Kadrol stood just inside the entrance to one of Hoth’s famed ice caves, his BD unit Tenz perched on his back. Behind him, light penetrated deep into the crevasse extending hundreds of meters farther down than where he currently stood, reflecting off the compressed walls of ice. It was almost unimaginable that the Gozanti-class cruiser he utilized as a mobile base stood so far above him, not too far from the edge of a massive crevasse. In many ways, the frigid hellscape of Hoth reminded him of home: the Pantoran homemoon of Pantora and its planet Orto Plutonia.
“Well, I know this isn’t the base, but let’s give this one a try, Tenz,” Kadrol said to the droid. The words were more to psyche himself up than they were directed towards the BD unit, and he knew it was aware of it as well. It had been weeks since the end of their war alongside the allied Brotherhood forces against the Collective, and Kadrol and Tenz had spent all of them searching for the old rebel base—searching for truths at an old battleground. War had never been Kadrol’s thing. He detested fighting where better solutions could be attained. Yet his entire adult life had been engulfed in conflict. Out on the front line he had served Scholae Palatinae admirably, but now, he had decided, was the time to begin considering any other path. As he continued to dwell on the future playing out before him, he began his descent through the winding caverns. Step by step, carefully placed, he explored. Large stalactites of ice clung to the ceiling. Crystalline structures below formed miniature hills.
Tenz occasionally pointed out hazards and other neat landmarks but was otherwise silent. Kadrol could only assume the droid was just as stunned by the natural beauty as he was. Off to the side, an alcove containing three small, rounded stalagmites surrounding a large, flat-topped piece looked like it could be a dining room. As he marched on, the landmarks seemed to fade into the background. Similarly, the echoing of his boots against the ground fell from mysterious wonder to monotonous ambience. Descending deeper, the natural light slipped into darkness until the cave walls were once again illuminated by Tenz. Light scattered about as Tenz scanned the area, illuminating the cavern anew as it opened into an expansive room, more tunnels presenting themselves as opportunities for exploration. The Pantoran followed the lit areas with his eyes. The new source of light casting shadows in different ways; most prominently that they were no longer fixed in place. They were moving. His heart raced and yet his mind told him there was no reason to worry. He pushed himself onwards into one of the tunnels.
I’ve fought in wars, he reminded himself as the anxiety of the unknown settled deeper into his thoughts. The pair continued into the long, winding passage until a low rumble caused the warrior to stop dead in his tracks.
“Tenz,” He began in a whisper before forcing his thoughts out in his normal spoken voice, “put some light out in front.”
A wall of ice greeted the pair as the ice tunnel bent to form a corner. Every fiber of his being told him a large creature lay ahead.
“Uhm, I think it’s best we get going. We've been down here long enough.” He stammered.
Tenz whirred in agreement, being sure to gently mock his owner's fears.
Picking up the pace on the way out, Kadrol and Tenz began to ascend back towards the opening. However, upon their return back into the large open room, they heard yet another call. Not a wampa like before, but something distinctly more…sentient. Both Pantoran and Droid whipped their head in the direction of the call, though no distinctive words could be heard. A pale blue face greeted the light from the same dining room alcove Kadrol had spotted earlier.
“Hello?” The blue-skinned person cried out. Kadrol couldn’t help but approach. In truth, it was as much a relief to him as to the injured explorer.
As he got closer, the hiker was unmistakably Pantoran. No facial markings, but no red eyes like Chiss, he noted. He figured she was probably about average height, and her shoulder-length lavender hair reminded him vaguely of his cousin.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
Kadrol offered a hand to help her up, but the woman shook her head in the negative. The Pantoran woman shifted from against the wall, her left hand clutching her ankle.
“Alright, well can you tell me your name?” Kadrol said, attempting to make small talk as he reached out to try and heal the ankle.
“My name is Mara,” she said, offering an apologetic smile, “I was exploring the fault lines and happened across the cave when… well things didn’t really go to plan.”
“Nice to meet you, Mara. This is Tenz. I’m Kadrol.”
Kadrol reached out and made contact with the injured ankle. Focusing intently, he began the healing process. Mara breathed in strongly, as though she were being rejuvenated by the Force-imbued healing. Her soft smile widened into a grin at the ease by which Kadrol had trusted them. Of course, Mara wasn’t their real name, that was Connie. But it wasn’t as if they’d give it out so easily. The injury hadn’t been real either, not that Kadrol would have any idea.
Having finished ‘healing’ the new Pantoran acquaintance, Kadrol withdrew his hand before offering to help ‘Mara’ to their feet.
“Let’s get back to the surface. I can’t believe you were in here all alone,” he commented.
“You were.”
Can’t really argue with that.
The journey back towards the entrance was quiet. Mara had seemingly been through an ordeal and Kadrol wasn’t one to break a good bit of silence. As they neared closer, the bright light from outside shone across the floor.
This is my time, Connie decided.
Kadrol’s heart dropped. He spun around instinctively just in time to see Mara lunge at him, a black dagger in hand. The research director raised his forearm to block the dagger. A blue flash emanated from the armor as the weapon made contact, redirecting the force from puncturing through.
“What are you doing?” Kadrol shouted in enraged bewilderment.
Connie’s face contorted, molding itself into a mirror of Kadrol. “You see, I’ve heard stories of your academic and martial prowess. It’s time to see if you really stack up.”
Kadrol squinted, not fully believing his senses. Yet he had the wherewithal to quietly draw his lightsabers from his waist. “Really? Why? Surely there must've been someone better?” All questions he didn’t realize had been spoken until they left his mouth. The Pantoran’s brain worked overtime as he tried to seek comprehension while also scanning his surroundings. Tenz braced itself in preparation of a fight, clinging on tightly.
Connie gave no response, delighting in the Pantoran’s confusion.
Coming to rest on the first idea that formed in his mind, Kadrol ignited his lightsabers and entered a dead sprint at his mirror image. As the distance closed, the lightsaber-wielding Kadrol dropped to his knees and entered into a slide, taking a swipe at the imposter, who quickly hopped to the side. As he passed, Kadrol surrendered himself to gravity, allowing it to pull him back into the depths of the ice cave, briefly illuminated by the violet and yellow lightsabers as he slid past.
