The start of an alliance

[Caramon]

Caramon noticed his comrade motioning to something hidden in an area behind the large beast that once again lay on the ground of the cave. He knew this had to be quick, for both of their sake. As the Jedi called upon the force, using all of the strength they possessed, it finally happened. The Dragon laid his large leathery, horned head down into the resting position it was in when the two Jedi entered. Caramon looked over at Ra’taak and nodded.

With extra caution Caramon walked along the wall of the cave. His hands laying flat along the rough rock wall, Caramon side stepped along the outside of the cave. Keeping an ever watchful eye upon the beast, The Jedi had finally reached his destination. He leaned down to grab the shiny item, and he was amazed at what the two had found.

Not only was this a mission for the two to get to know each other, learn from eacher, it was also a mission with a reward. As Caramon made his way back to Ra’taak, very quietly, he handed one of the pearls to the Jedi. Caramon knew that these items were rare.

“My friend, these are Krayt Dragon Pearls. These are very rare. I think our mission in the place is over. I think it is best if we leave while we are ahead.”
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

"...My Friend...." This was new to Ra'taak. People typically did not make friends with him. But he was grateful all the same. He took the pearl and slipped the lustrous gem in the satchel at his waist. There was more to this mission then just a pearl. He was learning from Caramon. He knew that he himself was often more pacifistic, then action oriented. Where Caramon was ready to leap into action, he was ready with alternatives.

"I do not think our mission is over, that quickly..." He said, looking at the beast who great tail was now swishing in agitation. Ra'taak made a dart for the entrance hopping over a stalactite.

 

[Caramon]

Caramon watched as the two slowly started to move backwards he could see the large reptilian tail moving rapidly out of irritation and anger. The two large hate filled eyes starring straight at the two.

“I do not think our mission is over, that quickly…”

Caramon was beginning to think Ra’taak was right. The Jedi saw his comrade turn quickly on his heels and make a dash for the entrance. Quickly reacting Caramon did the same. He darted this way and that way to avoid the large pillars of rock jutting up from the ground. The two Jedi Knights could feel the vibrations followed quickly by the thunderous echoing sound of very large footsteps heading their way. The entrance to the cave was getting bigger and bigger the farther he ran. Only a little farther and they would be out of the cave.

The vibrations crumbled some of the stalactites, and he could see dust and large chunks of rock falling from the ceiling. ‘This isn’t good’ he thought.
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

The ground beneath his feet shook. A large stalactite fell from the ceiling. The Annoo-dat Prime jumped the falling pillar. There was a roar from behind. Hot and angry. He could see bright light up ahead. The entrance of the cave. Inviting. The ground shook again as he made his landing. He lost his footing. Twisting over to his side as he fell, he saw another stalactite falling. He reached out with the Force. Connecting with it he pushed it away. But it was too late. He couldn't move it enough. The rock fell on his leg pinning him. He roared in pain trying to pull it out. Trapped.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

Caramon stopped instantly when he heard the roar of his comrade. He knew the sound, it was pain. Caramon turned to look and saw Ra'taak's leg. The Jedi knew he had to act quickly or this was going to be his last mission. The Dragon was bearing down on them, roaring. Caramon felt the Force flow through his body as he reached towards the large pillar. Caramon focusing all of his energy on the object.

The pillar began to lift off of the pinned leg, Ra'taak scooting back a bit as the pressure on his leg was releived. Caramon tossed his arms towards the oncoming beast and the pillar flew towars the Dragon with speed. The beast lowered his head, waiting for the blow. It seemed to be more than the Krayt had bargained for. As the rock smashed to bits on its head the body slumped a little. The Dragon shaking his head, trying to clear away the dizzyness. This was his chance.

Caramon ran over to Ra'taak and picked him up, hoisting one of the Anoo Dat's arms around his own shoulders to bear the weight.

"Come on Ra'taak we need to go."
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

The weight of the heavy rock lifted off his leg. He grunted and saw the heavy stone fly through the air striking the large head of the charging dragon. It recoiled, knocked senseless shaking its head. Ra'taak felt an arm slip under his as Caramon shoulder him up into a half frog-march. Ra'taak tested his weight on the leg and pain shot through it. The bone was broken.

"Come on Ra'taak we need to go."

"Yes, I agree."

The beast of a Jedi hobbled with the support of his friend. A gust of sandy wind accosted them as they approached the mouth of the cave. there was a roar from behind. Ra'taak turned his head and saw the dragon was advancing again. Just ahead, the speeder hovered in the hot the wind.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

The mouth of the cave was so close he could almost reach it. Caramon knew that he would have to make this get a way quick. The speeder, still where they had left it when they entered the cave, hovered above the ground. The Jedi Knights could hear the roar of the beast as it approached quickly. The part of Caramon's face that was exposed could feel the specs of dust being carried in by the wind. He knew he could not stop, both of their lives depended on him.

Caramon was running, or speed walking as fast as he could while bearing some of the weight of the large reptilian Jedi. Holding onto the arm Ra'taak drapped over Caramons shoulder so he wouldn't fall or have to put any weight on the leg, he was looking up trying to dodge the large chunks of rock that were hailing down around him the two. He had come up with a plan, it wasn't good but it was all he could think of at the moment.

"Ra'taak, when we reach the mouth of the cave, I am going to let you go. You are going to need to try and crawl to the speeder. I am going to try and close the mouth of the cave."
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

The cave was falling in. Ra'taak felt his crutch leave him. He tested his weight on the broken leg and pain coursed through it. Gritting his teeth, he used whatever it was he could grab onto hobbling his way to the entrance. He heard the monster roar again from behind as hot Sandy wind hit his face.

He pulled himself out into the bright sun. He turned pained to watch Caramon, unsure what his plan was. But the Force was moving. Something didn't seem right. He had an uneasy feeling. His eyes surveyed the Rocky ridge. Nothing. But the feeling was there. Pain shot up his leg and he growled again. The he heard it. Blaster fire. As quick as a bolt if lightning Ra'taak's claw wrapped around the hilt of his saber-staff. With a wish of cracking air, beams of yellow light shot out both ends and with a flick if his wrist he defected the bolt, sending it into a rock with a snap of sparks.

"Sand people." His voice was a growl as another bolt was defected from his twirling staff. Caramon was dealing with the beast in the cave, he himself would have to provide cover. Another flick and another bolt was sent flying off its intended target with the sand people whooping their eerie battle cry.

The pain in his leg was there, testing him. But he had to endure. Another bolt defected. He hoped the plan Caramon had for the dragon would work.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

After releasing his fellow Jedi, Caramon turned around and saw the dragon. The beast was about 30 meters behind and closing. Caramon stood, hands raised, the wind at his back making his traditional Jedi robes flutter about. Caramon focused all of his energy, Letting the force flow through him freely. The stalactites atop the ceiling began to shake as Caramon stared. With a loud cracking sound the cave started to split up the cide and eventually splitting the ceiling. The large cone shaped rock formations started to fall towards the ground. There was a thunderous roar inside the cave as large rocks and boulders fell, encompasing the entrance. Caramon thought he had stopped the dragon. As the smoke began to clear he could see he was wrong.

The large reptilian head of the serpent was surrounded by rocks and boulders as the beast stared at the Jedi, roaring with anger. Caramon could see the beast try to move, the rocks were a temporary fix to the problem but they would not hold for long. Caramon turned his attention to Ra'taak, his saber drawn and moving about, reflecting blaster bolts coming from the sand people. He could hear the meniacle whooping they made when going into battle. With lightning speed, Caramon grabbed his lightsaber, ignited the blade and ran out of the mouth of the cave. The Jedi was once again encompassed in sunlight as he could see the attackers not far. 'This is unexptected' he thought. Caramon twirled his saber, reflecing blaster bolts back in the directions of the sand people.

"Get in and get the speeder ready, I can handle this. Come and pick me up."

Caramon called upon the force once again. He crouched down leapt into the air towards the tusken raiders. Their aim was never accurate as they tried to follow his airborn path. Caramon landed, slicing one of the rifles in half as he landed. Caramon thrust his hand towards the attacker and he went flying back. He thrust his boot up behind him, coming in contact with the tuskens chin, knocking him off of his feet.
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

Ra'taak was relieved when Caramon stepped in. His leg felt like it was on fire. He saw his friend leap into the air. With that the beast hobbled his way to the speeder. He climbed into it, wincing with pain as he dragged his broken leg into the vehicle. He found the ignition and started it up. The engines wooshed and he took the controls. Turning towards his Jedi companion, he drew close enough for him to leap into the vehicle. If he had done so, he would have sped off leaving the sand people to their loss.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

As the tusken raider was taken off balance by the Jedi's kick, landing on his back, Caramon knew his chance had come. He could hear the speeder getting closer by the second. Caramon flipped a switch on his lightsaber hilt and the green blade retracted. The Jedi Knight leapt into the air. He came down and landed exactly as the speeder passed them in the passenger seat. Caramon looked back as the tusken raised his riffle in anger, he couldnt hear it but could tell he was yelling in his native tounge. The dust kicked up behind the speeder and soon the two were out of sight.

Caramon looked at Ra'taak and began to laugh as he clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt.

"That was a close one my friend."

He looked at the wounded leg and winced a little, knowing that his fellow Jedi was in a lot of pain. Caramon reached out with the Force, trying to nullify the pain enough so the Annoo-Dat could be somewhat comfortable.
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

The pain in his leg did pain him. The dull throbbing ever present, and when there was a jolt to he speeder, a sharp stab would shoot up the leg. He gave a growl as he piloted the speeder back to the star-port. The dunes blew past as hot wind accosted their faces. Ra'taak was grateful when he felt Caramon call on the Force to ease the pain. He would push on. He spoke little, thinking about his mistake. Why hadn't he seen the stone fall before it struck him? He would meditate on that when they would arrive. But until then, he continued to drive.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

"Ok stop the speeder"

He knew they were far enough away from the attackers that it was safe.

"Im going to get out, you slide across to the passenger seat and try to take care of that leg."

Ra'taak nodded. As Caramon got out of the speeder his focused never wavered. The move was somewhat easy for the large reptilian man. Caramon knew that without him having to focus on the speeder he could put all of his energy into fixing his leg.

Caramon climbed into the drivers seat and waited for his partner to get situated before he hit the thrusters and away they went. Caramon had a sigh of relief. He pointed towards the horizon.

"We are almost there Ra'taak"
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

Ra'taak settled into the passenger seat. He tilted his head back and glanced at Caramon. Grateful.

"Thank-you."

He called upon the Force channeling it through his claw which was lying on the broken leg. He felt warmth pulse through it. But there was a slightly unpleasant tingling sensation as the bone knit. He grimaced as he worked letting out a low growl. He wasn't quite aware of where they were, or how far from the space port they were, but he was thankful all the same that he could concentrate on healing himself.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

As Caramon drove the speeder, he could sense the Annoo-Dat's leg was getting better by the minute. The buildings were in plain sight now as they drove in the hot sun. The Jedi drove past civilians as they made their way to the space port. Caramon drove to the vendor he had picked up the speeder from. Both Jedi exited the vehicle as Caramon tossed the man the credits that were agreed upon for the use of the speeder. He looked at Ra'taak, his leg was not fully healed but was good enough.

The two made their way to the docking bay they had arrived at. As the two walked, Caramon thought about all that he had learned from his new friend.

"Ra'taak, you have taught me how to be patient. A lesson that was more than overdue for me to learn. I am grateful for the Jedi that put us together on this mission. I truly wouldn't have been able to do it without you."
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

He thought about what Caramon said. Teaching him to be patient. Though, truth be told, Ra'taak knew that sometimes he was too patient and wouldn't act when needed. Caramon knew how to take action. A quality that the large beast admired.

"Caramon, you are a fine and brave Jedi, and I am fortunate to have worked by you side." he said in a low growl, rubbing his leg. It was feeling better. "You know when to act, and I owe you my life. I am proud to call you an ally. I hope to work with you in the future." He grasped his friend by the shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze.

"I think we have accomplished what we were sent here to do." he nodded once.

"Where are you off to now?"

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

Caramon returned the gesture, placing a hand upon the opposite shoulder of the Jedi.

"And I am also proud to call you an ally. I guess we both had something to learn from one another on this mission. If you ever need anything, I will be there. I would be proud to stand by your side. As for where I am headed, I think it is time to return to the temple. I will talk to the Jedi master who sent me here and report on what had occurred. Where will your travels take you my friend?"
@Stryker

 

[Stryker]

"I will be heading back to Dantooine" he said in a low growl. Between his fingers he held the pearl, turning it this way and that. "Quite the ordeal for such an object." He sighed. "I hope, we have to opportunity to work together again!" He climbed into his star-fighter and started working the controls as the canopy started to close. He turned his head and gave a nod as the ship started to hover and climb. Tilting upward he blasted off the planet.

@Caramon

 

[Caramon]

"I will be heading back to Dantooine...Quite the ordeal for such an object."

"I hope, we have the oportunity to work together again!"

"Me too Ra'taak. Farewell."

Caramon nodded to his friend as they parted. He walked over to where his ship was docked and climbed into the cockpit. Caramon started the initiation sequence, starting the engines and igniting the repulsor lifts. The hatched closed with a small his as the ship started to float upwards. Caramon pointed the small fighter upwards and with a roar of the engines, he was climbing for the stars.

Thread End.