Star Wars: The Approaching Storm

by Alan Dean Foster

  “If you’ll give me a chance, I’ll try to explain,” Obi-Wan murmured when the flurry of accusations finally died down. As they turned a corner, the visitors’ house loomed just ahead, with its promise of privacy, rest, and refreshment.

  “I hope you can, Obi-Wan,” she muttered, “or none of us is going to get much sleep this night.”

  Though he felt that he knew his teacher better than any of his companions, Anakin still had no idea what his Master could have been thinking when he had consented to the elder’s request.

  “What’s to explain, Master Obi-Wan? Either we help these Borokii, as you say we are forced to do in order to gain their cooperation, or else we do not. There are only two choices.”

  Looking over at his bewildered Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi ventured that knowing, thin smile of his and replied softly, “no—there is another.”

  It was a march of several days to the Januul camp. It would have taken much longer had the entire Borokii clan made the move, but only warriors undertook the trek. When at last they ascended a long, low hill overlooking their destination, Luminara saw that the Januul encampment was laid out much the same as that of the Borokii. With its herds and neatly aligned temporary structure, it appeared to be of similar extent.

  As the designated official contact between the offworlders and the clan, Bayaar rode alongside the visitors. “The Januul and the Borokii have been at odds for as long as anyone can remember,” he told his new friends. “Who should have preeminence among the Alwari had been cause for fighting for hundreds of years.” He looked up at her from the back of his sadain. “While as a warrior of the Situng Borokii I look forward to victory today, I am personally sorry the elders saw fit to involve you in this.”

  “Not as sorry as we are,” she told him as she directed her suubatar to kneel. Dismounting, she moved to join her companions in the forefront of the Borokii line.

  Below, the Januul had assembled on the near side of the small river that formed the western border of their camp. Despite the best attempts of the Borokii to achieve surprise, skilled Januul outriders had detected the approach of the column of warriors a day earlier. Drawn up in three lines opposite the hill, the soldiers of the other overclan stood ready to meet their traditional enemy.

  Beyond, within the camp, controlled chaos was the order of the day. Businesses were being shut tight, children herded into homes, and groups of reserves positioned among the many mobile buildings. Farther out on the prairie, the great herds of surepp were being watched over by armed adolescents too young to participate directly in the anticipated forthcoming battle.

  Many were going to die this day, Bayaar knew as he surveyed the Borokii’s opponent. But with the help of the powerful offworlders, his clan would prevail. Today’s battle, he felt instinctively, would decide which clan among the Alwari was going to predominate for a long time to come.

  Studying the Januul multitude drawn up before them, Luminara made a hasty estimate of their numbers. Less than a thousand, she guessed, but all of them well armed and clad in striking, hand-worked armor. Standing alongside her, Obi-Wan concurred with her assessment.

  “No heavy weapons.” He leaned forward as he carefully scrutinized the tightly packed lines of warriors. “No laser cannons, no launchers of any size.” He remarked on this to Bayaar.

  Their friend look horrified. “Haja, no! If either the Borokii or the Januul were to employ such deadly offworld devices, one clan or the other might well win this and all other similar confrontations, but they would be shunned by every other clan on the planet. Besides, such an escalation would mean that the opposing side would have to acquire similar weapons to defend itself. And then where would the proud Alwari be?”

  “Staring down the barrel of self-extermination,” Anakin ventured from nearby. Though he would never have admitted to it, he personally found the barbaric display, with armored Ansionians riding equally flamboyantly garbed sadains and a few magnificently invested suubatars, oddly beguiling. From a purely academic point of view, of course, he hastened to assure himself. While today’s confirmation might mean a great deal to its Ansionian participants, to him it was only another episode in his education.

  Barring, of course, the possibility that he and his friends might die.

  “So these are the Januul.” Luminara indicated the massed warriors. “They are pretty impressive.”

  “Along with the Situng Borokii, the Hovsgol Januul have always been one of the overclans, yes,” Bayaar admitted. “But with your help, the matter of who reigns truly supreme among the Alwari will finally be settled.”

  “I hope so,” Obi-Wan told him quietly. “That’s what we’re here today to decide. By setting an example for both the Borokii and the Januul.”

  Now, that seemed a strange thing to say, Bayaar thought. But then, the flat-eyed offworlders often seemed to speak in riddles.

  Having been ordered to say out of the fight and remain back with the noncombatants, Kyakhta and Bulgan were in agony of frustration. They had promised their lives to the offworlders who had helped them, and yet now they would be forced to stand and watch as their new friends risked their lives on behalf of fellow Alwari. It was almost too much to bear. Tooqui, on the other hand, had no difficulty whatsoever in agreeing to stay out of the forthcoming fight.

  “There are only four of them.” From their vantage point slightly higher up on the hill overlooking the river and the Januul encampment, Kyakhta strained to see. “Strong and skilled as they are, how can our friends possibly make a difference in the midst of a battle among so many?”

  “I don’t know.” Bulgan rubbed nervously at his eye patch. “But you know as well as I that these offworlders are full of surprised.”

  “Tooqui know what going to happen.” The two much bigger Alwari turned to look down at him. “Jedi going do something stupid stupid.” He moved to the edge of the slight overlook, trying to keep Barriss in view.

  Frowning, Kyakhta was sorely tempted to smack the little Gwurran. “You’re lucky Master Luminara ordered me not to hit you. You should show some respect. Whatever happens, I’m sure they’re not going to allow themselves to be killed. Their mission here is too important to them.”

  Tooqui looked back up at him. “Who say somethings about them get killed? Tooqui not say that.” The Gwurran returned his attention to the unfolding spectacle below. “Tooqui say they do stupid stupid. Maybe they think of something stupid stupid to do all over stupid stupid heads of Alwari.”

  The guides exchanged a confused glance with the equally puzzled Bayaar. Then, realizing that it was a waste of time to try to make sense of something as patently nonsensical as Gwurran gibberish, they all moved to the edge of the slight overlook the better to follow the proceedings unfolding below.

  Up close, the savage spectacle was even more impressive than it was from the top of the hill. Having arrayed themselves in their triple defensive line opposite the Borokii force, the assembled Januul presented a panoply of pugnacious attire and attitude. War paint adorned their faces, bare heads, and rippling manes. Leather and composite armor was festooned with individual, family, and clan ornamentation. In addition to traditional bows and arrows, throwing spears, and swords, they carried imported blasters and rifles. Their grim expressions were those of people bent on defeating any attackers, no matter the possible cost.

  Forming a solid line opposite the arrivals, the soldier of the Borokii offered a no-less-striking display. Flaunting attitude as well as weapons, individual warriors jostled for position, each heavily armed male striving to gain a place near the front. Clan leaders mounted on rearing sadains took up forward positions shouting instructions to their troops. The air was thick with anticipation and the Ansionian equivalent of adrenaline. Gazing down from the crest of the hill, the apprehensive Kyakhta and Bulgan saw that full, unrestrained combat could break out at any moment. Standing between them, Tooqui was unnaturally silent.

  Unexpectedly, the screeches and cries and shouted imprecations arising
from both massed forced died down. Heads were craned and weapons lowered. The center of the Borokii line parted. Advancing in single file, the two Jedi Knights and their Padawans marched out into the center of the budding battlefield. Up on the hill Kyakhta, Bulgan, and Tooqui held their collective breath.

  A number of the Borokii murmured expectantly among themselves. Although only a few of them had seen what the offworlders had accomplished among their surepp several nights before, by now most had heard about it. As for the Januul, they were sufficiently puzzled by the offworlder’s unexpected appearance to wonder aloud at their presence in this place. Given the flat-eyed, maneless aliens’ precarious position directly in front of the Borokii line, their intentions were clear enough to every soldier of the Januul. No matter. The offworlders would die as readily as any snigvold Borokii.

  Having halted halfway between the two opposing hosts, Luminara and Barriss turned around to face the massed Borokii. While a grim-faced Anakin confronted the Januul, Obi-Wan raised his voice. The Borokii waited expectantly for their offworld ally to throw down the formal challenge. Turning a slow circle as he spoke, the Jedi addressed not just the Januul, but both of the assembled armies.

  “Listen to me! I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Knight of the Jedi Order. Standing here with me are the Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee. Beside me also is my Padawan Anakin Skywalker. We have come to your world to make a lasting concord between the Alwari and the city folk of the Unity of Communities, so that the people of Ansion may remain within the galactic Republic confident that its laws and regulation will be applied equally and fairly to all.” Raising an arm, he encompassed the sky with a single wave. “Out there, beyond Ansion, greater forces than you can imagine are at work. Enormous issues of vital importance to every sentient in the galaxy are moving toward resolution. Ansion is a vital part and parcel of what is happening.” Still turning slowly as he spoke, he lowered his arm.

  “We have come here because we know that wherever the Borokii and the Januul lead, the rest of the Alwari will follow. We ask that your elders, the elders of both sides, sit down with us and discuss these matters anew. Matters that are of greater import than those you propose to kill yourselves over today.” Among the massed Borokii, an uncomfortable stirring had begun. What kind of challenge was this for an ally to put to an enemy?

  “You must learn to work together,” Obi-Wan continued. “With each other, as well as with those who dwell in the towns and cities. If you do not,” he concluded, “then you risk losing that which you fight for to greedy meddlers from the outside like the Commerce Guild—and others, who see Ansion and its people as nothing more than a pawn in a greater game.”

  Save for some confused murmuring in the ranks of the Borokii, silence greeted his speech. Then a Januul officer advanced on his ornamented mount. Pointing a ceremonial sword at the calm, composed human, he replied angrily.

  “We know nothing of which you speak, offworlder!”

  Obi-Wan responded serenely. “Of course you don’t. That’s because you have yet to hear us. Give us that chance.”

  Behind him, a Borokii leader moved forward. “What kind of assistance is this? What happens here today doesn’t involve other worlds, offworlder. Attend to the business at hand, as you promised the elders!”

  “Ansion is part of the Republic,” Luminara replied. “Within the Republic, all quarrels are the business of the Senate. And the Jedi Council.”

  The Borokii reacted with a smirk. “So instead of helping us, you’ve decided to save us from ourselves? So be it, then. We don’t need your help. The Borokii have always taken care of themselves.” A defiant cry rose from the massed fighters assembled behind him.

  It was matched by a challenging shout from the Januul, whose officer was not finished with the visitors. “Get out of the way, offworlders! We will settle this as we always have, in the traditional manner. Whatever your intentions, it is too late now to interfere. The Borokii have come, and we are ready for them.” Raising his sword, he let out a wild, high-pitched whooping no human could have replicated, and urged his sadain forward.

  Concentrating hard, raising a hand to aid in mental focus, Obi-Wan thrust his open palm sharply in the direction of the charging officer. It was as if the sadain had run into a wall. Despite its six legs it went down in a heap, more baffled than hurt. Sent flying over the blunt, stunned head, its rider landed hard on the grassy ground. The impact sent his sword flying from his three fingers. With a cry, the line of eager Januul immediately behind him raised their weapons and surged forward. Bellowing and hissing defiance, the Borokii responded in kind.

  Arrows came flying, spears were flung, and most dangerous of all, blasters were brought into play. Anything that came near the Jedi was deflected by lightsabers that seemed to spin and whirl as rapidly as lightning itself. Missiles sent flying overhead were deflected by judicious and skilled application of the Force.

  Three Januul tried to jump Luminara. Three strokes of her lightsaber disarmed the first, melted the blade of the second, and knocked down the heavy club wielded by the third. She was too busy to acknowledge their stunned stares. Weaponless, they backed slowly away from the olive-skinned dervish, retreating toward their own line. In this they were accompanied by more and more of their companions as Luminara and her comrades methodically neutralized one group of bewildered warriors after another.

  Firing blasters, a pair of furious Borokii rushed Anakin. Instead of fleeing, he advanced toward his attackers, the blade of his lightsaber deflecting one shot after another. Two quick strokes swept the weapons from their hands. It would have been a simple matter to bring the lightsaber around, cutting off both their arms with a single swift stroke. But Obi-Wan’s instructions as they had marched from the Borokii line out onto the field of battle had been explicit.

  “No maiming and no killing,” the Jedi had instructed him. “It’s hard to win hearts and minds when you’re cutting off heads and hands.”

  Further forcefulness wasn't necessary anyway, he saw. Certainly not to convince the two who had so boldly charged him. Without a glance at their expensive and now useless pistols, they fled back to the safety of the Borokii line.

  Another ten minutes or so of ferocious futility finally impressed upon Januul and Borokii alike that the fight was over. Or rather, that it was useless to try to engage in one. In all their mutual history, in all their experience of combat, neither side had ever heard of a three-way battle. It was outside their experience, and they had no way of coping with it. Especially since the third party battled either side with equal zeal.

  No, that wasn’t quite right. The offworlders had not actually attacked anyone. It was they who had been assaulted, for presuming they could dictate the rules of battle to the proud warriors of the overclans. Since that was precisely what they had done, both sides had no choice but to fall back and rethink the unprecedented situation. Especially since a good many of their finest weapons had already been destroyed by the offworlders. And there were only four of the maneless interlopers. Only four!

  Nor was it lost on either side that the strangers had harmed not a single combatant. They had liquidated only weapons. Where was the guarantee that if the fight was resumed this would continue to be the case? Disarmed warriors looked askance at one another and gave voice to their unease. If they couldn’t put down even one of the offworlders with blasters it was unlikely they would be able to do better with traditional weapon like a sword or a spear.

  Perhaps, a few among them began to suggest tentatively, it might be better to listen to what the visitors had to say. Listen to the offworlders, let the surepp of both sides grow fat, and wait. They could always resume the ancient argument between them at a later date.

  The Januul ranks parted to allow the emergence of a dignified, senior figure. Breathing hard, lightsaber held firmly in both hands, Barriss reflected that he was certainly old enough to be an elder. In response, an individual more withered than any warrior but still straight of b
ack and proud posture stepped out from among the massed Borokii. The two elders regarded each other across the field of battle with an equal measure of distaste and respect. When they spoke, it was to accede to reality.

  With the visitors having started their case most admirable for an urgent meeting with not just one but both Councils of Elders, the Borokii senior invited the four offworlders back to the meetinghouse. This invitation was promptly countered by the elder Januul. It was unthinkable that such an important gathering should take place in a Borokii dwelling. Stepping his mount neatly sideways, the Januul indicated that the visitors should follow him down to the main camp below.

  The result of these seemingly benign invitations was contradictory: both sides threatened to resume fighting over the new issue of who should host the forthcoming peaceful get-together. Visibly annoyed, Luminara decreed that the summit would be held in neither camp. A new building, using components provided by both sides, should be erected right where they were currently standing. That way neither overclan could claim paramountcy over the proceedings.

  The Borokii agreed, grudgingly. The Januul concurred, reluctantly. Well aware of the hundreds of convex eyes upon them, the four offworlders turned and strode off the field of battle. They did their best to give the impression that nothing exceptional had occurred, and that the sensation they had caused was all in a day’s work for representatives of the Jedi Council.

  But in reality, they were each and every one of them dead tired. There is nothing more challenging or exhausting for a skilled fighter than engaging in combat while striving not to kill, but to preserve the life of, your opponent.

  Especially when those opponents are frantically doing their best to annihilate one another.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Though the Borokii elders felt betrayed by their erstwhile offworld allies, they had no recourse now but to participate in the new meeting. For their part, the Januul were intensely suspicious of the entire business.