, what she hadn't carefully considered was the homing beacon-transmitter within. The pack was well insulated, so there was no danger of its contents suffering damage on account of the surrounding moisture. It mostly contained foodstuffs and other camping materials. It was certainly heavier than the much smaller one she carried now, which housed an impressive array of unique weaponry. What held her attention was that it was still barely visible, she didn't want to run the risk of these animals or anyone else noticing it. She could do without the food for now. Besides, this one carried a few extra protein bars and she knew of this planet's eatable plant-life.

Headily, she raised her palm in the direction of the bag just beyond where the feral pack of vermin lay and honed in with the force aiming to push the bag further into the water. Instinctively, she bowed her head and closed her eyes in an attempt to drown out all sounds, thereby increasing her focused manipulation of the force. The fewer the distractions, the more the focus. A fair trade, she thought. Instantly, the bag in the water began to inch its way deeper til no piece of it could be seen breaking the smooth watery plane like some defiant iceberg. A little more, she thought.

No! Echoed a psychic voice spilling into her from somewhere like thick boiling red lava. LOOK!

Usiku opened her eyes and noticed the few dogs that were there. Now up on all fours, they began to prance around excitedly. They lifted their huge snouts high into the open air as if trying to catch a whiff of something. Confident of having thoroughly applied the bituminous substance over any exposed body parts, she closed her eyes again, bowed her head as if in prayer, and raised the same open palm back in that direction and continued to push gingerly.

Stop, you IDIOT! The voice was much more insistent now and angrier. That last word seemed to echo endlessly. Usiku opened her eyes and this time saw that the whole pack was back together again. All were dancing save two, no three. This trio were looking up in her direction into the consuming shadows forming the treeline of the dark forest.

"No way they can smell me." She said beneath her breath.

It's not your stink they smell, but your light side use of the force. STOP USING IT HERE!

"Whatever! Who are you, anyway? And where are you hiding?" Usiku looked about frantically but careful not to make a sound. The whoever-she-was did not answer back. "It's not me. Okay!. I know what I'm doing." She mouthed the words more than whispered them.

Refocusing her attention on the body of water a few short yards away, she made huge splashing sounds hoping to imitate the mating song of fresh water fish. When she sought out the results of this clever ruse, she was disappointed to see that not only did her impromptu plan fail in luring away any of the canine but that the remaining pack were clearly focused on her. Suddenly, the biggest among the pack –probably the alpha– began barking up in her direction until the one next to it started sniping at it shutting him up. The one to its right started forward making for a sprint until it too had been cowed by a sharp bite to its hind legs causing it to yelp in pain. It limped away to the back of the pack dejected. That was the trio, she recalled from earlier. The one in the middle was not the biggest but it was most definitely the alpha. It started barking maddeningly and its pack did likewise. It took off in a mad dash up the hill, heading for her and a second or two later, the others followed, careful not to overtake it.

Still on one knee, Usiku began thumbing through her backpack still regarding the impending onslaught. Herart palpitations were increasing. Perspiration began forming on her brow in small beads. Adrenaline was now coursing through her veins. She felt like, like… running? No! I don't run. She thought fight to reign in her emotions. Ahh, yes, this was the flight or fight bodily response to extreme situations Master Offee spoke so much about. Her mind toyed with these novel sensations not believing they'd be this intense. Of course this was the real world. Not the planet Mirial where the Planetary Guard secured every sector. Also, there were no big game animals to speak of.

I'm not prepared for this Usiku realized to her great shame.

Even with endless hours spent in meditation reciting what she thought to be insipid mantras, she was at a loss as to knowing how to manage this situation.

I could slay maybe half that pack before they got the better of me. So fighting them head on is out of the question. And not that I even feel compelled to kill them. They're just following their animal instincts.

I could force leap high into the air and come down behind them racing back down the hill and into the water. For what purpose? To retrieve the beacon-tansmitter and call for help? Boom! It's over before it begins? No way! NO WAY! My best bet is to run deeper into the forest and take my chances there.

She stopped thumbing through her backpack she didn't know what for. Instead, she quickly secured everything throwing the whole thing over her shoulder where it attached itself to a few leads in her clothing. She made ready to go lifting off the ground until she felt a calming diminutive hand rest upon her right shoulder. Turning, she saw that it was a little girl of maybe nine or ten.

"What are you doing here?" Usiku began, "Never mind, you need to come with me right now!"

Usiku tried to rise again but the girl insisted that she stay put. "What are you doing?"

"If run, you" She spoke slightly above a whisper, "they come and chase. You no make it."

"How do you know?" Usiku inquired.

"You come today, just now. I live here forever my life."

As much as she hated to admit, this was true. Humility is usually the best course of action when dealing in the unknown. A Jedi aphorism.

"What do you suggest?" She asked.

"First, me suggest you slow down." Said the little girl. Her galac standard was terrible but serviceable.

"Slow down? I'm not even moving." The dogs would be on top of them in another minute or so she guessed.

"No understand. Slooow downnnn." The tiny girl lowered her hand accidentally hitting her right breast and then centering it slightly above somewhere on the sternum. She repeated. "Slooooow down in here."

"You're right. I should know better." Admitted an embarrassed Usiku. Closing her eyes, she employed a meditation technique for slowing all bodily functions to just above near death.

"Wow." Said the little girl.

The dogs where now coming up at the treeline. The girl pinched Usiku's lips shut between the index finger and thumb.

"Shhhh No more talk. Watch." She whispered in her hear.

From behind she called forward a number of furry little critters the size of balled up fists. Obediently, they strode forward and then she set them loose. About a dozen of them ran out startling the dogs and more than half of the hungry beast gave chase. Eventually, the other dogs ran off and the two of them were left alone.

The girl turned around smiling triumphantly. Usiku returned her smile and asked,

"What's your name?"

"My name is….."