The creature swiped at him again, and, anticipating the move, Anakin ducked and rolled, trying to strike up into the beast’s chest, where he assumed a blow would kill it. To his surprise, the stinger landed on his arm. He had not expected that range of motion. Instantly, his arm was on fire, though the stinger had barely licked him. Anakin flipped his lightsaber to his other hand, cursing his luck.
The tuk’ata struck, no doubt following up on his advantage. While its prey was immobilized by the poison, the beast would finish him off. But Anakin was able to flip backward and strike, this time burying his lightsaber in the middle of the creature’s head. He heard the sizzle and smelled the smoke. The yellow eyes rolled, and the creature fell dead.
Ry-Gaul and Tru had been outflanked by two tuk’ata. Obi-Wan had his hands full with one massive beast, bigger and fiercer than the rest. Anakin leaped on the back of the tuk’ata bearing down on his Master, hoping to distract it. The beast reared up, both stingers waving, while Anakin did a quick and elusive dance to avoid their sting.
Obi-Wan advanced, striking the tuk’ata with a series of hard blows. The creature staggered. Anakin was able to slash at the creature’s neck before he was thrown off. The tuk’ata screamed, rearing, and Anakin and Obi
Wan leaped out of its way. It toppled and thrashed and then was still.
They were already moving, turning to charge one of the tuk’ata who was after Tru. With a roar, it turned on them instead, circling and striking, trying to get claws and teeth embedded into Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan used his liquid cable launcher and anchored it on the creature’s horn. Using the cable, he swung up and out, his lightsaber a blur of motion as he attacked again and again. The creature howled, trying to claw Obi-Wan away. Anakin was able to deliver the death blow in the chest.
Obi-Wan swung off the creature and landed, his boots thudding on the dirt. The cries of the tuk’ata mingled with the buzz of lightsabers as the Jedi met their attacks with moves and counter-moves. The tide of the battle was turning. Five tuk’ata lay dead, and two were mortally wounded. Anakin and Obi-Wan were able to team up with Ry-Gaul and Tru first alternately feinting to confuse the creature, and then slicing it into several pieces. Soara and Darra, working together in their usual flawless teamwork, had somehow kept two tuk’ata at bay. Wounded, the two counterattacked, but Darra and Soara were too fast, too agile, and too strong.
At last all the tuk’ata lay dead or dying, their cries echoing off the stones of the mountain.
“So much for legends,” Anakin said, sheathing his lightsaber.
Now they were able to simply walk through the narrow passage and enter the valley. But the dark side slammed into them, a body blow. For a moment, they paused to fight the feeling, pulling in the Force to cushion it.
The mausoleums marched down the valley. Hewed from slabs of the mountain, polished by slaves, and then battered by the elements over hundreds of years, they were still enormous, high and wide, with columns and turrets. Mammoth statues, similar to those in the landing hangar, posed like guards outside the tombs. On the cliff summits, ancient statues of horrible creatures perched, appearing ready to strike. It was a valley designed to strike fear into every heart.
“We’ll have to search every tomb,” Soara said. “Oh, good,” Darra breathed under her breath. Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin. “You’re hurt,” he said, concerned.
“It’s nothing.”
“This is only the beginning of the battle, Anakin,” Obi-Wan warned sternly. “Let me treat it.”
Anakin bared his arm. Quickly, Obi-Wan administered bacta. The burning sensation lessened somewhat. Anakin felt the coolness of the medicine on his skin. Gratefully, he shrugged his arm back into his tunic. He thanked his Master with his gaze.
He heard something - whispering voices, just as he’d heard upon his arrival. He could see that the others heard them, too. Low, guttural, insistent. Yet what were they saying? It was impossible to tell. Something evil. Something he did not wish to hear.
“They are waking,” Ry-Gaul said.
“They know we’re here,” Siri agreed.
The dead Sith Lords, slumbering inside the huge stone mausoleums, had felt the Jedi presence. The dark energy poured out of the tombs. Anakin could taste it all, anger and cruelty and pain.
“Let’s try the first tomb,” Obi-Wan said.
He’s not there! Anakin wanted to cry. But he didn’t know how he knew it. He couldn’t trust it. It could be the Sith, trying to confuse him.
Frustration coiled inside him. He hated this feeling. He wanted to be able to trust what he knew. And he wanted to know everything. That would be true power.