ZEFFO

All across the galaxy, a loud piercing scream was heard. If you traced it back to the source, you would find a short brunette failing her arms as she slid down the icy slope.

Cal chuckled and jumped down the slope himself. He was just in time to see her and BD-1 roll onto the muddy surface at the end. The redhead braced himself as the end of the slope neared. He double-rolled before letting his boots skid to a stop.

He held out his hand to her and this time, she held onto it allowing him to pick her up.

"Hey! You're learning! You didn't kiss it this time!"

"It was one time!"

BD-1 scrambled from her back to his and the trio continued their journey. From then on, Cal felt like the angel was staring into his soul. There was a fire lit behind her eyes and he felt like at any second she was going to pin him down and turn him into salt.

A few minutes and seven Troopers later, the trio stood at the entrance of another cavern.

"After you," Cal said, stepping aside and holding his right hand out.

Diane walked in front of him and the former Padawan trailed behind her. Their walk was cut short when a familiar humming sound filled his ears. Cal jumped in front of her and looked at the sight before him with anger.

"Cere, there's a transport ship leaving the Empire's base." He spoke into the comms.

"I heard. They plan to bring Zeffo artifacts to Coruscant."

"Does that mean...?"

"That the Emperor is interested in Zeffo? Maybe."

Cal watched as the wings of the TIE Assault Shuttle extended outward before lifting off the landing pad and disappearing into the sun.

"We need to get to the tombs, fast."

⸻╳⸻

It wasn't an easy task. But the trio did eventually make it inside the tombs. It involved another icy slope (which Diane pushed Cal onto as payback) and after listening in to countless conversations, he came to the conclusion that the Empire had no intel on Eno Cordova's activities on Zeffo nor had they found the tomb itself.

But as they trekked further, they realized that the Empire had dug deeper into the ground than they thought. Cere advised them to come back to the ship saying that they had identified Cal as the Jedi who escaped from Bracca. They also identified a girl, Skya Yvatt. Diane gave them the quick run-down on vessels and angels, not really wanting to get into specifics.

After all, they had bigger fish to fry.

"They're searching for the Mantis as we speak."

"Can't you just...move the Mantis?" Cal asked.

"No. It's too risky to start the engine. Its power discharge will draw their attention immediately."

"Okay. We'll be back as fast as we can."

"We could always..."

"Diane, we are not 'flying'."

They ran back toward the hanger and Cal skid to a stop. Two yards away from them was an AT-ST.

It was heading toward the Mantis.

"Aw kriff," Cal cursed, running faster than before.

The AT-ST shot at them. Cal ducked and took cover while Diane moved slightly, letting the lasers fly past her — completely unfazed.

"What are you doing?!" he yelled.

Diane walked toward the machine and disappeared. The AT-ST fell to its knees, a loud crashing sound echoed, and as Cal looked around, he felt a presence behind him.

"Cal."

The redhead jumped in his skin.

"Don't do that!"

"Sorry."

"Wha-What'd you do?"

"I turned him into salt."

Cal's eyes widened and nodded his head in response. Neither said a word as they rushed toward the Mantis.

"Nice work out there, kids."

Cal was going to protest but Diane responded with, "Thank you."

"Please tell me this visit wasn't for nothin'."

Cal took his seat in the front and Diane settled in the back.

"We found the tomb of a Zeffo Sage. They definitely used the Force."

"An advanced civilization of Force wielders who mysteriously vanished," Cere said, suspicion laced in her words. "No wonder Master Cordova became so obsessed with them. What else did you find?"

"Before they disappeared, the Zeffo journeyed to the planet Kashyyyk. Cordova had a Wookiee friend named Tarfful. Maybe we can go there and find him?"

"Kashyyyk?! L-Look things are really bad down there. The Empire's muscling in on those Wookiees big time." Greez said.

"Then I guess we better get ready for a fight," Cal told him, a smirk plastered across his face.

Greez grunted and Cere got up to follow Cal.

"I think this lifestyle suits you. You seem more confident these days," she said.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"How are you holding up?"

"You mean with the Force?"

"Yes, with the Force. I know you said it could be...overwhelming."

She was talking about an earlier conversation they had. Usually, when Cal used the Force, he would lose control, and things would get...messy.

"Haven't gotten myself killed yet. Rather not talk about it."

She nodded her head. "I understand. More than you realize."

This intrigued Cal.

"W-Why'd you stop using the Force?"

Cere looked away, not meeting his eyes. Cal didn't press on and calmly waited for her to speak. It was obvious that whatever had happened had affected the woman so badly that she willingly cut herself off from the Force.

"When the Purge started and our— our Clone Troopers turned against us, my Padawan and I took several Younglings and went into hiding. But...we didn't last long."

Cal leaned forward.

"Imperial patrol was about to discover our location so... I tried to lure them away from my Padawan, Trilla. Sh-She stayed behind with the Younglings. But, they caught me... And they— they tortured me. They wanted to know about the others and how many were left but mostly they wanted to know about Cordova. They wanted to know where he went."

"So you escaped."

"Prison riot. I saw my opportunity and I took it."

"But...?"

Cere lowered her head.

"But they almost broke me. And I am not the same as I was, Cal."

"Your Padawan... Did she survive?"

"No. But that is why we can't give up. We can't let the sacrifice of those closest to us be for nothing."

⤠⤟

KASHYYYK

Diane would never get tired of seeing the blue and white that formed as the Mantis jumped into hyperdrive. She would, however, when she saw Imperial ships. There were at least four or five hovering above the planet.

"Please tell me we're not running that blockade," Cal said.

"Only as a last resort. I've rigged the Mantis' transponder to transmit Imperial signals," Cere told him. "Greez, keep your power signature low and act like we belong here."

"Just like Bracca. No sweat."

Diane watched as Cal and Greez reached for something overhead at the same time.

"I don't need another set of hands. Just please keep your eyes on the scanner. Please?"

Cal put his hands up in defense and lowered his head, but Diane could hear the amusement in his voice as he replied, "Alright! Alright."

"They're preoccupied with something on the ground," Cere announced. "We're clear to go."

The Mantis moved forward and Diane gripped the handles of her seat, as they lowered themselves into unknown territory.