Star Wars Invasion: Episode III, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

  The elevator basket slowly came to a halt into the dark realm of the Shadowlands. Located on the ground level far below the wroshyr trees, hardly any sunlight reached through the thick overcast of branches and leaves. As such, Lysira gave Naar and Anakin lightsticks to guide them through the vast darkness of the forest.

  "So," Lysira said as they began moving through the Shadowlands, "if you were a shape-shifting alien plotting to take over the galaxy, where would you be?"

  "It depends on the limits of their shape-shifting capabilities," Commander Naar replied. "I don't know if they can only take on humanoid shapes or if they can impersonate inanimate objects as well."

  "What, like a tree?" Sev chuckled. "Blast, I knew I should have brought an axe."

  Lumpawaroo glared at the Sullustan and growled. Lysira also gave him a dirty look.

  "Wookiees don't take jokes like that lightly," she said coldly. "I would keep my mouth shut if I were you."

  "Okay, okay!" Sev crossed his arms. "Didn't think walking carpets were that touchy."

  As the group moved deeper into the Shadowlands, Anakin became more wary. All around them, he felt the cold, merciless gaze of predatory creatures as they stalked the forest, waiting for the right moment to strike. The others seemed to be feeling the same, for none of them dared to make a sound or sudden movement. They simply allowed the creatures to follow them while they thought on the best course of action to get rid of the beasts.

  Naar soon broke the silence when he whispered to Anakin, "There's at least three of them. They have four large legs and two smaller arms. And big tusks."

  "You caught a good look at them?" Anakin asked.

  Naar nodded. "When I give the signal, I want you and the others to run as fast as you can, while Kalvin, Tesara, and I handle them."

  "Are you sure you can take care of them alone? You might need someone with a lightsaber handy."

  The Iktotchi commander shook his head. "I can not have you risk your life like that. I promised your parents that I would look after you."

  Just like Threepio, Anakin thought. Aloud, he said, "I don't need protection. I'm a Jedi. We can look after ourselves."

  Naar smirked. "Four thousand years worth of Jedi dying and falling to the dark side doesn't really support that statement."

  Before Anakin could protest further, Naar pointed up ahead. "Go. You have a great destiny awaiting you, and I won't let it end here."

  "How do you know my future."

  Naar gave him a rare smile. "I'm an Iktotchi. We have the natural gift of precognition."

  No longer seeing the point in arguing, Anakin nodded and moved ahead of the group while Naar, Tesara, and Kalvin slowed their pace, charging up their weapons. The commander then quietly gave a countdown to his signal. Anakin braced himself, preparing a running position.

  However, just before Naar reached the end of his countdown, a loud, ear-splitting roar broke through the forest. The pack of katarns following the group suddenly retreated back into the shadows as the ground shook beneath their feet. Soon, behind the trunks of the trees, Anakin could see a large shape approaching them.

  Lysira's eyes widened in horror. When she spoke, her voice was in a whisper. 

  "A terentatek..."

*  *  *

  Jak Kasra looked up from his datapad to see a small, dagger-shaped starfighter land on a platform in Kachirho. He double-checked his datapad's schedule and scratched his head. Kachirho was not to be expecting any more tourists or visitors of any sort for the next two weeks. 

  Odds were that the pilot was simply lost. But just to be safe, Kasra signaled three Wookiee guards to follow him. Bowcasters at the ready, the trio of guards followed  him to the platform which the ship had landed on.

  The ship's boarding ramp lowered and a tall, dark-haired man dressed in a black suit and cloak walked down. His piercing cold gaze made Kasra feel uneasy.

  "Welcome to Kashyyyk," Kasra said to the stranger. "I don't believe you are on our tour list, so this is a rather unexpected visit."

  "Then I hope my presence is not an inconvenience," the man said sharply, not even pausing in his walk. "Direct me to the Shadowlands immediately."

  "Hold it right there," Kasra said, raising his hand, which was enough to stop the man for a moment. "What business do you have here on Kashyyyk?"

  "My business is not of your concern," the man said coldly. "Should it be?"

  Kasra blinked, his mind suddenly becoming disorganized. After regathering his thoughts, he said, "No, it shouldn't be. As long as it's for the good of the Alliance..."

  The man smiled, though Kasra wasn't sure if it had any mirth in it. "Of course it is. Why would it not be?"

  Satisfied with the answer, Kasra and the three Wookiee guards stepped aside to allow the man entrance to Kachirho.