The nights weren't much better than their days. The vornskrs attacked several times each night, allowing little sleep, and the sleep they did get was fitful and dream filled. They were dark dreams filled with strange creatures and stranger events of which neither Sith could remember the details.
Each day was spent hacking and slashing their way through the underbrush, and the rocky and hilly terrain made footing difficult. Everything was damp as the dense fog seemed to cling to them like misty veils.
On the third day during their noon meal, Raezyr accidentally knocked their ration box over, spilling the contents on the ground.
"Oh, that was smooth. I'm going to enjoy the extra dirt in my supper tonight," Trychon commented sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He watched as Raezyr picked the bars up and brushed them off as best he could, then replaced them in the box, making no effort to help.
"Almost as smooth as the way you let Fillis Riv-ars hack our computer," Raezyr retorted, referring to the program that had given away their position to the Republic cruiser Unity in the Commenor system.
Trychon shove the last of his ration bar into his mouth and spoke around it, "Whatever. If you're finished cleaning up your mess, can we get going again?"
Raezyr closed the ration box and shoved it back into his pack. Slinging it over his shoulders he began moving off into the fog without looking back to see if anyone was following him.
They'd hiked about an hour when Trychon checked their course on his datapad. "You're off course again, Raezyr. We need to be heading in that direction," Trychon said irritably, pointing in the direction they were supposed to be going.
Raezyr stopped and turned around to face Trychon. "I know which way we're supposed to be going. The terrain is less steep this way so I'm circling around."
"That's the long way. It's going to take a month to get there the way you keep 'circling around' everything. Besides, you're taking us straight towards a rocky out cropping."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes... You are. I've got the topography data right here from the scans we took when we flew over."
Raezyr walked the few steps back to Trychon. "Let me see that," he said, taking the datapad from Trychon's hand. He stood looking at Trychon's face as he tossed it into the fog. "What's your topography data say now?"
Trychon watched the datapad as it arced through the air and vanished in the misty shroud. The look of shock on his face was quickly replaced by a mask of wrath. "You stupid son of a bantha! What the hell did you do that for?" he snarled through gritted teeth.
Without answering, Raezyr spun on his heel and began walking again. He took two steps before Trychon dove and tackled him from behind. The impact with the ground knocked Raezyr's helm off and sent it into the bushes.
Raezyr rolled and, bringing his arm behind him, threw Trychon off, then dove on top of the other man. He grabbed Trychon by the throat with both hands, but Trychon had gotten his knees under Raezyr and kicked out, sending Raezyr back a meter.
Scrambling around Trychon launched himself at Raezyr. He knocked him backward and got on top of him. Grabbing the top of his chest plate with one hand, he began throwing punches at Raezyr's face with the other.
Dimly, they were aware that Aitchkay was saying something, but neither combatants paid it any heed.
Raezyr warded off the punches with his left arm, and grabbing a handful of dirt with his right, he flung it into Trychon's eyes. Taken off guard, Trychon put his hands to his stinging eyes as Raezyr grabbed him and rolled.
Positions now reversed, Raezyr grabbed Trychon's shirt front and drew back his fist, intent on punching his oppenent, when blaster fire from Aitchkay's carbine drew his attention.
Three vornskrs were bearing down on them from all sides. Raezyr let go of Trychon and jumped to his feet, drawing his lightsabers, the snap-hiss of their ignition all but drowned out by the sound of blaster fire and the snarls from the attacking beasts.
One vornskr went down under the salvo the droid had unleashed, just as the other two launched themselves, one at each of the Sith.
Spinning, Raezyr removed the head of the vornskr heading for Trychon, who had drawn his lightsaber. He held in a defensive position, but was still on his knees, and all he could make out was a dark blur heading toward him.
The last animal landed on Raezyr's back, knocking him to the ground as he bit down on the pauldron of Raezyr's armor.
Aitchkay rushed in and grabbed the snarling wolf-like beast. He lifted it over his head, then tossed it several meters into the fog. It landed with a yelp, then got to it's feet and disappeared into the mist.
Raezyr closed down his lightsabers. "Thanks, Huck."
"Comment: I just acted according to my programming" the droid replied in his digitized voice.
Walking over to Trychon, Raezyr and helped him to his feet. "Come on. I'll help you look for your data pad."
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