This was a place of death. Darkness, however, was still very much alive here. It lingered like a stain or stench that was never washed away. Creon could almost feel the predatorial rage and hunger seep into his being. As he walked amongst the collection of corpses, he let his mind keep clear of the Dark Side’s temptations.
The growls and clicking noises from scavenging predators watched him as he marched along the length of the boneyard. It’s why Creon brought his on-duty equipment. The Consulars of Satele Shan informed that a “Shaman” wished to speak with him in this place. Under circumstances where he would learn from others, he would have preferred just to bring robes, but this was not a place of peace.
The radar in a hologram display within his helmet revealed he was just a couple of meters away. The site he was approaching was a massive cave. It was likely once home to a good number of rancor, as the presence of darkness increased with each step he took closer towards it. He thought about retrieving his flashlight to help guide him deeper but saw a dim light stretch from the cave’s shadows.
When he arrived he saw a grey-skinned Gungan, with the ends of tattoo marks leaking from the collar of his attire. The creature was in a meditative posture, with bowls of bone dust, blood, and a small fire before him. It was not what Creon expected in a Jedi, but it wasn’t too far off from the shaman part. Behind him was a Hk-series droid that simply watched in silence.
“Master Manet?” Creon asked as he removed his helmet. A small part of him hoped he was wrong.
“Not what you’sa was expectin, hmm?” The Gungan said with a devilish grin.
Creon took a seat in the same manner as the Counsular before him. He needed to keep an open mind, for there was likely wisdom within Kah despite his demeanor. “I was told that you asked for an audience with me. Though I’m not entirely sure why you would choose Felucia, instead of Kiast.”
The Gungan gave off a small laugh, “Ho-ho! You’sa uncomfortable wid all de bones?”
“This place is dense in the Dark Side. Death... Hunger... Rage... Is this to be a test?”
“I hurd that you’sa like to be near da Dark Side. So I did-a-figured you’sa be more comfortable here.”
Creon was confused at hearing Kah’s words. Creon had never been known to tread near the Dark Side. “Forgive me, master. But... I feel like there must be a mistake. I’ve never given in to anger, hate, or power. To me, they are useless. It deludes the mind of reason, clarity, and happiness.”
Kah nodded, “You’sa strong in da mind, but weak in da heart,” he says pointing towards Creon’s forehead, and then later his chest. “She got close to you’sa, hmm?”
Creon stiffened from his relaxed posture from Kah’s words. He knew. Creon had encountered a Sith woman, first in conflict, and later in bed. It wasn’t his wisest choice, and he knew that. He was aware that consequences could arise, and to trust her was foolish. But the visits continued, and they had been seeing each other for a few weeks at this point. He had no excuse, or good reason as to why, only that it was what he wanted. He fell to her desire, and now it seems others have become aware.
“De reason you’sa here is cause it be better for you’sa to be dead than to be taken to the Dark Side,” Kah said with a grim tone as he rose from his seat.
“Wait, no,” Creon said also rising to his feet, “There is a peaceful way to go about this.”
Kah answered with the glow of his lightsaber. Creon withdrew his own and activated it as well. He believed there was still a way to talk out this misunderstanding. However, before he could try and make Kah see reason, he would have to wear him down.
The Gungan lashed out with a flurry of ferocity. His attacks were rapid and the hits were at all sides; it kept Creon in a stressful state to maintain his defense. In truth, Kah was going a little easy on him, but only a little. His plan was to push Creon to the tipping point. Bringing him to the rancor graveyard, bringing out the secret of his Sith lover, and convincing him that his life is in danger was all to see if it could break him. If it were true, and the woman was pulling him to darkness, Kah will know it once he saw it. She can only plant the seed, but it would be Creon who allows it to grow.
Kah kept control over the fight by staying on the offensive. Creon was able to turn the blows by redirecting the momentum away, but the speed to which Kah followed up with more attacks kept up the tension. Creon took steps back each time Kah took steps forward. Eventually, the dance caused the Guardian to find his back against a wall.
“I can see you’sa thoughts! Dey will betray you’sa, just like she will. Think of her, so dat I may know and end her too after dis!” Kah said while pressing his blade hard against Creon’s.
“Yeah, we aren’t having that,” Creon said with a deflecting whirl of his blade.
“You’sa no can hide-” then Kah realized his connection to the force had been dampened. He looked up to see bantha-fodder eating grin spread across Creon’s face.
The Gungan screamed and jumped at the soldier with lightsaber aimed forward. Creon replied by grabbing hold of him through the Force and throwing him towards the entrance to the cave.
This Gungan was fierce and well skilled in saber combat. Creon wasn’t sure how long he could have kept the fight going at that rate. So he decided to change tactics and clipped the lightsaber back on his belt. He then pulled out his WESTAR-M5 from its magnetic fixation on his backside and made sure to change the selector to stun. Even though Kah meant to kill him to prevent a possible future threat, Creon still believed he could convince him otherwise. He took one look behind him to check back at the HK droid that remained. It stayed motionless, even during the fight. Odd, Creon thought Why didn’t he help his master in the fight? It was a question he would have to look into later but kept a mental note of the droid’s presence just in case. He then took a flashlight from his utility belt, clipped it onto the side of his rifle, and marched towards the entrance of the cave at the high-ready.
