The transition from the gaseous, pastel serenity of Bespin to the suffocating, prehistoric green of the Forest Moon of Endor was a localized environmental insult that Revan Shan met with a heavy-duty insect repellent, a new pair of waterproof hiking boots, and a very particular brand of 12th-Doctor-esque skepticism. As 94 BBY flickered out like a spent glow-rod and 93 BBY took its place, the Black Pearl breached the moon's atmospheric shield under a full Automatic Stealth Generator shroud.
Revan sat in his Sovereign's Command Chair, which was currently reclined at a forty-two-degree "Primal Observation" angle. Calculus was perched on the console, his tail twitching at the sight of giant dragon-wasps bouncing off the ship's Sovereign-class deflector shields. Theorem, the silver-and-black kitten, was industriously trying to "audit" the Wookiee fur on Chewbacca's shin, using her claws to test the structural integrity of the co-pilot's grooming.
"You see, Chewie," Revan murmured, his voice carrying the dry, slightly manic rasp of the 11th Doctor as he sipped a latte infused with Bespin cloud-honey. "According to my 11th Doctorate in Xenobiology, Endor is a biological impossibility. It's a moon that decided to become a greenhouse without a permit. The oxygen levels are 4% higher than the galactic standard, which is why everything here is either suspiciously fluffy or statistically likely to eat your face. It's a masterpiece of unbridled growth and deeply untidy ecosystems."
Chewbacca let out a resonant, inquisitive growl, gesturing to the Kyber-Quantum sensor array.
"Correct, Co-Captain," Revan grinned, his lopsided smile flashing. "Adventure is the journey, but today the journey involves a 'Simple Mission' from the Council. They lost an archaeological team—Knight K'Kruhk's former apprentice and a group of civilian scholars. They were looking for 'Ancient Origins.' According to my audit, they probably tripped over something they weren't smart enough to understand."
The Jungle Descent: Finding the Lost Team
The Black Pearl ghosted through the canopy of the Giant Forest, its sublight engines throttled down to a whisper. Using the Kyber-quantum scanning array, Revan filtered for high-frequency Republic distress pings. He found one, but it was stuttering—rhythmically interrupted by a localized magnetic field that shouldn't exist on a "primitive" moon.
"Cortana, lock coordinates on that Logic-Stutter," Revan commanded.
"Coordinates locked, Revan," the AI replied, her avatar appearing on the dash in a tiny, holographic explorer's hat. "The signal is emanating from beneath the Great Tree of the Yawari Sector. My sensors indicate a localized gravitational variance. It's not geological; it's architectural."
Revan tumbled out of his chair with the spindly energy of a man half his age. "Right then! HK, D6, Eleven—prepare for a trek. Theorem, you stay here and keep the Wookiee company. Calculus, you're with me. I need a pair of eyes that aren't distracted by shiny berries."
The landing party descended via the ramp into a world of towering redwoods and bioluminescent moss. Revan wore his black robes with the Beskar/Cortosis/Phrik alloy weave, his Westar 35s humming on stun-maximum.
"Statement: Master, my sensors indicate a 98% probability that we are being watched by small, bipedal meatbags with spears," HK-47 whirred, his electrostaff sparking with a low-intensity hum. "Observation: I find their camouflage to be primitive yet statistically annoying."
"Leave the Ewoks alone, HK. They're just part of the ecological audit," Revan quipped, clicking his Sonic Screwdriver.
The Great Tree: The Rakatan Shadow
They reached the base of the Great Tree—a massive arboreal titan that looked like it had been growing since the birth of the Force. At its roots, Revan found the remains of the archaeological camp. Tents were shredded, and data-pads were scattered, but there were no bodies.
Revan knelt by a patch of exposed root. He didn't look for tracks; he used the Feeling. He closed his eyes and entered a state of Force Psychometry. The images flashed: a stone slab sliding open, terrified scholars, and the cold, rhythmic hum of ancient machinery.
"They didn't get eaten," Revan whispered, the 12th Doctor's gravity settling over him. "They found a door. And the door didn't want to let them back out."
He pressed the Sonic Screwdriver against a seemingly natural rock formation at the base of the tree.
Whirrr-vwoop-trill.
> The Bio-Machina Resonance Equation (\Omega_{bm}):
> By his internal audit, Revan synchronized the Sonic's vibration with the ancient Rakatan bio-circuitry buried in the tree's DNA. He wasn't just opening a door; he was 'persuading' the living machine that he was an authorized Auditor of the Infinite Empire.
>
With a groan of stone and wood, a hidden hatch slid aside. A staircase of polished, obsidian-like material descended into the dark.
Station Alpha-Flora: The Bio-Core Audit
Deep beneath the Forest Moon lay a Rakatan Research Station. According to Revan's 10th Doctorate in Galactic History, the Rakata had used Endor as a "Bio-Nursery" to test Force-Matter manifestations on local flora.
The air inside was cool and recycled, smelling of ancient ozone. Revan found the archaeological team—three humans and a young Jedi Knight—trapped within a localized Force Stasis Field in the primary observation deck. They were frozen like statues, their faces etched with confusion.
"Right then," Revan muttered, stepping into the room. "According to my 9th Doctorate in Advanced Mathematics & Logic Programming, this field is running on a 20,000-year-old security loop. It's a rhythmic error, really."
He flicked the Sonic Screwdriver to a pulse-setting.
Trill-trill-pop!
The field collapsed. The scholars stumbled forward, gasping as the flow of time returned to their lungs. The young Knight, a Twi'lek named Valin, ignited his blue saber instantly.
"Who are you? Sith?" Valin shouted.
Revan let out a high-pitched, 11th Doctor giggle. "Sith? Do I look like I have the patience for all that brooding and black eyeliner? I'm Revan Shan. I'm here to conduct an audit of your life-insurance policy and give you a lift home. Now, try to be nice and put the glow-stick away before you poke an eye out."
Scavenging the Infinite: The Sovereign's Loot
While the archaeological team gathered their data-pads, Revan conducted a thorough sweep of the station. He wasn't just a rescuer; he was a scavenger of the highest caliber.
"Eleven, D6, get the mag-sleds," Revan commanded. "According to my audit, there are variables here that the Republic shouldn't be allowed to lose again."
Endor Rakatan Audit Tally:
* Rakatan Genetic Sequencers: 2x Intact units (Capable of Force-Matter manipulation of biological tissue).
* Bio-Kyber Energy Cells: 5x Units (High-output Rakatan power cells grown from organic crystal).
* Starchart Fragment: 1x Memory Crystal (Pointing toward a 'Forge of the First Star' node in the Deep Core).
* Industrial Fabricators (Bio-Mod): 10x Small units (For the Prodigal Knight's greenhouses).
* Force-Resonant Sap Samples: 50 Liters (For long-term alchemy and ship-component coating).
"Brilliant," Revan grinned, popping a lemon candy. "This station was designed to grow worlds. I think I can use these sequencers to upgrade the Black Pearl's medical suite and maybe—just maybe—make the lattes taste 15% more adventurous."
The Return: End of 93 BBY
Revan escorted the team back to the Black Pearl. He didn't ask for a report. He didn't ask for a reward. He simply dropped them off at the nearest Republic Outpost on Sullust with a crate of "Kindness Rations" and a note for the Council:
'Found your scholars. They were playing with ancient Rakatan bio-locks. I've neutralized the station—statistically speaking, it won't be a problem anymore. Try to be nice to your archaeologists; they're very fragile. - The Auditor.'
As the Black Pearl jumped back into the stars, Revan slumped into his Sovereign's Command Chair. Calculus reclaimed his lap, and Theorem curled up on his left shoulder, both cats purring in a rhythmic synchronization that matched the ship's hyperdrive.
"Status, Cortana," Revan whispered.
"Endor is audited. The Rakatan loot is secured in the hold. The 4.3 Billion credits are stable," Cortana reported. "We are 60% through the Twenty-Year Itinerary. Next stop for 92 BBY: Takodana. Maz is waiting for her gift."
"Brilliant," Revan yawned, the chair reclining to the Calculated Nap Angle of 134.5 degrees. "Adventure is the journey, D6. And 93 BBY was a masterpiece of tree-climbing, rescuing 'meatbags,' and stealing the secrets of the Infinite Empire."
He closed his eyes. The Maverick was at rest. The galaxy continued its slow, binary drift toward the future, but in the heart of a black freighter, the books were balanced, the cats were warm, and the Auditor was dreaming of an ancient castle on a lake.
"Try to be nice, 92 BBY," Revan murmured. "I'll see you at Maz's bar."