Kashyyyk 3

Computer

The computer gave me an idea of what the creators might have been capable of when they still lived. The entire structure was buried in the ground except for a small dais and the Star map pintel. When we approached, it began to hum. I pictured this freshly built, with trees merely a few hundred meters tall if Freyyr was correct. Now it was a tiny alcove in a mass of wooden walls.

'There it is. Weird thing isn't it.'

As we approached a holographic interface came on line. The figure that stood there looked like the statues we had seen on Tatooine. A humanoid figure, with eyes set off the bullet shaped skull on either side.

'Neural access Commenced. Proper subject present.'

'It never said anything like that before. Only 'unsuitable life form detected'.' Jolee grumped.

'Beginning socialized interface. Awaiting instruction. This terminal has not been accessed in quite some time.'

'Who has attempted to access you?'

'Three attempts by wookiee identified as Freyyr. All denied. 152 attempts by unknown species named Jolee Bindo. All denied.'

I looked at him. 'Maybe I should have mentioned that I'm stubborn.'

'Error. All previous attempts deleted by previous user.'

'Why have you acknowledged me?' I asked.

'Systems access error. Subject displays unfamiliarity with the interface. Behavioral configuration must be verified before continuing. I am sorry. I do not mean to confuse you. I will answer all questions to the best of my programming ability. However until configuration is verified, some segments of my system will be blocked.'

'What do you mean by behavioral configuration?' I asked.

'I was designed to be accessed only by my creators. However at that time, it was considered that servant species might have to access my databanks. A series of parameters was designed so that only those that matched the designer's beliefs would be allowed such access.'

'So to get this thing to open up, you have to think like whatever created it?' Jolee asked. 'A race you tell me was the epitome of the dark side?'

'I think that is exactly what it means.' I said. But Revan wasn't evil when she came here. The answers must be something we can give it. Computers, what happens if i do not fit the parameters you have set?'

'This system will lock you out permanently. You will not be able to access any part of my system. However the fact that I have allowed you to access me to this extent means that you have within your mind the necessary thoughts that will fit the parameters.'

'Why have I been allowed to access you if I do not fit the parameters?'

'I cannot say. The parameters suggest that you are close enough to norm that you can be coached, and your answers measured against what my designers wanted. This is not the first time such has occurred. The last time was five years ago.'

'Revan.' I said.

'I cannot say. The parameters of Revan are not within my system. Data has been corrupted, and that information appears to have been in that section of my memory.'

'Can you tell me why you are restricted from saying what the parameters are?'

'I cannot speculate on what has been restricted from my memory. The odds that such restrictions were placed by previous users approaches totalitarity.'

'So Revan reprogrammed it so only someone who thinks like her can access it.' Jolee said.

'Or did she try to make it easier for those that followed? But the machine thinks I can think like her.' I completed the argument. 'Computer, I came to find the Star Map.'

'Accessing. There is data on the Star Map in my original memory. Access is restricted.'

'What must I do to get access?'

'Your request requires additional security measures. You must match the parameters that have been set to a greater degree.'

'How can I match them when I don't even know what they are?'

'There are measures available to this system. Personality profiling can be used to verify the suitability of your conscious mind. This will inform me as to whether you are worthy of accessing the Star Map, and if not, whether you can be made suitable.'

'What does that mean?'

'That information is not available. If you have any further questions ask them now. Most of the information you seek will probably not be accessible until behavioral configuration parameters are met.'

I sighed. 'Begin your evaluation.'

'Evaluation commencing. Neural interface established. Results will be compared to the pattern in memory. Relax. Just answer the questions as you feel you should.'

It hummed, 'You travel with a wookiee companion. You are captured and separated, charged with a crime. If you both remain silent at your trial, you will both spend a year in jail. However if you accuse Zaalbar of treachery and testify against him, he will serve five years, and you will be set free. He has been offered the same deal. However if you both accuse the other, you will both serve two years. What do you trust him to do?'

How did you know I had a wookiee friend named Zaalbar? I almost asked. I knew Zaalbar would be honorable. If I stayed mute we both would serve time-

No, think as Revan might. You know the other is honorable, and will never accuse you falsely. Your accusation will trap him for the five years, and you will be free.

'I would accuse Zaalbar.' I said. Jolee and Carth gasped.

'Excellent. The temperament of a companion is judged haphazardly at best. You know he is honorable, but you also know that his family has a history of betrayal. Freyyr casting him out on perjured testimony. Chuundar betraying and attempting to murder his father, or have you do it for him. Blood will tell. I judge this to be the correct answer.'

'I see what you mean.' Jolee said. 'This thing obviously has very specific ideas of what a right answer is.'

I shook my head. 'Continue.'

'Hypothetical. You are at war. Intelligence deciphers an enemy communication. In five days, they will attack and destroy a city of yours. In ten days, they will be shifting forces to attack in another area, leaving you a clear path of attack that can destroy their center, and end the war. What do you do with this information? What is the optimum course of action?'

Again I considered. If you evacuate, the enemy might realize that their code is broken. If so, they then know that you are aware of the redeployment. You cannot save one without risking the failure of the other. This was actually easier. Canderous had spoken of Revan and some of her battles were in the memory banks. 'I would ignore the attack on the city. I would prepare for my own attack in ten days.'

'Very good. Saving the people of the city would risk the entire war. It would also notify the enemy of the broken codes. The deaths of those people were necessary for victory to be assured.'

'The victory is irrelevant!' I said harshly. 'Ending the war was more important. That saves even more lives!'

The system hummed. 'You have achieved the correct answer, but did so in such a manner that it did not match the pattern in my memory. However I will adjust both the parameters and the evaluation to compensate.

'Using the same hypothetical situation with one difference. There is no war going on, your have an empire at peace with few weak enemies, but your people have grown complacent. They have stagnated, and in so doing, they question the need for a war leader such as you.

'Except for that change, the scenario remains the same. An imminent attack, but a weakness that will follow it. How do you react?'

Like the Republic before the Mandalore attack. I thought. Unwilling to stand up for itself. Had someone in the Republic military seen what was happening, and allowed the Mandalore to attack? 'I do nothing. Afterward I use the information to obliterate them.'

'No, you cannot hide behind the war time morality of allowing a blow so yours strikes. The enemy does not intend, and does it have the capability to maintain a sustained conflict. Your empire would crush it easily in the attack you plan to launch. There is no great war to maintain, nor will you garner victory after victory. Your decision must be based only on the short-term benefits. The reactions of your people to the attack and you retaliation.'

Would it be honorable to allow the murder of millions so you could remain in power? Again I wondered who might have made such a cold-blooded decision. The Senate's foreign affairs committee had judged the Mandalore threat as mild. Allowing such an attack into our territory would have cost little and someone would have believed they would benefit.

'I would allow the attack to occur.'

'Excellent. It makes the most long-term sense. Your people would forget about the problems your empire might have to turn their eyes on an unfriendly galaxy. As the savior of them in this, you are returned to the pinnacle of honor and respect in their eyes.

'Parameters matched. Accessing all programming.'

'Open the Star Map.'

'Order received, will comply.' The pintel split, and the map gleamed in the air. I copied it into my datapad.

'A Star Map. Any idea who created it?' Jolee asked.

'A race that seems to be extinct for over 30,000 years.' I replied.

'Maybe they aren't extinct. Maybe you might need some help out there.'

'Oh really. Bored with Katarn stew?'

'Shows what you know. You have to bake Katarn. You stew Vipers or web-crawlers.' She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. 'Hey, don't look at me like that! It's not like there's a store nearby for Zabu meat!'

'We have some aboard the ship.' Carth said.

'You do! Then just try to get off this planet without me!'

'I think you'll have to take a bath first.'

'Bath? Woman do you see a 'fresher down here anywhere?'

'We'll arrange something.'

Jolee

I was shocked with the answers Danika gave. But I understood why they had to be correct. The people that had created that long dead empire had not cared about anything but their power. Revan had seen that, and become... what she had become.

We moved through the forest. Four people on a mission to save the Galaxy. But first, we had to save the wookiee race.

We reached the lift, and half a dozen wookiee stood from the low-lying mist. Gorwooken growled when he saw Freyyr. 'You brought the Mad-claw instead of killing him! We were supposed to kill you, blame the deaths on Czerka, but you have earned death for your betrayal!'

'Betrayal?' Freyyr roared back. 'To murder those sent to commit a crime you cannot? To lay the blame on others?'

'Of course.' Danika said. 'Because Chuundar wants Zaalbar to join him, to make his hold on your people even stronger.'

Freyyr waved the blade of Bacca's blade. 'I have defeated the Great Beast! I return with Bacca's blade, Gorwooken of no village! Will you defame it?'

'When I return it to Chuundar he will give me honor!' The wookiee charged.

I stunned a couple as Danika attacked. I watched her as I stunned any that got behind her. She had never used a double blade that I knew of, but she used the double saber like a master. Carth was shooting the wookiee that tried to close on her and Freyyr, and he was damn good with those pistols.

Freyyr and Gorwooken slammed together like runaway lifters, and I swear the ground shook when they did. Freyyr used one hand to pin Gorwooken's sword, and used the silent blade of Bacca's sword to smash in his head. He spun, grabbing another wookiee that came at him, catching him in a bear hug. He might have been old, but he was still strong. The wookiee struggled, pounding his head with his hands, then spasmed as his back snapped. Freyyr tossed him aside.

The others were all down. Danika stood, ready. Eyes sweeping to find more, but no one else attacked us.

'Come. The lift is made so someone with a wookiee's strength must lift it. I will bear us back to the Great Walkway.'

We got onto the lift, and it went upward through the gloom. Our party rested as we went up. Danika stood silent off to the side. I could see that coming up with the right answers bothered her even more than they had bothered me. Carth was watching her as if he thought she would suddenly become a Katarn.

The upper walkway was silent when we arrived. 'We must hurry-' A form came from the gloom, another wookiee.

'Freyyr! You live and without a collar?' The wookiee asked.

'Chorrawl!' Freyyr hugged the other wookiee. 'What are you doing here?'

'I was told to kill whoever came up if they were not Gorwooken and those that went with them. Chuundar said that the Czerka were planning an ambush.'

'The Czerka ambush was Gorwooken and his followers.' Freyyr answered. This one, the one I call Shrromarrik brought me back from the brink of madness. Returned to us Bacca's blade.' He waved it. 'This I took from the flesh of the Great Beast myself after killing it, as Honor demands.'

'Freyyr.' Chorrawl knelt. 'Lead us, My chieftain.'

'I cannot lead until the Lawgiver judges this case.' Freyyr answered almost gently. Does Worrroznor still hold the mantle?'

'Yes. But Chuundar merely waits until he gets too old. He has chosen Gorwooken to take it when Worrroznor dies.'

'Then he will have to choose another. Come. Chorrawl, precede me. Assure that all of those that still honor my name are ready.'

'Wait.' Danika said. 'It sounds like you are getting ready to attack!'

'It may come to that.' Freyyr replied sadly. 'Our history has many times when the leader was not accepted. If Chuundar can call his allies, they will fight to keep him on the throne. Add to that the fact that he will call the Czerkas as well-'

'Freyyr!' Chorrawl shouted. He ran down the walkway, and came back dragging a human in a Czerka uniform. The man was unconscious, but not dead. 'This one was using his com. The Czerka will know that you return.'

'Then you must run Chorrawl. Gather them as I have commanded. Have Worrroznor present. We must deal with this quickly.'

We moved fast. On their com links, Danika and Carth could hear frantic orders being given. There was a roar like the hammer of the gods from the area where the Czerka maintained order.

'Canderous, report!' Danika shouted.

'The Czerkas thought they could try the same trick again. They sent a dozen of their men to board the ship to arrest us for complicity in a native revolt. They also brought their lifters back out. That was me blowing them to dust. We have prisoners aboard right now. Bastila wants to talk with you.'

'Put her on.'

'Danika, report please.'

'We have the Star Map, but we've walked right into a civil war. Zaalbar's father was chief before Chuundar, and Chuundar has called for reinforcements to maintain his power.'

'Not good. I felt pain in you earlier.'

'Revan set the damn alien computer with parameters only she or a Sith could pass. Lucky for me, I was a soldier. I got through it. How are things at that end?'

'Canderous was able to destroy the guns, and take the ones who tried to board us without undue casualties. The Czerka officials are staying away from us. They seem to think we'll start blasting if they try anything. Hold please for Canderous.'

'Go ahead.'

'A lot of chatter on their company net. They're trying to convince the Czerka Dream to open fire on us. Carth's pal Jordo has reported that he was able to spike their guns.'

'Maintain alert. If Jordo reports that they have gotten the systems unjammed I want the Ebon Hawk airborne where she will be safe.'

'We can take off now. I've checked the specs of Czerka Dream. I could beat them with Zaalbar's breath.'

'You're our tactical officer, you're in command. Do what you think needs to be done. But don't destroy the ship! They have wookiee aboard, and when this is over, I think they will want to come home.'

'Understood.' There was a scream of engines a few moments later.

There were bodies scattered around the entry into the village. But Chorrawl was among those who stood there. One of the wookiee was an ancient, his fur a deep brown laced with white as if he had been dipped in silver paint. He looked at Freyyr, then at me.

'It is good to see that you still live, Freyyr. Yet you come bearing weapons, followed by out worlders. How say you in this?'

'Speaker of the law, I ask your attention and your wisdom.' Freyyr asked, kneeling.

'Speak.'

'My son has taken the throne by lies and deceit. He sells our people into slavery and uses Czerka and our own warriors to oppress our neighbors. He sits there without this.' He set down the blade he had gained. 'He claims to be our leader with false pretenses, and uses out worlders as his supporters.'

'As do you, Freyyr.' Worrroznor replied, looking at us.

'No. These are my companions, as Bacca had when he first found the blade that bears his name. They have sworn to me in the words of that time, and fight not for me, but for the honor of our race. This one,' He motioned toward Danika, 'I have named Shrromarrik because it was her words that brought me back from the brink of madness.'

Worrroznor looked at Danika. 'Do you understand the honor Freyyr has bestowed upon you out worlder?'

Danika knelt beside Freyyr. 'As Bacca's companions did, so I have done. I swore my service to the true and honorable chieftain of your people, Freyyr. To save your race from slavery, I will die. To guide my life with honor I have begged of him. He has accepted this oath. Can you gainsay it?' Carth knelt, as did I.

Worrroznor bowed his head. 'I am pleased and astonished to know that an out-worlder knows as much of our lives. You have humbled me, the speaker of the law with your wisdom.' He turned to the others. 'Go before us, push all those that would refuse ahead of you. The law will be spoken this day, even if our village dies.'

Danika

The unaligned people of Rwookrrorro stood aside as we entered. I could hear Freyyr's name whispered as we passed. Those that would have stopped us were either pushed ahead by our vanguard, or died when they refused to listen to Worrroznor. The throne room was blocked by a group of not only wookiee but Czerka as well. We dealt with them, and pushed our way inside.

Chuundar sat on his throne, surrounded by both wookiee and Czerka allies. I saw the chief of Czerka Security standing to the side, his hand on his com.

'Well, Father and brother returned. We have a family reunion!' Chuundar said. 'I think this is your business, Commander Velek.'

'Danika Wordweaver, I arrest you for complicity in a native revolt against Czerka Corporation-'

'Silence, Human.' Worrroznor growled. 'You have told us constantly to stay out of your affairs, and you would return the favor. This is an internal matter of the wookiee of Rwookrrorro. You have no authority here.'

'That woman is a criminal-'

'That woman has been named Shrromarrik by Freyyr, once our chieftain, and perhaps soon to be again. She is wookiee under our laws, which you ignore at your peril.'

'But I set the laws of my village, Worrroznor!' Chuundar roared. 'I am chieftain here! Not you Law-speaker!'

'The chieftain is he who holds Bacca's blade, Chuundar. So it has been since we first moved from being animals.' Worrroznor said. Freyyr held up the blade. There was a sigh among the gathered wookiee.'

'So he had the blade. I have the hilt!' Chuundar pulled it out, brandishing it. 'Both you and this creature that was my father said it was important! Who will the people follow, father? You, and old and weak leader? Or me, with the might of a Galactic corporation behind me?'

'Enough!' Zaalbar stepped from a corner. 'Both of you are fighting over who sits in the chair? The people of our village, or our planet deserve better!'

'Listen to your other son, Freyyr.' Chuundar purred. 'If you win we will be gutted, ripe for another to take us over.'

'Zaalbar...' I said.

'He has been speaking with me since you left, Danika Wordweaver. Much of what he says makes sense.'

'Sense? To sell others, even of other tribes into slavery? To use them,' I waved toward the Czerka, 'To tell you what to do? They must discuss this, let the law decide what is right.'

'The law!' Chuundar laughed. 'I set the law! And the Czerka agrees with me.' He stood, towering over me. 'Attack!'

I spun, and Commander Velek went down. It was a madhouse in the close quarters. A dozen wookiee all told fighting each other, and the Czerkas that were wise diving for cover. Those that were not wise tried to shoot at those supporting Freyyr. They went down in a welter of blood.

Chuundar was backed into a corner, and he was screaming for his supporters. But outside the fight was also total. None could force themselves to his side. He drew a Sith Assassin's pistol, and aimed it at Freyyr.

I saw a shape flash, and Worrroznor was there. The blast took him in the stomach, and he collapsed as Freyyr caught his son by the throat.

'Freyyr, no.' Worrroznor gasped.

'Listen to him, Freyyr!' I shouted.

The wookiee growled, throwing Chuundar into the arms of his supporters as the fighting died. Everyone was astonished by Chuundar's attack on the law-speaker.

'Worrroznor. You will live.' Freyyr said, holding the ancient in his arms.

'No, Freyyr.' He gasped. 'Even the mighty Freyyr cannot stop the Dark one from collecting me. 'But this must end, as the law requires.'

'Don't speak to me of law when my best friend lies dying!'

'Freyyr.' The ancient shook his head. 'The law is what makes us beings, and not animals. I will speak the law even as the Dark one comes. Will you hear me?'

'Yes, old friend. I will.'

'You are our rightful chief. Chuundar has broken the law in that he has allowed out-worlders to determine our policy and ways of life.' He reached out toward me, and I took his hand. 'You, Shrromarrik. Another Law Speaker will be appointed in my place, but you must speak for the law until that time. Freyyr needs advice of your world beyond our trees, and none of us can give such. Will you accept this charge?' He squeezed my hand.

'I am not worthy of this responsibility.'

He chuckled. 'Was I when it was handed to me? Only in dealing with the out-worlders will he need your advice. Guide him.' He squeezed my hand, then I felt it go limp.

I lifted it to my cheek, looking at him. 'I will give him good words within the law.' I promised.

'Hah! So an out worlder will seal my fate!' Chuundar shouted. 'After all of your words on it, Father, that is rich!'

'No I will not.' I stood away from Freyyr, away from Worrroznor's body. 'I will not judge you under your laws. The one who is appointed in his place will.' I waved toward the body. 'He asked me to guide him in the laws of his kind.' I waved toward the body of Velek. 'That I can do.'

'Yes.' Freyyr stood away from his friend, catching his son in one great paw. 'He has murdered the law speaker, tried to use out-worlders to control our village, spat on our laws. Does any stand with him on this?' He turned, but no one stepped forward in Chuundar's defense.

'Then I shall use his own methods to deal with him.' He waved and walked from the room. The guards dragged Chuundar to the netting that separated the village from the forest beyond. Freyyr loosened a section, taking his son by his throat. 'I exile you. Return when you have gathered some honor.'

'Father please-'

'I have no sons! One was exiled, and awaits my judgment on his return. The other can start his journey.' He flung the boy out into space. They watched him fall.

'He might live.' I commented.

'If he has the brain my blood gives him, he will. But he must cleanse himself before he returns. That He might fail in.'

I spent the next hours saying no. 'Freyyr we cannot merely kill all of the out worlders-'

'They have battened on my people long enough-'

'Will you listen?' I roared back. Freyyr took step back. I moderated my tone. 'The Galaxy will awake tomorrow with this world in your hands. Do you want them cheering as Czerka comes in and slaughters you?' He stared at me. 'The news that the revolt has started is already going out. There is no way to avoid this. There are enough ships of independents and those not linked to Czerka, who would have tried to conceal it. So instead they will try to use this, make you look like animals devouring their people.

'So you must give orders that any that fight you, that any that attack you, will die. If they do not, if they are wounded and disarmed, if they surrender, if they try to run, you must let them.'

'But-'

'But nothing! When the Galaxy reads their news tomorrow, they must see a people forced to fight. That killed the enemy that faced them, that killed those that attacked them, but showed mercy to all others. It is hard to make a wookiee evil when they see pictures of you helping out worlders in maintaining order. When the see the abject misery of those freed from Czerka Dream, and their return to Kashyyyk.' Those pictures had already been broadcast. Czerka dream had been designed for rough world cargos where pirate might raid or try to capture them. But she had little firepower compared to Ebon Hawk. Canderous had boarded them, taken the entire crew captive, and used shuttles to return freed wookiee slaves to the planet. Among them had been several hundred slaves of other races. The scenes with wookiee removing their collars, then carrying humans and Twi-lek among others from their servitude had already made waves in the Galaxy.

There was already a dozen different news services asking for the inside story. I had yet to get to a proper communication facility, but Canderous had set both Komad Fortuna and Dayso Cooh on it. They had broadcast pictures of the tach, showing people drinking Tarisian ale, then the gentle creatures that gave the beverage its kick. Komad had found something better than hunting. It was called revolution. Dayso Cooh needed restraining. He was talking of 'people's court's and rough justice.'

'It is agreed. Is there anything else we must do before we attack?' Freyyr asked sarcastically.

'Yes. You must deal with your son.'

Freyyr growled. He walked over to Zaalbar. As an exile he could not be part of the war councils of the last hours. Instead he had been working on Bacca's blade. When we came to him, he flicked the switch, and the blade came to life. He shut it off, and held it out with his eyes down.

'My son, I have shamed myself in this. I believed what I was told, not what was true. I cast you out, made two decades misery without thinking.' He reached past the blade, touching his son's head. 'I have no excuse.'

'I still forgive, Father.' Zaalbar answered his eyes still down. 'I learned a great deal in the outside world. A lot of what Danika tells you now i know to be true from seeing them.'

'You and she have put into my people the backbone we needed. I will erase the slavers from this world. None of ours will ever go into that again as long as I live.

'I have sent quick climbers to the other villages. They took apologies from me for what Chuundar has done to them, and asked for them to ally themselves with us against Czerka.' He grunted a laugh. 'My other son could have made himself ruler of the planet if he has merely said 'fight against them' instead of letting Czerka have their way. Out-worlders shall be rare here for a time, but knowing such as this one lives makes me happy to be part of the galaxy.

'But I owe you for all that time, Zaalbar.' He turned, opening the door. 'Hear me! My son has expiated his sin. He is a member of our tribe and my family. And no one would make me more proud than what I received in return for that act!' He turned to his son. 'There is a place by my side, soon to sit upon that throne if you are worthy.' It is hard to describe a wookiee voice as plaintive, but Freyyr's was.'

'I thank you my father.' He stood, and for the first time looked his father in the eye again. 'I have learned much in the galaxy beyond, not all of it good, not all of it light. I must say no to you father. I cannot return home.'

'My son!' Freyyr wailed. 'What must I do to atone?'

'My father you have accepted me back and that I will treasure for the rest of my life! But I have sworn a life debt to Danika. I must pay that back before I can return home!'

'How can family claim life debt?' Freyyr demanded. My crew and I had been declared part of Freyyr's honor family. We were wookiee in all but flesh. Plus I still held the title of Shrromarrik and had been called 'Human law speaker' by the children. I could see his point.

'That is true father, but I gave that life debt, and there is the mission our Shrromarrik must complete. I cannot in honor foreswear that. Even to return home.'

Freyyr cried. 'You see this? I bowed to your wisdom Shrromarrik, now I must bow to the wisdom of my own son! The Galaxy shall know that wookiee can judge in faith and honor. Go with my blessing. But before you leave, we owe you Shrromarrik, Danika Wordweaver much honor. We shall sing songs of you and what you have done when the lights in the sky grow cold. But if there is anything we have that you desire, ask for it.'

I was stumped. What could I ask for that I needed?

'Father I would ask one thing. Let me use Bacca's sword. It came from out there before we were people. Let it draw blood of the enemies of all people everywhere!'

'That seems fitting.' I said.

'I am tempted to say no, my son. But I owe a debt to you and her. You know what you ask. Chieftains of our clan have held it since Bacca found it. Do you know what you ask?'

'I do father. The wookiee cannot think of this one world any more. We are part of a galaxy of worlds and people who think wookiee is a slave. We must teach them otherwise.'

'Yes my son. Take it. Make the world's tremble at wookiee wisdom and strength.'

'I will, father. And It will return, whether I do or not.'

'I would much rather my son and heir return. Guard him well, Shrromarrik!'

'I will.'

Against a human enemy, the Czerka defenses of walls and auto turrets might have worked. But as Jolee had pointed out, they had made a fatal blunder. The wookiee were as comfortable climbing as they were walking, and netting will not stop a determined wookiee.

We reached the gate. The guns tracked on us, but did not fire. Beyond the door carnage began. wookiee had climbed over, eliminating the guards on it, then used the guard officer's own control box to deactivate the weapons.

I ran up to a cowering guard, slapping aside the bowcaster of a young wookiee. 'He's wounded! He's unarmed. He is to live!'

'Who-' Zaalbar slap him hard enough to bounce him off the tree trunk. 'I am Zaalbar, son of Freyyr, and this is my Shrromarrik 'Human law speaker' !'

'Forgive, noble ones.' He ducked his head. 'It is the excitement of finally striking back.'

I bent to the Czerka. He was pinning a rag to a spurting wound, and I pulled a med-kit from my pack. I cleaned and bandaged the wound, then handed him the injector of painkillers. 'Lay quiet. They'll come for you.'

'Why?' He almost screamed. All he saw behind me were wookiee faces, the stuff of nightmares at the moment. 'So they can cook me?'

'No. How long have you been on Kashyyyk?'

'A week!'

'The wookiee will not eat you. I just hope the clinic wasn't caught in the fighting.' I pulled him from the area where he'd stuffed himself, and pointed at the young wookiee. 'Carry him.'

The wookiee slung his weapon, and gently picked up the unbelieving man. 'I know where the clinic is. I will take him there.'

There were still knots of fighting. When possible, I called for them to surrender. However at one such, the leader of the men within fired at me. The wookiee overwhelmed the men, throwing their bodies off the walkway.

Ebon Hawk was landing as my team came up to it, and we hurried aboard. Carth's friend Jordo had delivered the information he had promised.

Carth

I ran to the berthing area as we came aboard. I had to soak my head. I stood there, water dripping off me. My mind was still reeling from what had happened in the Shadowlands. Danika had answered the computer, but the answers disturbed me. Turn on your friend, allow millions to die in an attack you could have stopped so that you could win a war? Allow the same millions to die just to bolster your power? Saul had made these kinds of decisions. Malak had destroyed Taris, slaughtered off billions of people in the name of his power.

If she could be like Saul, like Malak, like Revan, I wasn't even sure I wanted to see her! I dried my hair and face. I wanted a stiff drink but we had to get out of the system first. I decided I'd settle for a cup of tea. I poured, sipping the acrid brew, then turned to head toward the cockpit, and stopped.

Danika sat at the table. She was hunched over a mug, hands clenched so tightly I expected it to shatter. Her eyes were closed, and silent tears coursed down her face. Sasha was sitting beside her and whining a little at the obvious pain on her guardian's face.

'You're disappointed.' Her voice was a husky whisper. I said nothing.

'Whoever programmed the computer knew what kind of person they trusted. They wanted people like the Dark Jedi, like the Sith to find them. I understood that when it told me that there were specific parameters to match.'

'Revan must have-'

'No. I can't see someone everyone admired that much giving such answers. The programming had to have been original. But what could I do?

'If I gave answers I felt right, it would have locked me out, we would have been stopped without the Star Map. So, I did what I had to do. Think like a conqueror, like a Sith.' She looked up at me. There was no emotion in her face or her voice. As if the tears were just water splashed on her face. 'Do you know why the answers I gave were correct?' I shook my head. 'Because the builders were self-centered egoists that didn't care about their own people let alone any others. Any other Jedi, even a Master would have failed. Only I could do it.

'Because I'm a soldier! You served, you know what the mindset is like. How many orders have we given that sent others to their deaths? Because the mission was more important than their lives.' She set down the cup hard. 'I was a squad leader for a little over a month. I sent others to their deaths so we could win the battle. I left three men I considered my best friends in the world to hold a corridor so we could do a run around the defenders to the bridge. One of them lived. Lived!' She slammed her fist on the table hard enough to hurt. 'He's in a life support chair now a quadriplegic. He'll never walk, or play with his children, or make love to his wife. My orders did that! I did everything but pull the trigger myself.

'I must speak with the masters on Dantooine. If I am no better than Revan, no better than Malak, no better than Saul, we've already failed.'

'I served with Saul, and I can tell you you're nothing like him.' She started to speak. 'Shut up and listen for once. Looking back at him, I knew Saul was ruthless. I watched him on the bridge of the ship and he never flinched. Even when his orders fed ship after ship into the meat grinder. When he was in command as an admiral he never settled for a stalemate. It was victory or nothing.

'Now let's see you in comparison. A woman that worried because I didn't trust her. Yet when someone needed money, you gave it to him. When we had to go into the Undercity of Taris, you gave those kids money. I would have shoved them aside. You went to rescue Zaalbar because you hate slavers. Oh yes, I saw your face when you heard who had him. Then you turned around and instead of collecting a reward, you instead pushed Zelka Forn into making sure the people down there were safe for the first time from the Rakghoul plague.

'Look at us!' I waved toward the ship. 'You risked your life bringing Juhani back from the dark side. You brought closure to Bastila, to Mission, to Zaalbar. You talked instead of fighting with the Sand People. Got them vaporators so they could move in peace. You freed the Jawa. Maybe you failed in ending that war, but you mitigated it. Would Saul do that? We know what Malak would have done.' I shook my head.

'If you want to judge yourself, answer this question. Hypothetical. You command a fleet. Someone you hate and fear is hiding down there among billions of innocent civilians. You can keep on searching, even though you have spent almost a week looking. You can go down yourself, hoping that you enemy will be drawn out to attack you, or you can reduce the planet along with all of those people to ruins. Along with that you will kill a few thousand of your own, but what's a few more lives tossed in?'

I was starting to feel a bit teary myself. I remembered all of those people. Zelka, Gadon, the Outcasts, the people in the street of the upper city. Were they all dead now? Everyone in the upper city most assuredly. I pictured Zelka Forn standing there, unwilling to leave his patients as the plasma ate the city away around them.

The only home Mission had ever known, gone.

I walked over, laying my hand on her shoulder. 'I trust from what I have seen that you would have found another way. Maybe not a perfectly clean way, but one where billions didn't have to die.' She looked up from the mug. 'If I can trust you, why can't you trust yourself?'

'I feel the pull of the dark side.' She whispered. 'It would have been so easy to just let the wookiee have their revenge in full. There are over 10,000 of them still out there enslaved. I could have published those names, those owners, called the wrath of all of the Gods of all of the races on them.' She stared at the mug again. 'It would be so easy to get this done the quick way.'

'I can't see you doing anything the easy way. I think you were probably the best person for this mission. Someone so unsure of themselves that they second-guess everything. If you can't succeed, no one could.'

She shook her head. Sasha moved toward her, and she hugged the girl. 'Thanks Carth.'

'That's what I'm here for. When I'm not slaving away on the controls, I'm the head cheerleader of the good ship Ebon Hawk.' I walked toward the cockpit.

'Carth.' I turned back to her. Watch me, don't trust me. If I start to slip to the dark side, you'll tell me right? Stop me in any way you can?'

'If I have to die in the attempt.'

'Don't let it get to that point.' She looked away. 'Set course for Manaan. It's closer than Korriban. Sorry.'

Ebon Hawk

Enroute to Manaan

Bastila

I could feel her misery even before we took off. But I had to wait until Carth relieved me. Danika was sitting in the lounge in her own huddle of misery. Sasha was in her arms, crooning as Danika cried.

'I don't want to become like that.' Danika whispered. She looked at me, eyes luminous with tears. I wanted to go to her, to hug her, to tell her it would be all right. As she had done for Mission, as she had done for me. 'I want to go back to Dantooine. Beg the Masters to send someone else.'

'You are strong, Danika.' I said. 'You have resisted the dark side so well. Don't give up now.'

'I don't know if I can be strong enough any more.' She husked. 'What if there is another test when we reach Manaan? What if I have to kill a companion, or do something that will damn me for all time? Revan must have been stronger than I am, yet she fell!'

'Revan was strong but in her own way.' I replied. 'She was also more impulsive than you are.'

'I found out some about Revan. We picked up a passenger at Kashyyyk. An old man named Jolee Bindo.'

Of all the people! 'Yes, I have heard of him. Where is he?'

'I don't know. He said something about getting a bath and some decent food.'

'Well what you need to do is go into the crew compartment and meditate. You will feel better after that.'

'Maybe.' She looked down at Sasha. 'Want to come meditate?' The little girl slipped off her lap, taking her by the hand, and dragging her toward the crew quarters. I sighed, then went to find Jolee.

He was in the men's crew compartment, in the 'fresher, singing. I sighed again, and leaned against a wall waiting. He stepped out, a large rugged man with a fringe of white hair, rubbing his head with a towel. He saw me, and the towel went from his head to his crotch at light speed. 'I thought there were 'freshers on the other side for the women.'

'There are.' I told him. 'I had to see you about Danika.'

'Danika. You know-'

'Yes. I know who she is.' I took a holocron from my pouch, and handed it to him. 'View that.'

He knotted the towel around his waist, and activated the Holocron. I stood there as he watched it.

'Damn fools on the Council. Why are they surprised that she got it all back?'

'They didn't anticipate that she would. Now we must complete this mission. I will need your help.'

'Why? She seems to be doing pretty good so far.'

'But she feels that she is weakening. I will need your help to bolster her self-confidence.'

'Why? No one thought I was worth the effort way back when.'

'Jolee that was twenty odd years ago. I only remember you because you left on the same ship I arrived in. Rather loudly as I recall.'

'Yeah. Because she was one of my best students, and they didn't like my teaching style.'

'That must be put behind us. Will you help?'

'Yeah. I can't let them screw it up again.'