.
..
…
..
.
Alderaan – Wilderness
.
..
.
The earth trembled beneath our feet. Trees groaned as something massive moved through the underbrush, snapping branches like brittle twigs. A deep, guttural snarl cut through the still air, reverberating in our bones.
The Boy tensed, his green eyes scanning the dark treeline. "You should have left when I told you."
Ahsoka ignited her sabers, the green glow illuminating the mist swirling through the undergrowth. "I don't scare easy, kid."
Merah's voice crackled over our comms. "Guys, I just got a heat signature reading the size of a krayt dragon barreling straight for you. What in the Tattooine's hells did you wake up?"
Then it stepped into view.
A colossal beast, easily the size of a Republic transport, its muscles thick as durasteel, its black fur streaked with crimson veins that pulsed like molten lava. Its head bore curved tusks, and its six golden eyes burned with primal rage. A predator born from the deepest wilds of Alderaan.
Shaak Ti inhaled sharply. "A Warstalker. Thought they were extinct."
The Boy tightened his grip on his vibrostaff, his stance shifting. "They are. This one… isn't natural."
The Warstalker roared, the force of its cry knocking loose leaves from the trees, sending debris flying. Then it charged.
.
..
.
The ground shook as it barreled forward, eyes locked onto us with predatory focus.
I leapt to the side just as the beast swung a massive claw, tearing through the space where I had stood an instant before. Shaak Ti rolled forward, her blue saber slashing across its hind leg, but the thick, armored hide barely burned under the plasma.
"It's resisting the blade!" she warned.
Ahsoka took the high ground, vaulting over the Warstalker's back. As she landed, she sliced at its spine—only for the beast to twist mid-motion, its back arching unnaturally. Ahsoka barely managed to land on her feet, her sabers skidding across the creature's thickened flesh with little effect.
"It's adapting!" she shouted.
The Boy was already moving, his vibrostaff flashing in the dim light. He ducked under another wild swing, stabbing his blade into a softer gap between the Warstalker's ribs. The creature howled in fury, jerking away and sending the Boy flying into a tree.
I reacted instinctively, throwing out a hand. The Force cushioned his impact, slowing his crash against the bark. "You okay?"
He coughed but pushed himself up. "I've had worse."
The Warstalker recovered, its eyes now glowing brighter, the crimson veins across its body pulsing violently. Then the temperature dropped—
The beast was drawing on the Force.
Shaak Ti narrowed her eyes. "It's feeding off the energy around us. We need to sever its connection!"
I reached into the Force, feeling the threads that bound the creature to its unnatural power. It was ancient, but corrupted—twisted by something deep within the wilds.
"Together!" I called, channeling my will into a single, decisive strike.
Shaak Ti and Ahsoka followed suit, their presence in the Force weaving with mine. The Boy, though untrained, felt it too—his natural instincts guiding him as he added his presence, even if unknowingly.
With a final surge, the Force shattered the corruption, breaking the unnatural hold.
The Warstalker staggered, its glow dimming. Its furious snarl softened into confusion. And then—
With a final exhale, the creature collapsed, its body twitching before finally going still.
Silence returned to the forest.
.
..
.
The boy stood over the fallen beast, his breath ragged. His eyes flickered toward us, still guarded.
"That wasn't just a Warstalker," he muttered. "Something changed it. Warped it."
Shaak Ti knelt beside the body, pressing a hand to the creature's head. Her eyes closed. "The Dark Side lingers here. Someone tampered with this land. This beast was merely a vessel."
Ahsoka crossed her arms. "And I'm guessing that 'someone' isn't going to just let this go."
I turned to the Boy. "You survived here alone, against things like this. That takes strength. But what if you didn't have to be alone? What if you could learn to use your gifts—to control them, rather than just survive them?"
The Boy frowned. "I'm not a Jedi."
Shaak Ti stood. "Neither was your ancestor, when he first walked this path. But he chose to learn, to wield his power for something greater than himself."
The boy hesitated. Then he sighed, shaking his head. "If I go with you, what happens?"
I smiled. "Then you see what's beyond these woods. Then you choose for yourself."
After a long silence, he nodded. "Fine. But only because I don't trust you lot to make it off-world without getting into more trouble."
Ahsoka smirked. "I like him."
.
..
.
Back at the Royal Harpy, we prepared for departure. The boy, now named Ulrich, now carrying only what little he had from his life in the wilds, looked back at the forest that had been his home for years.
"I guess this is really happening, huh?"
Ahsoka clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Better get used to it, kid."
But as we set coordinates, another decision had to be made.
Shaak Ti turned to me. "This darkness we found—it's not isolated. I need to report back to Dantooine. We need to understand what's happening to these lands before it spreads."
Ahsoka folded her arms. "I'm going with her. We don't know what else might be lurking."
I exhaled. "That means I take Merah and head for Tython alone."
Ulrich raised a brow. "You trust her?"
I turned to Merah, who smirked. "I used to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Might've pulled a few jobs I'm not proud of. But I figure I can make up for it now."
I chuckled. "You don't have to make up for anything. Just don't steal my ship."
She grinned. "No promises."
As the Royal Harpy's engines roared to life, I glanced at Ahsoka and Shaak Ti. "See you both on Dantooine."
Ahsoka smirked. "Try not to get into trouble without us."
Merah nudged me as we stepped onto the ramp. "I think we both know that's impossible."
With a final nod, I turned toward the cockpit, setting our course for Tython.
.
..
…
..
.