The wild planet of Kashyyyk is known to be home to the gentle, but short-tempered race of Wookiees. Wild and untamed, the lush, wroshyr tree-filled forests form a multi-layered deathtrap. The local wildlife present a threat as one descends towards the forest floor, though the battle-scarred beaches and the remnants of the Clone Wars provide refuge. However, as one ascends the danger of falling becomes the largest threat until coming in contact with the Wookiee settlements. Fauna and flora flourish in delight, growing within dirt pockets in the crevices of the trees. Some of these plants are carnivorous, becoming larger and deadlier closer to the forest floor. Others have some form of consciousness, able to communicate with the Wookiees to give some understanding of their use.

Above the Wookie settlements rests the wild rain forest canopies. Within the crevices of the trees, empty fruit and rotting shells from seeds show the spring season has ended. A soft wind whistles between the thick vines and shrubs that stick to the trunks of the ancient and sleeping giants. Despite the never-ending lack of footholds aside from the branches of wroshyr trees, a series of abandoned and rotting platforms are suspended a hundred meters above the surface, once home to its own Wookiee settlement. Overgrown and decayed, it has since nourished countless plants and trees with their outstretched branches sheltering the dense and soft floor from the extreme sun rays and torrential rain. Upon closer inspection unusual signs become notable. Moss carpets particular areas on the platforms and nowhere else, and tree-dwelling animals and birds never seem to land on the surface.

Tread carefully, or fall whim to the creatures that inhabit this terrain.

They stood on the green carpet of moss that covered the rotten wood, the only sound to be heard was the howling wind as it blew through the vines surrounding Elaine and Titius.

“So, you’re Ellac’s apprentice,” she said in an unimpressed manner with a smirk on her face. “I pictured you differently.” She leaned against the aged tree trunk that supported the landing they stood on, the floor beneath her creaking.

“If you’re anything like my master, this won’t take long,” Titius spoke condescendingly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Elaine agitatedly asked, standing up off the tree, her expression dropping. “It means you’re weaker than your brother,” he said, mirroring the smirk Elaine had made just moments ago.

“Why you arrogant piece of poodoo!” She shouted, her blank expression replaced with a mild glare. “Do all Conrat’s have massive egos? Because you and your brother sure are easy to anger,” he said. “Do not tarnish my name with your filthy mouth. You don’t know anything about us,” She replied.

Elaine slowly approached Titius, unclasping her lightsaber from her belt. And now’s about the time to back up, Titius thought, as he stepped backwards towards the jagged, wooden, railing. With a flick of his eye, he quickly looked at a small silver wire that extended across the landing. A trip wire that he had laid before Elaine arrived.

Just a few steps from tripping the wire, Elaine sensed the danger and stepped over it. “Did you really I’d fall for a simple trip wire?” she asked condescendingly. “No, I was planning on you stepping over it actually,” he responded and rolled an armed concussion grenade. The grenade detonated right before Elaine, leaving her no time to react.

Stunned from the impact, Elaine stumbled backwards into the small wire she had avoided. Titius immediately put on a breath mask, knowing full well what was about to commence. A cloud of toxic fumes surrounded Elaine. As she collided with the ground, she inhaled sharply, filling her lungs with the poisonous gas, causing her to begin violently coughing.

“Now then,” Titius said, with the slight echo from his mask, “this should be your first lesson to not be so arrogant. Just because I’m not a force user like you, doesn’t mean that I am at all weak.” Titius drew his blaster, looking into the thick cloud of poison from a distance.

Elaine grimaced as the poison began to work it’s way through her body. The decaying wood creaked as she rolled onto her side. She knelt and almost continuously coughed, trying to recover. A mild cold sweat began to form on her brow. She looked at her arm which she had been using to cover her cough and saw a significant amount of blood.

“The poison should be starting to take effect by now. And here I was thinking that Sykes had trained you better than Ellac, I guess I was wrong,” he said in antagonizing manner”

“Leave S-Sykes out of this,” she coughed up some more blood, “E-Ellac is weak and that’s his own doing.” Titius laughed, “Ellac”s not the one who fell for this trap.”

Elaine slowly stood up with what strength she still had. She stumbled out of the gas and to railing across the landing from Titius. “I’m not dead yet,” she said as wiped the blood from her mouth, stood up straight, and ignited her lightsaber.

Titius let a slight frown form on his face displaying his concern at the situation, knowing full well the Dioxis cloud hid him from his opponent.

Subject is remarkably resistant to this concentration of Dioxis. Alter dosage higher for lethal application next time…if there is one. The afterthought tickled his fancy. But first, he wanted to have some fun.

Snapping his attention back to the field, Titius walked to the edge of the platform with his grappling hook in hand. With a quick glance around, he aimed, fired and dropped off the edge.

Elaine barely heard the shrill hiss through the rushing in her head. The gas was not something she recognized but her close call with it made her wary of the next attack. Gathering a deep breath, she charged through the green cloud to meet… the other edge. Eyes streaming from the second pass in the gas, she scanned around frantically for Titius but there was only foliage, a melange of brown and green. Stepping back from the edge, Elaine called upon the Force to dull the pain in her chest.

Higher in the foliage, Titius landed roughly on a new branch. He may be a master sniper but he was still getting used to the strain from swinging on a wire. Arranging himself prone, he set his sights back on the platform. Seeing an opportunity, he fired a close grouping of blaster bolts directly behind the Sith. He watched as Elaine snapped around and deflected the bolts in a sweep as she lept back along the platform edge.

“A fine demonstration of Vaapad, do it again” Titius called as he unleashed a hail of blaster fire, painting the edge of the platform in scorch marks. He could picture the rattling wheeze as Elaine was forced back rapidly, leaving little opening to recover her breath. Titius cackled, lost in the fervor of his onslaught. Then his stomach sank as he felt a weight alight on his perch as his implants picked up a low growl.

Kark, I forgot about the nexu. Bracing himself, Titius hauled himself over the edge and hoped his grapple would fire true.

Calle tried to catch Titius before the mercenary leapt from the wooden branch. Titius had shot his grappling hook in hopes that it wouldn’t disappoint, and he was right to do so. The grappling hook caught on a neighboring landing from the one he had jumped from.

The mercenary landed with a heavy thump, one of his feet crashing through the wooden landing. Titius had regained his balance and stepped away from the hole, That was close he had thought to himself as he got down into a prone position once again, Now where’s that Sith, I wasn’t done playing with her.

At this rate if I don’t die by the poison, he’ll kill me… Elaine thought through the dizziness and pain in her head, followed by a very violent cough. A small puddle of blood formed on the landing from the bent over Sith. Elaine wiped her mouth once again as she peered over the edge to try and spot the mercenary.

Calle followed a bridge to the platform that his master was crouched down upon. The nexu ran to it’s master’s side and nudged her to stand up. “I-I’ll be ok Calle, let’s just find Titius,” she coughed once more.

Titius had been searching for Elaine and her feline companion. “There you are…” he said, blasting a bolt in their direction. The bolt hit the nexu in the shoulder, burning off a patch of fur and revealing a spot of seared skin. Calle fell to the ground, a high-pitched cry coming from the beast.

“Calle!” Elaine exclaimed. She immediately drew her lightsaber and guarded her companion from any further shots while searching frantically for Titius. Bullseye! he thought while reloading his rifle.

Sliding the Tibanna canister home on his rifle, Titius took quick stock of his inventory. To his disappointment, he would have to end this encounter faster than expected. Subtly shifting his weight around, he counted one more canister, one canister of Dioxis and…

Fragmentation Grenades. A barking guffaw exited Titius. Scanning the platform holding his distraught opponent, he noted the distressed surface and the worn supports holding the platform high in the trees.

Drawing a deep breath, Titius locked the view through his scope to his mind's eye, intent on deceiving the Sith should they go digging in his head. That was one of the few abilities of a Force user that gave him pause. Girding himself, he stowed his rifle, took a running stride and flung himself off the platform.

3… The lip of the platform passed under Titius.
2… Titius was in freefall, appearing suspended in the emerald clouds of the wroshyr trees.
1 Twisting his body, Titius brought his grapple around to the trunk below the platform. The barb caught in the bark sending a shockwave down the cable straight into Titius’ shoulder. White pain enveloped Titius. If not for the tough fabric of his suit, his shoulder would be firmly out of its socket.

A ragged scream rang out, ricocheting around the canopy before reaching Elaine. Already shaken by Calle’s injury and her own weakened state, she was quickly losing her nerve.

This is what happens when Ellac trains a non-Force user. What have I gotten myself involved in? Drawing back, Elaine reached for the rudimentary self control skills her master had taught her. Concentrating hard, she pushed her pain down using a trickle of Force. It helped but she was quickly developing a headache from the effort. “Master, I don't know if I am strong enough but I will try” mouthed Elaine, grimacing.

Several meters below Titius hung by his belt, feeding analgesic gas in a steady stream into his mask. He still needed to climb and his shoulder was in no mood to help him. It was dangerous dulling his pain, knowing he would lose the ability to feel his injuries with too much in his system. But he needed to finish this battle. Detaching his grapple, Titius dug his boots into the fibrous trunk and began slowly ascending.

Where did he go? I have to find him before he finds me… Elaine thought, fighting to stand through the pain. Her vision blurred slightly as her head pounded with the sound of her own heartbeat.

Titius made his ascension through the searing pain in his shoulder. I need to use my resources sparingly. If I could just take out the nexu… that would either cripple her or fill her with so much rage that she could be deadly to me, even in that state... Even still, it sounds like fun. A sadistic grin formed in his face from the thought.

Alright… think! I need a plan. Obviously going on like I have been isn’t working and it will get both of us killed. How can I stop a man with traps, explosives, and blasters? Think…. Think! She tightly closed her eyes and grimaced through the pain.

“Feel you fear… your anger… let your hate consume you…” the voice of her master resonated in her mind. Peace is a lie, there is only passion… Through passion, I gain strength… Through strength, I gain power… Through power, I gain victory… Through victory, my chains are broken, the Force shall set me free… her breath slowed and she closed her eyes. Elaine took a moment to think of the things she hated the most.

Her brother… Her master… Her opponent… She felt the poison run through her veins. The painful sting with each particle passing through her blood. When she opened her eyes, they had turned yellow with red that crept at the edges of her iris’.

She was engulfed in her hatred and was blind to the world around her. Even in her extremely weakened state, should wouldn’t let Titius get away so easily for what he had done.

Titius finally climbed alongside the primary support for the platform. He took a second to regain the image of his kill shot then looked up. Through the damage in the slats on the platform, he could just make out the shadow of his opponent. Reaching down to his thigh, he gingerly pulled a fragmentation grenade out. Grimacing, he perched the explosive in the fork where the support met the trunk. Turning his head, he looked for the next support. As he reached across, the bark crackled and groaned. Titius froze keenly aware that he was incredibly vulnerable.

I hope that Sith is too mad to notice he squeaked to himself.

Up above, Elaine's rage was cresting as she searched frantically for her opponent.

“Where are you?” she screeched and promptly fell to her knees as a new wave of coughing attacked her. “I will kill you, Titius, and I will make it worse than Ellac could ever inflict on you.” As if in response, Elaine heard a loud groan from below her. She paused her tirade and looked down to see Titius clung precariously to the side of the tree mouthing Oh, kark.

The forest filled with a howling crescendo as Elaine unleashed her rage. Titius felt an immense pressure on his throat as he was lifted away from the tree. His body was pulled through the rotting slats of the platform, towards the waiting hand of Elaine. Slamming into the hand, Titius felt the spindly fingers slowly crushing his windpipe. And suddenly, his lungs became an inferno as Elaine took her first deep breath since exposure. The cool air of the forest felt incredible after choking on the noxious gas. She closed her eyes to inhale, relishing her second wind.

Titius began to see spots as he gasped desperately for air, his efforts futile. He felt as if his energy was slowly being sapped out his neck in a steady trickle. Through the pain and fatigue, he reached desperately to his belt for anything that would help, finding a loop of metal. A grin formed under his respirator as he brought the bright canister to eye level and yanked the pin out.

The air filled with a tight cloud of Dioxis, asphyxiating Elaine as she threw Titius across the platform, trailing a jet of gas from his hands. Landing on his injured shoulder, Titius gasped for air. He could hear Elaine choking violently as the gas bloomed around her.

Elaine fell onto her hands and coughed up a puddle of blood. The sudden consumption of gas was enough to make her lose her rage.

She inhaled half of the amount of air her lungs could bear and held it in, the toxins filling her airway in the process. She laid her Thermal Detonator on the ground then slowly stood up and walked out of the purple cloud with a wobble noticeable in her step.

She made her way to the trunk of the tree and leaned against it, exhaling and coughing. While catching her breath, she saw Titius begin to stand up. Even after a second round of Dioxis she’s still moving? That’s not even possible… Titius became a bit agitated at the thought.

“Y-You sure are hard—” She was cut off by a couple of coughs, “Hard to kill,” she finished. She used the force to lift the Thermal Detonator and slowly move it towards Titius out of his line of sight.

“So a-are you.” He replied with a raspy voice and an irritated grin, clutching at his injured shoulder. “Why would an Imperial Officer like you even join a clan full of Siths, you don’t belong here.” she said condescendingly.

“You’re Sith? I couldn’t tell.” He replied. Elaine carefully laid the explosive on the ground a few feet away from Titius*

She had finally caught her breath, drawing her blaster and aiming a noticeable amount of distance to the side of Titius. He looked at where Elaine was aiming and he saw the Thermal Detonator she has placed. Oh, kark, he thought.

Right as she fired her blaster, she had coughed, causing her to jerk her aim slightly higher than the grenade. That moment gave Titius enough time to get away from the Thermal Detonator.

That was too close, he thought. A whine came from Calle as he stood up, causing both Titius and Elaine to look over at him. Of course it’s still alive, Titius thought, releasing a sigh. Elaine grinned at her companion as the nexu slowly approached Titius with low, consistent growl.

Elaine began to continuously fire her blaster but this time, she aimed for Titius’ head. Calle lunged at Titius while he was dodging Elaine’s blasters bolts, almost catching the human in his jaws.

Titius found himself under the Nexu, its jaws gnashing around his head. Reaching up, he locked a forearm under its chin and kicked hard upwards into the softer flesh of Calle’s armpit. The nexu yelped in pain as its injured shoulder was assailed. Titius kicked again, rolling his weight opposite to the strike. Calle lost their footing but struck out with their paw, walloping Titius in the ribs. The snap of the ribs was loud, muffled only by the gasp as Titius was winded.

“Kark you, foul beast.” Titius moaned as he gripped his side. Laserfire continued to pepper around him as Elaine saw an opportunity to advance. Grabbing a canister, Titius threw his arm out to stabilize himself, throwing the object along the platform as he did. Behind him, Elaine paused.

“Just give up. You have insulted me, hurt my friend, gassed me and yet you still lose…” Before Elaine could finish, the grenade exploded into a cloud of shrapnel. Unable to react in time, Elaine's armor caught most of the cloud of razors as she took several to her face. She was instantly blinded by a crimson sheet flowing over her eyes as she heard Calle wail beside her. She screamed, lashing out blindly with her rage.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Titius shot his grapple to the trunk of the tree and dragged himself back to the hole in the platform.

“I will surrender only when I'm dead”, he rasped, aiming his rifle down the hole. One well placed shot and the platform rumbled.

Decades of decay finally took over as the grenade cracked the main support. A groan ran through the forest, echoing against the trees as the platform tilted, giving itself to the gravity that yearned to reclaim it. Elaine felt the lurch and frantically reached out with the Force for anything to stabilize her. All she felt was an empty void…

“Kriffing Conrats” Titius huffed, hanging from his grapple dizzyingly high in the canopy.