CHAPTER NINE
The terentatek came charging through the forest, crushing bushes and plants with its clawed feet and crashing through smaller trees. From what Anakin could tell, the creature was shorter than a rancor but had a similar stature and was just as dangerous.
The stormtrooper Kalvin immediately brought out hi heavy blaster rifle and began firing at the beast. The terentatek responded by stomping the ground, causing Kalvin to trip over the quakes. At that moment, Lumpawaroo unsheathed a blade and, with a roaring cry, charged towards the beast. He plunged the blade into the creature's leg, prompting it to roar out in agony. It swung its humongous arms and struck the Wookiee, sending him flying off his feet.
Anakin chose then to act. Igniting his lightsaber, he charged towards the terentatek, which, much to his confusion, did not do anything to stop him. Just as he was about to swing his lightsaber, the beast suddenly made a tremendous leap over his head, causing him to lose his balance. After regaining his footing, he turned around to face the terentatek again.
Only to see that it was no longer a terentatek. Instead, a nexu feline stood poised to pounce at him. When it did, Anakin swung his lightsaber again, hoping to strike the savage beast down. However, he missed again and the nexu stretched out its arms to claw at his face.
As he wrestled with the nexu, calling out in pain as the creature began digging its claws into his skin, Anakin heard Naar call out his name as the Iktotchi commander let out a round of blaster bolts at the feline. After four shots, the nexu let go of Anakin and dropped to the ground, though it was far from dead.
Before Anakin could move to retrieve his dropped lightsaber, the beast changed shape again and turned from a nexu into a large arachnoid. It made a small leap and landed over Anakin, trapping him behind a cage of eight legs. The spider-like creature then tilted its head forward, a venomous liquid dripping from its pincers. Its eight eyes were filled with malice as it leaned back and prepared to deliver the final blow.
Anakin braced himself for the bite. But it never came. Instead, he heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber activating. Looking past the arachnoid's legs, he could see Lysira standing behind the spider, holding his lightsaber as if it were any other blade.
"Leave him alone," she said to the beast coldly.
To Anakin's surprise, the arachnoid moved away from him, turning to face Lysira. After letting out a vile hiss, the creature spoke, its words in perfect Galactic Basic.
"No one has ever challenged me and lived, human," the arachnid growled. "Even the galaxy's greatest warriors have fallen before me."
"All but one," Lysira replied. "There is at least one warrior who has managed to defeat you."
The arachnid hissed. "The Revanchist defeated me only by cunning, not in combat. But I will not be outsmarted by a lowly human such as yourself."
Before Lysira could respond or react, the spider changed shape again, morphing into a purple-furred feline with a sharp horn protruding from the top of its skull. The saber cat pounced and for a moment, time itself seemed to slow. Lysira's eyes widened in terror, knowing that is she made a move, it would be too slow to strike the beast down.
Anakin shook off his initial shock and was about to move to save Lysira, even though he knew it was too late. Suddenly, without being given any warning or glimpse of foresight from the Force, Commander Naar ran over to Lysira and pushed her out of the way. Unable to change course, the saber cat finished its move and dug its horn into the Iktotchi's midsection.
Naar's cry of pain was downed out by Anakin's one of despair. Using the Force to take his lightsaber back from Lysira, he charged towards the saber cat, bringing his blade down to decapitate it. Although his lightsaber strangely did not cut through the creature's flesh, it was enough to create a nasty gash in its neck, causing the feline to roar in pain. It forced its horn out of Naar's side and was preparing to attack Anakin when a plasma bolt from Sev Nep's blaster knocked it out unconscious.
The battle over, Anakin deactivated his lightsaber and quickly but gently laid Naar down onto the ground, examining the hideous, gaping wound the saber cat had made near the Iktotchi's chest.
"Does anyone have a medpack?!" he cried out.
"I have one," Tesara said, rushing over to Naar's side. "I'm not sure if it will help, though..."
"It'll have to," Anakin muttered as he rummaged through the pack for a bacta patch.
"Don't...bother..." Naar coughed, his voice hoarse. "I will only...slow you down. You must...go without-"
"Don't say that!" Anakin snapped, trying to hold back his tears. "We need you! We need your leadership! We can't go on without you!"
"Of course you can," Naar rasped. "Ten years ago...during the war...I was part of a battalion on Vinsoth. When my...superior officer fell in battle, he...told me that, sometimes, it doesn't matter what your rank insignia is...or if you have special powers or not. As long as you...have the brains and guts...anyone can be...a leader."
The Iktotchi reached to place a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I...trust that you have...what it takes to lead. Heck, I'm sure Sev could do it...if you want him to."
A tight smile tugged the corners of his face. "The mission comes first, Anakin. Please...finish it...for my sake."
Before Anakin could say anything, he felt Naar's hand slowly slide off his shoulder as the commander closed his eyes and became one with the Force.
It would be a long time before anyone else would make a sound or movement...
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