Shattered Stars (TCW)

Chapter 16 -- Consequences

After a startling encounter with a long-lost grandmother, Taska Rokanh is back on the hunt for a group of highly dangerous Mandalorian terrorists. Will she succeed where she failed last on Krownest, and bring the killers to justice?

She followed the armor or the bootprints of the people she was tracking in the dust of the arid moon until she saw a basin surrounded by hills on every side, possibly an ancient crater. More importantly, it was the perfect place to stage a base.

As she cleared the hill, she saw the side profile of an armored Mandalorian, one of the many she was searching for. She had only caught a glimpse of his light skin and hair from beneath his helmet, but she knew—this was the one she had fought on Krownest.

Rhik Trangh, son of Thrionn Trangh.

"Hello there," Taska said boldly, lightsaber in hand but at rest.

"Stop!" He warned loudly, blaster whipping out of his belt before Taska had a chance to blink.

In response, she ignited her saber. "Stand down."

"Wait, I've heard your voice before," the man said, a stupid smile spreading across his face as he leaned forward carelessly. "Krownest, right? Huh, you're pretty. Never would've guessed with your hood up."

"Seems like you would have a different reaction," Taska said, unamused.

"I walked away from our encounter alive, didn't I?" He countered. "And barely a scratch, too. That's enough reason to not be too intimidated. Come to change my mind?"

"I've come to stop your slaughter of innocents," she declared, in a more than bad mood.

"I could argue with your use of the word innocents, but I'm not here for any philosophical debate," he said sarcastically. "So I guess I'll just ask, um, you and what army?"

"I think I can handle you on my own."

Their battle was fought at a distance, Taska wary of his knives and Rhik afraid of her lightsaber.

At least five blaster bolts had glanced off of Taska's saber and back at Rhik before the sound of jetpacks could be heard. From the general direction of her opponent, the Jedi could sense the rather premature feeling of triumph.

Suddenly there were shots coming from all directions, and Taska sped the rate at which her lightsaber spun to deflect them all. As she did, she looked around. There they were: Sivu, Haka, and Vhael Trangh—three of Rhik's sisters. The second eldest, Haka, got bold, and landed, trying to disarm Taska entirely.

As she fought, keeping the Mandalorian at a fair distance, she noticed Vhael disappear behind a hill.

It's a distraction.

If they got away now, she would never find them again, if they chose to keep low profiles.

She took one more swing at Haka before leaping out of the crater, spotting Vhael as she ran towards their transport. She gave chase.

They raced through the desolate brush, and Taska could hear a faint whoosh from behind. One of the sisters had shot out her grapple, and though the Jedi jumped, she could still feel its small teeth dig into the back of her one flesh calf before wrapping itself viciously around her legs. She tumbled forward, quickly deactivating her saber as her hands met the ground.

She wasted no time in rolling over, slicing through the binds on her legs and yanking on the cable still attached to Sivu's armor, throwing her off balance and closer to the ground. A slash of her lightsaber disabled the wrist of her armor that shot the grapple, along with any other salvos.

That may have been a mistake, Taska thought briefly, as the Mandalorian just as quickly knocked the lightsaber from her hand, kneed her stomach, and punched her jaw with the other hand, all in one fluid movement. She felt sluggish, uncontrolled, as if she couldn't reach for the Force the way she always did.

She took only a moment to pant, feeling the cold air slash against the new wound on her tongue. Her arms flew up almost of their own accord to block more incoming punches, and then used the momentum from another kick to flip Sivu on her back.

It wasn't enough. No matter what Taska did, it didn't seem to be enough. She couldn't spare the time to summon her lightsaber, with her hands constantly occupied. You are here to subdue. She couldn't Force push her away, because then the others, who had stayed surrounding her, would have openings to shoot. You are not using all of your training.

You are letting your mind be clouded.

Eventually she ended up on her back again, Sivu's knife at her throat. Desperate, she grunted with the effort of pushing her hand away again and again. She finally reached out for her saber.

It shot through the grass toward her hand.

Beskar deflects blaster shots and lightsaber strokes.

Her fingers wrapped around it.

Most Mandalorian armor is no longer purely Beskar.

A snap-hiss sent a stream of blue-purple light through the armor of Sivu Trangh.

The Mandalorian froze, and Taska with her. There was an instant of silence before a piercing "No!" reached her ears through the filter of a helmet.

The rest of the mission was blurred. She remembered thumbing her lightsaber off, and she remembered running like hell away from the crater, from the family, from the transport, from what she had done.

You were afraid.

You were clouded.

You are a killer.

* * *

"Taska," Master Ti greeted warmly from the other end of the holocall. The exhausted knight sat up as straight as she could manage in the pilot's seat. "Have you been successful?"

"No, Master," she said, head hanging low. "I tried my best, but by the time I had a substantial lead, they were on their way off-planet, fought me off, and I have no clue where they went. I suspect they may have joined forces with the Death Watch."

"Hm," Shaak Ti frowned and rubbed a hand over her chin. "That is disappointing."

"I know, Master. I am sorry."

"We will send someone else to try again. Perhaps your friend, Profti," she suggested, referring to the Togruta she had often kept company with as a youngling.

I haven't seen him in seven years, she almost argued tiredly. It was pointless. "Hopefully he will meet with more success than I," she said dully, and her master gave her a small motherly smile.

"You are tired," she observed. "I will leave you alone to rest."

"Thank you," Taska answered, already knowing her mind would be too consumed with confusion and worry to rest. "Good night."