CHAPTER ELEVEN
For what felt like a very long time, but was no more than ten minutes, Anakin, Lysira, the six troopers, Jast, and Lumpawaroo stood solemnly over the rather crudely made burial site of Commander Zanjaar Naar. Anakin was hesitant at first to bury the brave Iktotchi in a place such as the Shadowlands, but it was the least they could do before continuing the mission.
After the time of mourning had passed, Sev Nep, who had taken upon leadership of the team due to him being Naar's lieutenant, lifted up his head and broke the silence.
"I suppose we might as well continue on our journey."
"I'm not so sure about that," Jast said, eying the still-unconscious saber cat which lay nearby. "I don't feel safe leaving that shape-shifting...thing behind."
"We could try burying it too," the Duros stormtrooper Levat suggested.
"But if it wakes up, it might morph into a form large enough to break out," Tesara noted. "I think Anakin should just use his lightsaber and give it a good chopping."
Anakin shook his head. "A Jedi does not take a life like that, savage beast or not. And especially if it's defenseless as it is now."
"Then I suppose we'll just have to leave it here," Kalvin muttered. "Hopefully we'll either be off this planet or at least very far away from it when it wakes up."
"Agreed," Lysira said. "Let's go before it does."
As Anakin and the others began moving deeper into the Shadowlands, he suddenly felt as if someone was watching or following them. But he quickly shrugged it off, figuring that it was simply another pack of katarns, or, hopefully, a harmless tach...
* * *
Shadow walked slowly and carefully, doing his best not to be noticed by the group of ten. What are they doing here? he wondered. Have they come to ruin the operation here on Kashyyyk as well?
Mere moments ago, Shadow had received a transmission from Starka's generals; that the operation on Manaan had been foiled. If the same was to happen to the Kashyyyk operation, the Glorian Empire would become further behind in its plan. He had to prevent that from happening.
Distancing himself from the group, Shadow calculated his chances. The six troopers will certainly be no challenge, same with the smuggler and the human female. The Jedi might take a bit more time, but will be no more than an obstacle.
However, the Wookiee was going to be a problem. Shadow wasn't as skilled a warrior like those in the army. Although he could take on a few Jedi Knights with no trouble, he was useless against a brutish being such as a Wookiee or a Houk.
His hand reached towards his blade as he began considering his options. He could try killing the Wookiee first, so it didn't prove an obstacle in the others' deaths. Or, if he was fast enough, he could kill the others first and save the hardest one for last. Or he could simply warn the commander of the Kashyyk operation and have their warriors handle the intruders.
Shadow disregarded the last one. If the results on Dantooine, Tatooine, and Manaan were any indication of these visitors' abilities, he did not want to take any chances.
Having decided on which course of action he would take, Shadow unsheathed a dagger and made his move.
* * *
"Watch out!"
Anakin barely managed to move Lumpawaroo aside- which was little more than a half-foot- just as a small, sharp dagger narrowly flew past the Wookiee's head.
Igniting his lightsaber, Anakin then turned to face whoever had thrown the weapon. For a brief second, he saw a being cloaked in black, but the next, he was laying on his back, seeing nothing but the large rooftop of trees above.
As he struggled to get back to his feet, he heard Levat and his fellow stormtrooper Avon cry out as they fire their weapons at the mysterious stranger. Their battle cries were abruptly cut short and when Anakin finally managed to sit up, the pain fading away, both of the soldiers were on the ground, still and silent.
Before he had a chance to worry for them, he looked to see the cloaked being facing off with Lumpawaroo, although it seemed like the former was merely evading the Wookiee's attacks. Nearby, Sev, Kalvin, Tesara, and Vex were firing at the stranger whenever he was in their range of fire, while Lysira tended to a wounded Jast.
Reactivating his lightsaber, Anakin charged towards the cloaked warrior, his blue blade raised high over his head. Noticing him, the warrior broke away from his struggle with Lumpawaroo just as Anakin brought his weapon down. The warrior then brought out a long blade which seemed to be made of cortosis and lunged at Anakin. The young Jedi Knight barely managed to block the attack in time. As their blades locked, Anakin took the opportunity to look beneath the warrior's hood.
The cloaked being wore a silver mask, with emerald eyes dimly showing through its visor. His appearance matched those of the Glorians Anakin and the others had encountered on Dantooine and Tatooine.
For a moment, realization and shock overcame him and the warrior took that to his advantage. Breaking off from their fight, the Glorian spun and kicked Anakin in the thigh, causing him to lose his balance and his lightsaber. The warrior then kicked him down to the ground and held his blade over his face.
"You are an interference to the plan," the Glorian murmured coldly. "Therefore, you must be removed."
Knowing that there was no way to escape, Anakin simply closed his eyes and braced himself for the killing blow.
* * *
Just as Shadow brought his blade down, something large slammed into his body and he was sent flying through the air, landing roughly onto the ground while his blade vanished into the depths of the forest. After regathering his senses, Shadow stood up to see what- or who- had rammed into him.
Standing before him, fangs bared like a set of blades, was a large krayt dragon.
Behind his mask, Shadow scowled, speaking the creature's name as if it were a vulgar curse.
"Animus."
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