Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters.
Chapter 7
On the way to Korriban Andrew questioned both the Holocrons about it, Traya stated, “Korriban shall be as it always was. A graveyard for the darkest of the Sith Lords, still whispering within their tombs. It shall always be a source of evil, spawning threats throughout the millennia. It, like Malachor, brushes the edges of the empire that waits in the dark. And like Malachor, the Sith have forgotten it … for a time. They will remember."
“Well,” Andrew muttered, “That’s cheerful,” he still felt the pull to the world and he had to go visit it, T3 and R2 beeped worriedly.
“It’s alright,” Andrew smiled, “I’m going to be careful, I promise.”
T3 gave a squawk and rolled off to find Shmi as it still needed some upgrades.
Andrew’s reaction from Jolee’s holocron was a bit more odd, “Korriban’s a rock, mind the Sith,” but he also cautioned, “If there is a world that is truly evil then this planet would be it. The ancient Sith didn’t bury their lords here because it’s cheap, the Dark side covers this worthless rock like a fog.”
Andrew looked worried but he knew he had go there so he could be sure of what was calling him to this dark and terrible world, he even noticed that Shmi and Watto were getting jumpy as they got closer to the world.
Shmi walked towards Andrew’s room and thought, ‘He’s still a child, he can’t go on this world,’ when she heard what the Sith Holocron stated about the world, she couldn’t let him go there alone.
The computer started to beep, announcing that they had arrived in the Horuset system and Andrew piloted the ship to the world.
Korriban loomed in the few windows they had, nearly blacking out the stars. This world was evil and they could all feel it, Andrew gulped as a tiny voice told him to run away, to burn space until they reached the nearest world that was nearby.
Andrew heard Watto whisper. “Gods, this planet is as bad as I truly thought it was. It screams, this world is wrong Andrew.”
“Yeah, I know,” Andrew whispered, “But something’s calling me here and I have to visit something here,” and prepared the ship to land.
As the ship landed in the Valley of the Dark Lords Andrew felt the pressure building on his head and he hated this feeling, it felt wrong as he walked out feeling numb, it was horrible.
He stepped out and felt the cold wind buffet him so he drew the robes around himself as he walked down the ramp, he stepped on the ground and nearly collapsed, ‘This world was like if hate and suffering could manifest themselves physically.’
‘No,’ Andrew thought, he wouldn’t let himself be stopped. As he walked down the valley he swore he could hear something whispering dark words into his ears, ‘But no, it was probably just my imagination, but still,’ he thought, ‘Best be careful.’
The old Sith academy was up this way, he walked past old skeletons centuries old and he heard the whispers speak of power of greatness, he did his best to ignore them but it was hard and he was nervous, he was no hero, why was he here?
Because this world calls to you, a voice whispered, I’m surprised the Jedi let one such as you get away. I won’t make that mistake, I could make you a true lord of the Sith.
“Umm, who are you?” Andrew asked as he walked up the path to the Academy.
Just someone who wishes you to see the potential of this place, the voice whispered in his ear.
Another voice, one that he recognized said, *Enough, leave the Exile alone, his path is not ours. It is his and his alone.*
Andrew walked up to the Academy nervous as hell, ‘This place feels wrong, really wrong.’ As he rushed into the ancient doorway his heart was beating a mile a minute and as he looked around the area he thought, ‘This wasn’t like the temple or the Enclave on Dantooine, those places had a sense of peace to them, a lightness to spite the darkness. This place embraced the darkness.’
He whimpered as he rushed through the ruined Academy looking for something when he saw it on a table, something glowing bright silver. He picked it up and it felt warm, really warm, he brushed off the dust and realized that it was a crystal, there was another one which he grabbed and walked out of the place. He wasn’t staying here; he’d rather go back to Nar Shaddaa than stay in this place.
Shmi looked out at this world and shuddered as it truly seemed evil, she was getting worried about Andrew by the fact that he went alone on this evil world.
Watto muttered, “Evil world, this place is nothing but an evil place of darkness.”
The two droids looked at each other, they still didn’t like each other very much but they both liked their master as he was kind to them, they didn’t feel the wrongness of the place like the organics did but they could both pick up on their feelings.
Andrew ran as fast as he could to the ship and he ignored the whisperings that he heard, he had a feeling that if it was too good to be true then it was.
As he ran he felt the warm silver crystal warming his hands as he walked up the ramp and into the ship.
Shmi looked at Andrew as he got on the ship and programmed it to go anywhere but this place and the ship roared as it left Korriban.
“What’s wrong Andrew?” Shmi asked gently as Andrew started to sob.
“I wasn’t strong enough for that place; it made me feel ill and nauseous. Why couldn’t I be stronger?” Andrew said, tears streaming down his face.
“Because you’re a good boy,” Shmi said, “That world made me feel ill too. It was evil Andrew, something like you’ve never face before.”
“I’m never going there again,” Andrew said as Shmi comforted him.
“Good Andrew,” Shmi whispered, “Did you find something there?”
Andrew nodded and pulled out a bright warm silver crystal out of his pocket and said, “Yes,” and put it down.
“Where are we going?” Shmi asked, “I mean you seemed really desperate to leave, not that I can blame you.”
Andrew smiled as they left Korriban behind them and said, “Umm, not sure,” as he checked the readouts and muttered, “Kashyyyk, we’re going to Kashyyyk.”
Watto floated in and muttered, “Let’s head back to Nar Shaddaa after, I’m thinking of moving there. It wasn’t so bad and there was good business there.”
“I can drop you off Watto,” Andrew said as he put the crystals from Korriban with the other crystals, “Not sure where we’ll go after Kashyyyk.”
“Wookiees,” Watto sighed, “They don’t like outsiders very much though they might like us.”
T3 beeped and suddenly projected an image of a Wookie talking to a hooded person, Andrew couldn’t understand what he was saying until C-3PO came in and said, “Might I assist Master Andrew?”
“Umm, yeah,” Andrew said, “You could actually. T3, please play the last message again?”
It replayed the message and C-3PO said, “Revan, you’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Revan whispered, “I cannot stay here, the Empire that waits in the darkness is massing and I must face it, both Jedi and Sith warriors must fight it. But now Zaalbar, I release you from your life debt to me.”
Before Revan could leave Zaalbar suddenly asked, “What do I tell the others?”
Revan sighed and said, “Bastilia already knows I’m leaving, tell the others whatever you wish Zaalbar, you’ve been a good friend. Now lead your people into the future.”
At that the message ended and Andrew wondered what other kinds of messages were stored in the little droid’s memory banks as this one seemed important.
Andrew smiled at T3 and said, “You got anymore messages in you?”
T3 beeped while rolling around and Andrew held his hands out and said, “Just asking, you don’t have to show me.”
It beeped and rolled off followed by R2 who beeped a bit, worried for its older friend and rolled after him.
Shmi and Andrew sat down to dinner, she made a rich stew out of bantha meat for them saying, “It was one of Anakin’s favourites growing up and it’s healthy for you.”
He ate the warm stew eagerly, happy to feel the warmth in his joints after the cold of Korriban as he still shivered after the cold of that place. He walked over to the teapot and made himself some Gungan Bubble tea to help warm himself up.
“Are you feeling better now?” Shmi asked as Andrew drank the tea.
“Yep,” Andrew nodded, “I’m glad that we left the planet behind us.”
She nodded and left him alone; he walked into his room, looked Jolee’s holocron and activated it.
“So, Korriban didn’t kill you?” the old man said, “That means you either faced what it offered or something was protecting you.”
“Don’t know,” Andrew muttered, “I found some crystals but that’s it.”
“Kid, you need to learn to use the Force if you’re gonna live long enough,” Jolee said, “And I’ll teach you it, if you want.”
Andrew nodded and Jolee said, “First technique you’re going to learn is Force healing, best way to keep yourself alive and your friends if necessary.”
Jolee told Andrew to begin to mediate and said, “It’s not going to be easy, I can’t promise that but we’ll do it and do it right, best to be patient right now as the light side requires peace of mind.”
Andrew struggled to calm himself down but it was hard, he felt afraid of the remembered cold of Korriban and had a feeling that Korriban’s echo would be with him some time.
As his mind started to calm Jolee said, “Now that you’re calm picture the Force flowing over you like a waterfall filling your pores, filling every iota of your being with light. It’s flowing in you around your wounds, healing them.”
He did as he was told and felt a lightening of his spirit as the light side flowed over him, he moaned as it began to overwhelm him, he stopped and said, “Sorry, it felt nice though.”
“Course it felt nice,” Jolee said, “It made you feel calm but you best head off to sleep now.”
Andrew slept soundly and his dreams weren’t haunted by the whisperings of the Sith from Korriban.
The trip to Kashyyyk was long and Andrew began to realize how isolated Korriban was from other worlds. ‘It’s a good thing though,’ he thought, ‘Its darkness couldn’t infect other places, hopefully.
Shmi woke Andrew up for breakfast and so he could help her work on T3 to fully upgrade it to modern specs, Andrew tried to poke through
its memories but there were so many and not all of them were interesting.
A day before they reached Kashyyyk Andrew decided to ignite the lightsaber Yoda gave him after Naboo it activated with a hiss and the blade that appeared was silver in colour. ‘It’s beautiful,’ he thought as he carefully spun it over his head, he saw how people could misuse the weapons or mishandle them.
He quickly deactivated it and went back to studying the information of both Holocrons, his curiosity was magnified by the stories they both told him of the Jedi civil war.
Shmi smiled calmly, ‘He looks better than he had after Korriban and he is back to his usual weird self,’ she sat down and drank some of that Bubble tea that Andrew liked to drink, she had to admit that it was good.
Andrew walked out and said, “Ms Skywalker, is something the matter?”
“Yes, my children, I miss them,” Shmi said, “And I’m wondering how their training’s going?”
“Hmm,” Andrew said, “Well I can tell you that I know their masters, it was the two Jedi that helped us: Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon I liked, hell I even liked Yoda. Obi-Wan I’m not sure about yet as we didn’t talk much.”
“Are they good men?” Shmi pressed, “Will they treat them well?”
Andrew smiled, “Yes or they wouldn’t be Jedi, would they? Most Jedi I’ve met seemed pretty kind and gentle.”
‘Thank god for that,’ Shmi thought as they sat down to eat lunch, she often wondered if they were eating right or going to bed on time.
“From what I understand,” Andrew said kindly, “The Jedi order doesn’t allow family contact for their Padawans; some don’t even know where they came from.”
Watto growled, “Wouldn’t even send a reply back to us about their health, Jedi probably don’t understand about things like that.”
As the day progressed they relaxed and talked about where to go after Kashyyyk, Andrew wanted to visit Ossus as there were reports of Jedi ruins there.
But soon the trip was over and they were coming out of Hyperspace, Andrew saw the world of Kashyyyk and smiled as it was different from Korriban as night was from day. He piloted the ship down to a local spaceport and finally landed the starship, as he got out and stretched his legs he noticed the Wookiees looking at him with hostile looks, one growled in their language.
Andrew called C-3PO out and said, “Translate please?”
C-3PO came out and listened to the growls of the Wookiee and said, “Master Andrew, they are saying that outsiders aren’t allowed here right now as the forest is dangerous of late, many hunters go out and are never seen again and they hear the angry roars of a great beast.”
T3 rolled out beeping and a Wookiee growled at it and C-3PO said, “It’s one of Zaalbar’s travelling companions from so long ago.”
Another Wookiee walked towards Andrew and roared and C-3PO translated, “Who are you outlander?”
“Umm, Andrew Naberrie, I come from Naboo.”
The Wookiee growled and C-3PO said, “They ask you to forgive them as their tribe has never been friendly to outsiders such as ourselves, too often have other races tried to enslave them.”
Andrew nodded respectfully and the Wookiees roared and grunted, C-3PO said, “Good news Master Andrew, they are offering us a place to stay and a meal as guests of their tribe.”
“Alright,” Andrew said as he rushed inside and brought the others out and followed the Wookiees, he looked at the head Wookiee and said, “Why did you change your mind about us?”
It pointed at T3 and growled ,C-3PO again translated, “It was said by Zaalbar the Redeemed that if the prodigal knight needed their help then they would send a messenger with this droid.”
‘Zaalbar the Redeemed?’ Andrew thought, ‘The Wookiee on T3’s message board,’ he tapped the Wookiee on the shoulder and said, “Umm, why is he called Zaalbar the Redeemed?”
The Wookiee looked like it was smiling and began to growl and snarl out.
“Allow me Master Andrew,” C-3PO said, “In ages past the great chieftain Freyrr had two cubs: the honourable Zaalbar and miserable Chuundar. They were raised to respect honour and courage but Chuundar’s nature was evil, he began capturing his own kind to sell as slaves.”
Andrew gulped as the Wookiees around him growled in rage, he looked at C-3PO who stated, “Oh my, Wookie curse words. You are too young for them.”
C-3PO began to translate again, “The honourable Zaalbar heard of his brother’s foul deeds and confronted him, Zaalbar’s rage was great, so much that his mind went undone and he attacked Chuundar with his claws, branding him forever in the eyes of his people as a Madclaw. The mighty Freyrr had no choice but to banish his son, in accordance with his people’s laws.
Shmi frowned, “Why was he banished if all he did was get mad?”
A Wookiee walked over to her and growled gently while pointing at his claws.
“Ah,” C-3PO said, “Our claws are tools; to use them as a weapon makes us no better than the beasts many of your kind say we are.”
The Wookiees nodded and continued their story, “Years passed and when Zaalbar returned our people were not kind to him, we called him madclaw and he was captured by Chuundar, who had taken over our tribe through dishonourable means. He tried to use his words to convince Zaalbar that his ways were right.”
“But no,” C-3PO translated, “Zaalbar’s companions were loyal friends and allies and the Revan came from the Shadowlands, fire in her eyes and wielding a blade of green light, she acted as a Wookiee would have: with honour. She brought the blade of Bacca and the mighty Freyrr who cast down Chuundar like the beast he was and restored our honour, we chased off the outlanders and took Kashyyyk for ourselves and Freyrr forgave Zaalbar and apologized for his actions.”
As the story ended Andrew nodded and said, “That was a very nice story.”
The Wookiee nodded and C-3PO translated, “It seems Zaalbar came back sometime later and spoke of war in the heavens. He went on to lead the tribe after Freyrr died; it was a long and peaceful reign.”
“Why are they having us for dinner?” Andrew asked, “And please tell me that it’s not literally for dinner?”
One of the Wookiees laughed out and snarled.
“No,” C-3PO stated, “We were expected to show up, the Revan left things that she said her tribe would need eventually and we would recognize the messenger by the companions he kept.”
Andrew looked at his friends and wondered what they were getting.
TBC
What do you think of the story the Wookiees told? What do you think of the message found on T3? What did Revan leave for them? Did Andrew make the right decision by getting the hell out of Korriban as fast as he can? What is hunting the Wookiees?
Andrew’s dark side power will appear in the next chapter.
Please rate and review.