I looked at the man standing in front of me, trying to determine something about his nature. Spiderwell had told me that he was a warrior of great power, but there was nothing about him in particular that exuded any exceptional strength. He was a lean man, muscular but thin, with long, brown hair tied back in a ponytail. In his right hand, he carried a small blade that curved around the outside of his knuckles. Beyond that, he carried no weapons.
Spiderwell noticed my hesitancy. "Don't worry, buddy," he said, "Gerrvin can handle it."
Spiderwell's recent message to me, requesting that I contact him as soon as possible, had sparked a flurry of activity. Spider, always the sort who learns the things not always meant to be known, had heard of a mystical site on the planet Dantooine, where the ancient Jedi once trained. There was a temple there that had fallen into ruins. It was now said that one of the Remnants of Kun resided there and would reward greatly those who did his bidding.
The trouble was that Dantooine was a very dangerous planet, with lots of nasty creatures roaming the wild. It was also likely that, if the Kun follower allowed us to speak with him at all, he would demand that we accomplish some difficult tasks for him. Neither Spiderwell nor I were much use in a fight at this point in our lives - he was an accomplished Doctor and I was merely an Artisan. We knew we had to recruit some help if we were to investigate this rumor.
Spiderwell immediately contacted Gerrvin, an acquaintance of his who had helped us both out a few times in the past. In his earlier days, Gerrvin had been a smuggler and had been able to obtain things that the everyday citizen could not hope to get his hands on. I had purchased a crate of Moun Gold, a variety of spice that provides great enhancement to thought processes. I had expected this to help me be a more effective Image Designer while I was still pursuing that profession. It did, but the side effects were less than pleasant and I later gave up using it. Still, Gerrvin was able to provide me with the stuff when I needed it, as it was a banned substance and technically illegal to possess. If any Imperial officer found it on me, there could be trouble.
I had never known Gerrvin to be a warrior, though, which is why I was surprised when Spiderwell showed up at the starport in Bestine with Gerrvin in tow. What's more, I knew that Gerrvin was at least partially aligned with the Empire, having done a few favors for them in the past. This made me a little uncomfortable, though I knew Gerrvin to be a decent person. I just hoped that he would live up to Spider's expectations.
The trip to Dantooine was long and expensive, and took us first to the planet Corellia, where we stopped over in Tyrena before departing for the remote Mining Outpost on Dantooine. Along the way, I learned that Gerrvin was a master of the Teras Kasi martial art. This explained a lot to me - I had heard it said that a Teras Kasi could bring a full-grown Ronto to its knees with a single blow. Having seen Rontos and understanding their size and girth, I wondered if this could be anything but illustrative hyperbole.
The Mining Outpost was small, consisting of little more than a few buildings and a landing platform, surrounded by a protective barricade. We wasted little time in climbing aboard our speederbikes and heading north.
The location of the rumored temple ruins was a good distance away, and the trip allowed us to take in the sights of the local environment. Dantooine fascinated all of us with its strange, purple grasslands and odd vegetation. We encountered a few hostile creatures along the way, but none of them had the pace nor mettle to keep up with our speedy vehicles. We continued unhindered.
After several kilometers, Gerrvin signaled a halt and reigned in the throttle on his bike. He dismounted and switched the machine off, pointing ahead into the gloomy woods.
Through the trees, I saw an eerie, flickering light. It glowed with a mysterious hue, seemingly all colors at once, yet none at all. I looked at Gerrvin questioningly. My Wookiee friend Spiderwell growled.
Gerrvin nodded. "That's him." He knelt down and opened his pack, removing several pieces of armor, which he quickly donned with expert, precise movements. The armor was beaten and worn, but clearly very strong. With a full suit of armor covering every recognizable feature, Gerrvin suddenly looked like the warrior Spiderwell had indicated him to be.
"Let's go," he said, starting forward.
The Remnant of Kun was a frightening looking man. He stood near a strange campfire as we approached, warming his hands and staring intently into its flames. I saw now that this was responsible for the strange light I had seen.
Gerrvin motioned for us to wait, then approached him cautiously. He stopped and bowed a few feet from the fire pit, and they spoke in hushed tones. I could not make out what it was they said, but when Gerrvin turned back to us, he nodded.
"He will accept our offer to do his bidding," he told us.
"Do his work?" I protested, "We're not here to slave for him."
Gerrvin put up his hand. "Call it work then. In any case, it's the same. We take it or we leave it."
"What do we have to do?" Spiderwell asked.
Gerrvin told us. It seemed that before the Remnant would allow himself to begin to trust us, we had to prove our mettle as competent warriors. There was a beast some kilometers away from the temple ruins that needed to be dispatched.
The conquering of this beast confirmed to me that Gerrvin truly was a Master of the Teras Kasi arts, and that this singular fighting style was indeed powerful. Spiderwell and I had barely dismounted from our speederbikes before the great lizard was already breathing its last gasping breath. We glanced at each other, almost unnerved by the power Gerrvin had demonstrated.
When we returned to the campsite, just outside the old Jedi temple ruins, Gerrvin once again spoke with the strange Remnant of Kun. Suddenly, he motioned us forward.
"You have shown me that you are somewhat capable of survival on this harsh world," the man said to all of us. "Perhaps you may be of some use."
"Tell us your bidding," Gerrvin intoned.
The man nodded grimly. "I do not reside on this forsaken world for my own entertainment, you know. I have a purpose here." He motioned at the distant, broken columns of the Jedi temple ruins. "The great Kun once did his work here. This place held great power for him. I am here to re-learn that which he knew. There is power beyond your imagination, waiting to be unleashed." He looked at us. "Unfortunately, there are those that would interfere with my purpose. I am beset by non-believers, heathens and thugs."
"What would you have us do?" Gerrvin asked.
"To the East, you will find a cloaked being, no taller than yourself. I have seen it roaming the plains not an hour ago. Dispatch this being with all haste. I do not believe that you will last very long against this creature, but you will buy me time at least. Go now."
Gerrvin nodded and turned, leading the two of us away with him. We were off and speeding to the East before I could protest.
I switched on my comlink and hailed Spiderwell. "Do you think this is a good idea? I'm starting to have a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry," Spider's voice answered me above the rushing wind, "I trust him."
"You do?" I said, incredulous, "That crazy old man?"
"No," Spider answered, "Gerrvin."
Before long, Gerrvin called us to a halt once again. The three of us dismounted and surveyed the horizon ahead. Dantooine's distant sun was just setting, and the outline of a figure could be seen, just up a hill.
"There it is," Gerrvin said, "Let's go."
Wilfully, he advanced, brandishing his knuckler. I followed just behind, with Spiderwell at the rear, his med-packs at the ready.
When we neared the figure, it turned and revealed its face. I saw that it was a young Twi'lek male, with a pale, yellowish skin tone and bright, blue eyes. He couldn't have been more than 16 years old.
Gerrvin hesitated. The Twi'lek looked at him calmly, then said, "The Remnant sent you, did he not?"
Gerrvin nodded.
The Twi'lek sighed, then pulled back his robe and produced a short, cylindrical metal object in his right hand. "Then I see I have no choice," he said. His thumb flicked a button and the object flared to life with a bright yellow glow. A long saber extended from the cylinder and hummed with an electrical crackle. "Do what you must," the Twi'lek said.
Gerrvin wasted no more time. He was on the man like a flash, extending his arms in a strange configuration that seemed like it would be an awkward movement, yet sent the Twi'lek stumbling backward on his heels as if assaulted by a massive force. He did not fall, however, but came rushing back, swinging the strange, glowing sword madly.
It was clear that the Twi'lek was not well trained in the use of this weapon. Gerrvin easily side-stepped his lunge and sent the man sprawling to the ground. He pounced and a flurry of blows was unleashed from his deadly hands.
Only several moments later, the Twi'lek was defeated. He lay broken and bleeding on the violet grass. Spiderwell bent to check his pulse, then looked at me grimly. He was gone.
"It is done," Gerrvin said. "Let us return."
The Remnant was astonished to hear what we had done. He had not believed us capable of it. With great pleasure, he gave Gerrvin a leather bag, and gripped his shoulder tightly, grinning.
Though I had not laid a hand on the Twi'lek myself, I felt a terrible wash of guilt rush through me. The man had seemed resigned to his fate, had even seemed to know it was coming, yet I could not justify the actions we had all been a part of. I sensed something evil about this Remnant, and I could not bring myself to believe that killing the Twi'lek in his name had been the right thing.
Gerrvin was grim, as always, but did not seem displeased. Spiderwell's Wookiee features were difficult to read. I knew I would have to discuss this with him at great length, when we were alone.
Gerrvin opened the leather sack the Remnant had given him and drew out three glowing objects. They were three small, identical red pyramids, each no bigger than a small stone. Gerrvin handed one to each of us, a slight smile cracking his chiseled features.
"What is it?" Spider asked.
"This," Gerrvin said, "Is a Holocron."
I shook my head. "This is no Holocron. I've seen a Holocron - I've held two of them in my hand. Holocrons are blue cubes - this is a red pyramid." I examined the object closely. It was covered in runes similar to those on the blue Holocrons I had come across previously. There was something familiar here, despite the obvious differences...
"These," Gerrvin explained, "are of the Sith."
"The Sith?" I asked.
He nodded. "Very ancient, very rare. And very powerful. Be careful with them."
I held the Sith Holocron up closer to my face, trying to discern more of its intricate design.
I wondered what it would hold in store for me.
Spiderwell noticed my hesitancy. "Don't worry, buddy," he said, "Gerrvin can handle it."
Spiderwell's recent message to me, requesting that I contact him as soon as possible, had sparked a flurry of activity. Spider, always the sort who learns the things not always meant to be known, had heard of a mystical site on the planet Dantooine, where the ancient Jedi once trained. There was a temple there that had fallen into ruins. It was now said that one of the Remnants of Kun resided there and would reward greatly those who did his bidding.
The trouble was that Dantooine was a very dangerous planet, with lots of nasty creatures roaming the wild. It was also likely that, if the Kun follower allowed us to speak with him at all, he would demand that we accomplish some difficult tasks for him. Neither Spiderwell nor I were much use in a fight at this point in our lives - he was an accomplished Doctor and I was merely an Artisan. We knew we had to recruit some help if we were to investigate this rumor.
Spiderwell immediately contacted Gerrvin, an acquaintance of his who had helped us both out a few times in the past. In his earlier days, Gerrvin had been a smuggler and had been able to obtain things that the everyday citizen could not hope to get his hands on. I had purchased a crate of Moun Gold, a variety of spice that provides great enhancement to thought processes. I had expected this to help me be a more effective Image Designer while I was still pursuing that profession. It did, but the side effects were less than pleasant and I later gave up using it. Still, Gerrvin was able to provide me with the stuff when I needed it, as it was a banned substance and technically illegal to possess. If any Imperial officer found it on me, there could be trouble.
I had never known Gerrvin to be a warrior, though, which is why I was surprised when Spiderwell showed up at the starport in Bestine with Gerrvin in tow. What's more, I knew that Gerrvin was at least partially aligned with the Empire, having done a few favors for them in the past. This made me a little uncomfortable, though I knew Gerrvin to be a decent person. I just hoped that he would live up to Spider's expectations.
The trip to Dantooine was long and expensive, and took us first to the planet Corellia, where we stopped over in Tyrena before departing for the remote Mining Outpost on Dantooine. Along the way, I learned that Gerrvin was a master of the Teras Kasi martial art. This explained a lot to me - I had heard it said that a Teras Kasi could bring a full-grown Ronto to its knees with a single blow. Having seen Rontos and understanding their size and girth, I wondered if this could be anything but illustrative hyperbole.
The Mining Outpost was small, consisting of little more than a few buildings and a landing platform, surrounded by a protective barricade. We wasted little time in climbing aboard our speederbikes and heading north.
The location of the rumored temple ruins was a good distance away, and the trip allowed us to take in the sights of the local environment. Dantooine fascinated all of us with its strange, purple grasslands and odd vegetation. We encountered a few hostile creatures along the way, but none of them had the pace nor mettle to keep up with our speedy vehicles. We continued unhindered.
After several kilometers, Gerrvin signaled a halt and reigned in the throttle on his bike. He dismounted and switched the machine off, pointing ahead into the gloomy woods.
Through the trees, I saw an eerie, flickering light. It glowed with a mysterious hue, seemingly all colors at once, yet none at all. I looked at Gerrvin questioningly. My Wookiee friend Spiderwell growled.
Gerrvin nodded. "That's him." He knelt down and opened his pack, removing several pieces of armor, which he quickly donned with expert, precise movements. The armor was beaten and worn, but clearly very strong. With a full suit of armor covering every recognizable feature, Gerrvin suddenly looked like the warrior Spiderwell had indicated him to be.
"Let's go," he said, starting forward.
The Remnant of Kun was a frightening looking man. He stood near a strange campfire as we approached, warming his hands and staring intently into its flames. I saw now that this was responsible for the strange light I had seen.
Gerrvin motioned for us to wait, then approached him cautiously. He stopped and bowed a few feet from the fire pit, and they spoke in hushed tones. I could not make out what it was they said, but when Gerrvin turned back to us, he nodded.
"He will accept our offer to do his bidding," he told us.
"Do his work?" I protested, "We're not here to slave for him."
Gerrvin put up his hand. "Call it work then. In any case, it's the same. We take it or we leave it."
"What do we have to do?" Spiderwell asked.
Gerrvin told us. It seemed that before the Remnant would allow himself to begin to trust us, we had to prove our mettle as competent warriors. There was a beast some kilometers away from the temple ruins that needed to be dispatched.
The conquering of this beast confirmed to me that Gerrvin truly was a Master of the Teras Kasi arts, and that this singular fighting style was indeed powerful. Spiderwell and I had barely dismounted from our speederbikes before the great lizard was already breathing its last gasping breath. We glanced at each other, almost unnerved by the power Gerrvin had demonstrated.
When we returned to the campsite, just outside the old Jedi temple ruins, Gerrvin once again spoke with the strange Remnant of Kun. Suddenly, he motioned us forward.
"You have shown me that you are somewhat capable of survival on this harsh world," the man said to all of us. "Perhaps you may be of some use."
"Tell us your bidding," Gerrvin intoned.
The man nodded grimly. "I do not reside on this forsaken world for my own entertainment, you know. I have a purpose here." He motioned at the distant, broken columns of the Jedi temple ruins. "The great Kun once did his work here. This place held great power for him. I am here to re-learn that which he knew. There is power beyond your imagination, waiting to be unleashed." He looked at us. "Unfortunately, there are those that would interfere with my purpose. I am beset by non-believers, heathens and thugs."
"What would you have us do?" Gerrvin asked.
"To the East, you will find a cloaked being, no taller than yourself. I have seen it roaming the plains not an hour ago. Dispatch this being with all haste. I do not believe that you will last very long against this creature, but you will buy me time at least. Go now."
Gerrvin nodded and turned, leading the two of us away with him. We were off and speeding to the East before I could protest.
I switched on my comlink and hailed Spiderwell. "Do you think this is a good idea? I'm starting to have a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry," Spider's voice answered me above the rushing wind, "I trust him."
"You do?" I said, incredulous, "That crazy old man?"
"No," Spider answered, "Gerrvin."
Before long, Gerrvin called us to a halt once again. The three of us dismounted and surveyed the horizon ahead. Dantooine's distant sun was just setting, and the outline of a figure could be seen, just up a hill.
"There it is," Gerrvin said, "Let's go."
Wilfully, he advanced, brandishing his knuckler. I followed just behind, with Spiderwell at the rear, his med-packs at the ready.
When we neared the figure, it turned and revealed its face. I saw that it was a young Twi'lek male, with a pale, yellowish skin tone and bright, blue eyes. He couldn't have been more than 16 years old.
Gerrvin hesitated. The Twi'lek looked at him calmly, then said, "The Remnant sent you, did he not?"
Gerrvin nodded.
The Twi'lek sighed, then pulled back his robe and produced a short, cylindrical metal object in his right hand. "Then I see I have no choice," he said. His thumb flicked a button and the object flared to life with a bright yellow glow. A long saber extended from the cylinder and hummed with an electrical crackle. "Do what you must," the Twi'lek said.
Gerrvin wasted no more time. He was on the man like a flash, extending his arms in a strange configuration that seemed like it would be an awkward movement, yet sent the Twi'lek stumbling backward on his heels as if assaulted by a massive force. He did not fall, however, but came rushing back, swinging the strange, glowing sword madly.
It was clear that the Twi'lek was not well trained in the use of this weapon. Gerrvin easily side-stepped his lunge and sent the man sprawling to the ground. He pounced and a flurry of blows was unleashed from his deadly hands.
Only several moments later, the Twi'lek was defeated. He lay broken and bleeding on the violet grass. Spiderwell bent to check his pulse, then looked at me grimly. He was gone.
"It is done," Gerrvin said. "Let us return."
The Remnant was astonished to hear what we had done. He had not believed us capable of it. With great pleasure, he gave Gerrvin a leather bag, and gripped his shoulder tightly, grinning.
Though I had not laid a hand on the Twi'lek myself, I felt a terrible wash of guilt rush through me. The man had seemed resigned to his fate, had even seemed to know it was coming, yet I could not justify the actions we had all been a part of. I sensed something evil about this Remnant, and I could not bring myself to believe that killing the Twi'lek in his name had been the right thing.
Gerrvin was grim, as always, but did not seem displeased. Spiderwell's Wookiee features were difficult to read. I knew I would have to discuss this with him at great length, when we were alone.
Gerrvin opened the leather sack the Remnant had given him and drew out three glowing objects. They were three small, identical red pyramids, each no bigger than a small stone. Gerrvin handed one to each of us, a slight smile cracking his chiseled features.
"What is it?" Spider asked.
"This," Gerrvin said, "Is a Holocron."
I shook my head. "This is no Holocron. I've seen a Holocron - I've held two of them in my hand. Holocrons are blue cubes - this is a red pyramid." I examined the object closely. It was covered in runes similar to those on the blue Holocrons I had come across previously. There was something familiar here, despite the obvious differences...
"These," Gerrvin explained, "are of the Sith."
"The Sith?" I asked.
He nodded. "Very ancient, very rare. And very powerful. Be careful with them."
I held the Sith Holocron up closer to my face, trying to discern more of its intricate design.
I wondered what it would hold in store for me.
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