Kashyyyk. A green planet covered in dense thickets of giant wroshyr trees. A world that became one of the vivid testaments to the intervention of the Infinite Rakatan Empire in the development of the galaxy's peoples. Due to a malfunction in the Rakatan terraforming system, Kashyyyk's flora acquired such a unique appearance. Giant trees, on whose branches several distinct tiers were formed, where the Wookiee people built their civilization. As in the lower districts of planet-megacities like Coruscant, the lower the tier, the more dangerous it was to be there. And even the most experienced hunters disliked venturing to the lowest level, nicknamed "The Shadowlands" or, as the Wookiees often called it, "The Otherworld."
It's no wonder that it was on this planet that Revan, during the Mandalorian Wars and the establishment of his empire, found the best-preserved "Foundry of the Builders" - a Rakatan supercomputer installed on Kashyyyk more than thirty thousand years ago and intended for terraforming the planet and developing agriculture there. It was also here that one of the star maps, which the Republic troops were supposed to destroy after Malak's defeat, was located. But Rakatan technologies recovered quickly... and the fleet, as it turned out with Tatooine as an example, treated the order to destroy them very carelessly. Perhaps... it was worth looking into the Shadowlands area where the map was hidden?
These thoughts swirled in Revan's head as he guided the "Dawn Eagle" to descend. The appearance of Kashyyyk evoked a strange sense of peace. Perhaps because this green world, at first glance, had not changed at all since the former Jedi's last visit. Kashyyyk's giant trees, thanks to the planet's orbit being close to a perfect circle, as well as the absence of axial tilt, remained green all year round and could grow slowly over millennia, making the landscape, consisting of tree crowns with dense foliage, seem frozen in time. Kashyyyk had oceans, seas, lakes, and swamps, but the Wookiees preferred to build their settlements on the upper tiers of the forest, where landing pads for starships were also equipped. So Revan, who did not venture far from the spaceport without necessity, was more accustomed to the green horizon than the water surface.
"Where should we land the ship?" Tyra asked, entering the cockpit.
Revan was momentarily distracted from piloting, greeted the Mandalorian with a nod, and pressed a couple of buttons to bring up the route's destination on the navigation system panel.
"Rwookrrorro? Zaalbar's home village?" Bastila, who had taken over piloting from the Mandalorian, was surprised by the choice of landing site.
"Yes. It brings back memories, doesn't it?" Revan smiled warmly, peering at the approaching tree crowns.
"You want to check the 'star map'?" Shan guessed.
"Not only. By a strange coincidence, old acquaintances of Yoda live in this settlement, whose help we will need to find the holocron."
"Knowing your luck and how easily you've managed to find the Foundry twice in a row, I have a feeling the Force itself is guiding you," Bastila chuckled, then winced slightly, apparently reflecting Tyra's reaction to such a statement.
The Mandalorian still had trouble accepting the mysticism... even though she herself was a prime example of the Force's vagaries.
"Anything is possible. You remember what we were taught. There is no luck – there is only the Force."
"There is no fate, there is only the Path," Tyra suddenly said.
There was understanding in her voice, as if she were mentally comparing the two statements... and finding common ground between the Jedi teachings and the peculiar philosophy of the true Mandalorians.
"Hmm, back in the days when I first encountered your people on the battlefield, no one spoke of the Path. The Neo-Crusaders of the Highest Mandalore were focused on combat glory, conquest, and domination," Revan said, descending closer to the treetops and following the route suggested by the navigation computer.
"That is also a Path. Or rather, one of its variants, as my mentors told me. It is believed that the Path was first spoken of after the defeat by the Republic and the loss of the Mask of Mandalore. When our people were broken, divided, and demoralized. Then they needed something to cling to, so as not to lose the remnants of our heritage. Later, Mandalore the Keeper often mentioned in his speeches the Path of restoring our society, the Path of preserving our heritage... It is believed that the very concept of the Path appeared from there. Although, other researchers of our culture... Yes, don't make such a surprised face. Among the Mandalorians, there are those who research the origins of our culture right up to the ancient hunting rituals of the Taung. They believe that the Path arose even before the Mandalorians appeared as a separate people, and that both 'Resol'nare' and 'Canons of Honor' and 'Supercommando Codex' are all variations of the Path that stemmed from the religious laws of the Taung," Nomad explained.
"You know a lot about Mandalorian history," Revan praised the girl.
"Although I am an foundling, I decided to accept the teachings of the Mandalorians and become one of them myself... albeit, let's say, under pressure of circumstances. So, studying the history of my new family, in my opinion, is a logical decision."
"Alas, history is loved to be changed, forgotten, rewritten... Mandalore almost lost its independence by deciding to abandon the past," Revan remarked.
"Can't argue with that," Tyra nodded in agreement.
"Although, in the very ancient approaches, there was also little good. I was once told by Canderous that in those times when Mandalorians were much more fanatical about Resol'nare, it was believed that all who did not follow Resol'nare were dar'manda – individuals devoid of Mandalorian heritage, devoid of the Mandalorian soul. The warriors of Mandalore always feared this status due to the belief that having lost their soul, they would have no place in 'Mando', the Mandalorian afterlife. And all representatives of other races were considered soulless from birth until they joined the Mandalorians and lived according to Resol'nare, so their attitude towards them was appropriate - animals, prey, or, at best, a worthy trophy. This approach led to numerous conflicts with the galaxy's races, and ultimately, to the Mandalorian Wars... not without the help of the Sith, of course, but the foundation was laid long before those events," Revan recalled, lowering the ship even further, into a wide gap between the tree crowns, straight towards the landing pads.
"I never cease to be amazed by your knowledge," Nomad chuckled.
"Know your enemy," the former Jedi shrugged.
The ship, meanwhile, had already reached its destination. Revan skillfully landed and gently set the "Eagle" down on a steel-clad platform built directly on the branches of a wroshyr tree. From above, it seemed as if the tree branches literally entwined and even grew through the metal of a peculiar spaceport, which was not far from the truth.
The padawans, alerted to the upcoming landing in advance, were already waiting for their mentor near the side hatch leading out of the ship. Both students were almost jumping with enthusiasm, as their mentor was taking them on an "important mission" for the first time. This was their first assignment!
"It would have been worth bringing Maul. He could have helped look after... the younger ones," Tyra suggested, assessing the students' condition from the surveillance cameras as she exited the pilot's cabin.
"I need Maul elsewhere right now. According to the latest report, he's found a thread leading to Plagueis and is going to check it out. I gave him the go-ahead and offered him the 'Claws' for help, but Maul refused. He's more accustomed, as he put it, to 'hunting alone'," Revan replied.
"He might get into trouble. Plagueis, isn't he the Sith who devised the plan for the civil war in the Republic to begin soon?" Nomad clarified.
"The very same," the former Jedi confirmed.
"Hutt..."
"He'll manage."
"I'm not sure."
"Trust me... Although, there will definitely be trouble. So it's very possible that after Kashyyyk, we'll be flying to pull our Zabrak out of it," Revan said after a moment's thought.
"So he'll get into trouble, but it's planned?"
"Something like that. It's always been easier to lure Sith out than to try to find their lair. Nothing has changed, I doubt."
"I agree with that," Bastila chimed in, taking over piloting from Tyra.
Revan noted the change and hastened to clarify an important question for the current situation.
"Did Tyra inherit the knowledge of the Wookiee language?"
Shan shook her head.
"No, I don't know the language of furry carpets. Maybe a few individual phrases pop up somewhere... but it's all like a fog. In general, how can anyone understand these roars and whimpers?" Nomad reappeared for a few moments, supplementing the concise answer of her shell-mate.
"Then it would be better if Bastila took the lead on Kashyyyk. Shyriiwook is a sufficiently complex language. But we have experience communicating with Wookiees, so there will be much less trouble."
"Statement: If necessary, I will always help you with negotiations," HK appeared from the corridor leading to the armory, with a blaster carbine in his manipulators.
"I hope 'help' will consist of translation, not eliminating interlocutors," Nomad chuckled.
To which the droid flashed its scarlet optics. Revan was willing to bet that if his facial plates could move and show a semblance of emotion, the mechanical killer would be openly smirking right now.
"HK, we're not going to war. Put away the carbine," Revan ordered.
"Observation: We are not going to war every time, but it always ends in one," the droid said in a slightly offended tone.
Tyra chuckled again, silently agreeing with the killer.
And Revan couldn't argue with such a remark. Especially with his luck...
"Alright. But everything must be out of sight. Take only what won't attract attention," the former Jedi conceded.
"Affirmative, Master," the droid blurted out, turned back towards the armory, and froze for a few moments, examining the carbine in his hands.
"Bet he's deciding how to compactly pack this into a backpack?" Tyra suggested in a half-whisper.
"More like how to stuff the entire contents of the armory into this backpack, and pass off a proton torpedo as an astromech," Revan corrected, adjusting his mask.
"Don't give him ideas..." Nomad whispered, noticing how HK turned his head towards R2-D2, who had rolled by at the far end of the corridor and had already begun the standard diagnostics of the ship's systems after the flight.
The assassin droid assured them that it would only take a few minutes to pack according to the new instructions, so Revan, accompanied by Tyra/Bastila, continued his way towards the exit of the ship.
The padawans, during the time the mentor walked towards them from the bridge, had not calmed down at all, but seemed even more excited.
It took a good ten minutes to calm the students, who were overflowing with enthusiasm, and give them instructions on how to behave on Kashyyyk so as not to become dinner for a kinrath, not to become fertilizer for an organ flower, and simply not to get a blast from a bowcaster to the forehead. The Wookiees, although a quite civilized race, were known for their rather explosive temperaments. If Yoda had friends here with whom he could communicate quite calmly, then Revan's last acquaintances had left Kashyyyk thousands of years ago.
HK, returning from the armory, was "delighted" that he would once again have to take care of the students' protection, but he did not express any objections... which slightly alerted Revan. But there was no time to figure it out, as they were already expected at the landing pad.
Besides the local spaceport worker, who turned out to be a Twi'lek, with whom the former Jedi quickly settled the matter of flight registration and paid for the ship's parking, the guests were met by two tall Wookiees. The first was slightly taller than the second, which, given the already considerable average height of Kashyyyk's inhabitants, made him a real giant in the eyes of those who had not yet met Wookiees. At least Anakin and Rina couldn't stop staring at the dark-furred local resident. The peculiar cape with wide shoulder pads, which hung down his back like a long cloak, added to his image. For Wookiees, who were not inclined to wear clothes, except for various bags, belts, and, in special cases, ritual armor, the dark-haired giant looked quite unusual. Especially against the background of the second greeter, who was a Wookiee with brown fur and a wide belt with many pouches and pockets slung diagonally across his torso.
The first greeter, as soon as he saw Revan and Tyra descending the ramp, took a step forward and roared a greeting.
The former Jedi understood Shyriiwook well, as well as many other languages of the galaxy's peoples. Speaking the Wookiee language was almost impossible for someone with a different vocal cord structure than the natives of Kashyyyk. All these roars, groans, and whimpers, unintelligible to the unprepared ear, actually carried a very clear message, and the volume and intonation provided the necessary context, perfectly understandable to any Wookiee. Moreover, Shyriiwook was a trade language created specifically to communicate with other races. So it translated easily into Galactic Basic... after some practice, of course, or with the help of a translator droid.
The dark-haired one was called Rrogrru and, according to him, he was the assistant to Chief Tarfful, who could not come for the meeting.
"Greetings, Rrogrru. My name is Avner," Revan introduced himself by the name Yoda intended to introduce him to his friends.
The Wookiee roared something in response and pointed to the second greeter.
Revan nodded briefly to HK, so that, as they had agreed on the ship, he would translate the conversation for the padawans.
"Translation: Welcome to Kashyyyk, Jedi. This is Chewbacca, son of Chief Attichitcuk, head of the Rwookrrorro settlement. He has come to welcome you on behalf of his father and brother, who are absent on important business," Revan heard HK's muffled synthesized voice behind him.
Chewbacca also took a step forward and roared a greeting.
"Translation: Welcome to Kashyyyk. Friends of my father and Tarfful are my friends. You will be treated as honored guests in Rwookrrorro."
Revan recalled that Tarfful was another Wookiee chief and the head of the Kachiirho settlement in the coastal area of the Wawaatt archipelago. It was with these two chiefs, Attichitcuk and Tarfful, that Yoda had suggested Revan talk to gain access to the Tree of Life and find a clue left by the Jedi who hid the holocron with information about the possible location of the "Star Forge." But neither of them was here now. Would Chewbacca and Rrogrru help him? Outsiders were usually not allowed near the Tree of Life.
"Thank you for your hospitality. Have you been informed why we have arrived on your planet?" Revan decided to clarify immediately.
Rrogrru nodded and quietly growled in response.
"Translation: This conversation would be better continued in the shade of the wroshyr leaves. Note: the last phrase is not translated accurately due to the lack of an equivalent in Galactic Basic," Revan heard behind him.
The Jedi himself did not need translation and perfectly understood the meaning of what was said. HK, in general, translated correctly. Rrogrru was inviting them to talk in his ancestors' home, away from prying ears. It seemed that discussions about letting outsiders into a sacred place might not please the local residents. So Revan did not test the Wookiees' patience and agreed.
On the way, the padawans kept whispering, unable to contain their delight at the impressions. And there was indeed something to see. Unlike planetary megacities and space stations, the settlements on Kashyyyk remarkably managed to create the impression of a civilization far removed from the space age... as far as possible. Houses among the branches of giant trees, suspension bridges made of wood, and a complete absence of visible electronics. Unity with nature. And for Anakin, who was accustomed to the desert, even the forests of Kashyyyk themselves were something incredible! The young man couldn't stop turning his head, looking at the green tree crowns or the passing furry giants. Revan was amused by the students' behavior, making him remember himself, once following Kreia with the same enthusiastic gaze.
The house they were led to by Chewbacca and Rrogrru was located on the outskirts of the settlement, almost adjacent to a high wall that blocked passage along the branches to bypass the suspension bridge. Not a place where you would expect to find a chief or his associates.
The place, at first glance, seemed deserted. As if no one had lived there for several years, but the house had definitely been cared for before. Wookiee huts were round with arched roofs made of several sections and a small superstructure used to let more light inside.
Everything, of course, was made of wood. Inside, there were several rooms separated by high partitions and light wooden doors. Woven tapestries and small carvings on tree bark adorned the walls and added coziness to the sufficiently spacious and simply furnished dwellings of the Wookiees.
Revan had already seen all this on his previous visit to this planet. The fact that the architecture and way of life of the Wookiees had not changed significantly in four thousand years somehow pleased the former Jedi. Perhaps it was a sense of nostalgia... or perhaps Revan was simply pleased to see that he was not the only one... stuck in the past.
Settling into one of the rooms, apparently a bedroom, where, in addition to a table and a few chairs, there was also an impressively sized bed, Rrogrru spoke again.
"Translation: The chiefs have conveyed your request. Usually, outsiders are not allowed near the Tree of Life, but Yoda vouched for you, and the chiefs along with him. We will take you to the heart of the Green Sea after sunset. Note: inaccurate translation."
"Thank you for your trust and the honor bestowed upon me. I give my word that I will not harm your people or your forest," Revan replied with a respectful bow.
This time, Chewbacca let out a growl.
"Translation: The path ahead is long and dangerous. We will have to descend several tiers down, closer to the 'Otherworld.' You had better rest here before the journey."
"We're not tired," Rina whispered quietly from somewhere behind.
"Exactly. Maybe we can go right away?" Anakin supported her a little louder.
Chewbacca growled and whimpered something that Revan recognized as laughter.
Rrogrru supported his companion and, after laughing, growled.
"Translation: You have very impatient children. Like foolish young tahk cubs, rushing into the jaws of a katharn. Look after them," HK translated, with clear approval of the Wookiee's words in his intonation.
"We are not children, we are padawans," Skywalker grumbled.
"Observation: The comparison to tahk cubs was still flattering."
"Hey!"
"Quiet," Revan hissed at the students.
"Can't we fly to the Tree of Life?" Tyra decided to clarify, as she wasn't eager to wander through the unknown forest for several hours.
Chewbacca shook his head and growled.
"Translation: There is no landing pad closer."
"I see," the Mandalorian said disappointedly.
Another growl from the chief's son.
"Translation: Make yourselves comfortable, I'll bring food. Sunset is only a few hours away. Rest."
"Thank you, Chewbacca," Revan replied.
And the brown-furred Wookiee hurried to the exit. Apparently, besides meeting his absent father's guests, the chief's son had a lot of work to do.
Rrogrru remained with them in the hut. Either to keep an eye on the outsiders, or out of respect for them. The Wookiee was in no hurry to say anything, and it was uncomfortable to discuss their plans in his presence, so an unpleasant silence hung in the air.
"Is this your home?" Revan decided to ask, looking around the room to occupy himself with something and break the oppressive silence.
Rrogrru growled sharply in response. Only Revan, thanks to his experience communicating with Zaalbar, could sense the sadness in his voice. To others, it might have seemed that the Wookiee had snapped.
"Grandfather's home, then," Revan nodded understandingly, ignoring HK, who was quietly translating the interlocutor's words for the padawans.
"Translation: Yes. I haven't been here for a long time. Since my father left Rwookrrorro for Kachiirho... He and grandfather didn't communicate much, but I loved listening to his stories."
Revan's gaze suddenly caught on a strange carved wooden piece, half-wrapped in a scrap of gray cloth and left on a shelf above the bed. Right next to the shelf on the wall, a peculiar ornament was carved, in which Revan sensed something familiar. And the wooden piece itself somehow drew his gaze... calling to him?
With a short, barely perceptible gesture, Revan used the Force to make the cloth reveal the wooden piece completely... and was surprised by what he saw.
"A lightsaber?" Revan easily recognized the parts of the hilt, previously hidden by the rag.
The Wookiee followed his guest's gaze, stood up, and walked to the shelf. Carefully taking the hilt in his hands, he gently wrapped it in the cloth and returned it to its place, growling something sadly at Revan.
"Translation: It belonged to my grandfather."
"Was he part of the Order?" the former Jedi inquired.
"Translation: No. His great-grandfather taught him. Whether he was a Jedi, I don't know. Grandfather didn't talk about it, preferring stories of his own adventures."
"Perhaps I myself would be interested in hearing them," Revan said, frozen for a moment, speaking tensely.
And the reason for his sudden stupor was quite significant. He might have imagined it... but in the ornament on the wall above the shelf, he saw the outline of... the "Star Forge," or rather, the emblem of his own Empire.