NightEyes had been informed that Mako had organised the hunting trip which he had requested to go on. It was going to be great going hunting again, just like old times on his homeworld Aida. Most of the inhabitants of Aida had been hunters and as he had grown up he had learned to hunt from the best. He hoped that he would be able to get to know Mako as Mako would be able to help him adjust to his new life in the Stormtrooper Corps.

Travelling from the barracks out to the edge of the forest NightEyes couldn’t help but wonder at the difference of this forest from the forests of Aida. Aida’s forests were filled with small trees due to the fire that had happened seventeen years back. The fire had been started by the Rebel Alliance for an unknown reason and NightEye’s parents had perished in the fire while trying to save him. He had been saved from his burning house by a Stormtrooper from the local garrison and had grown up with great respect for the Empire’s armed forces and a great hatred for the Rebel Alliance. It had been his dream to join the Stormtrooper Corps and now he was finally fulfilling that dream.

NightEyes wondered what type of game there was here on Tadath. Back on Aida they had many types of deer with few other large creatures. He had always wondered what sort of thrill there was when hunting the more dangerous types of creatures and hoped they would find some on this trip.

NightEyes reached the edge of the forest and ran up to Mako eager to begin their hunting trip. It had been a while since he had been hunting and NightEyes hoped that he still had all of his old skills.

Mako seemed to be a nice person from what NightEyes had seen so far. He was allowing NightEyes to use his DC-17 Interchangeable Combat System, it seemed to be really important to him and NightEyes was being very careful with it. It felt good to be back out hunting again, all of his hunting instincts still seemed to be in good order. Hunting on Tadath looked to be a challenge and NightEyes hoped that the skills he had learnt on Aida would still be useful here.

NightEyes spotted what seemed to be a game trail and directed Mako towards it. As they sped along NightEyes looked down at the trail and tried to discern from it what sort of animal it could be. He hoped it would be some sort of predatory animal as it would be a way to test himself.

It looked like it might take a while to get to the end of the trail NightEyes decided to familiarise himself with the weapon Mako had lent him. It was a very nice weapon which was able to be used in almost any situation because of the different attachments designed for it. He had learnt the history of the gun a while back, the knowledge that it had been used by the Republic Commandos, who were the best of the best out of the clone troopers was awe inspiring. NightEyes was thinking about getting one when he had enough credits. NightEyes had been to the store a few times but he was still rather poor and they had all seemed rather expensive.

“This place looks good Mako, let’s stop here.”

“Okay.”

“Before we start the hunt I've just got a question, what sort of weapon do you recommend I get when I need one?”

“I’ve never seen real bear tracks but these look similar to the pictures I have seen.”

“Let’s keep alert, the bear, or whatever it is could be anywhere.”

NightEyes and Mako moved silently through the forest, making sure to keep a lookout for any surprises in the surrounding forest. Many a hunter of dangerous animals had fallen victim to a surprise charge from their prey and NightEyes did not want that to happen to him.

NightEyes heard some sounds out the forest and directed Mako towards them. They crept ever silent towards the sound. The creature sounded big, very big. The sound grew louder as they neared it; they saw a clearing ahead with something large inside it.

NightEyes and Mako split up each circling to opposite sides of the clearing, speaking through his comlink NightEyes counted to three, it was now or never, and they both ran into the clearing.

Inside was a huge bear-like creature with enormous claws on its hands and feet. The claws looked like they could tear straight through their armour like a knife through butter. NightEyes decided to try not to test that theory and pulled out Mako’s DC-17 Interchangeable Combat System.

Simultaneously Mako pulled out his slugthrower sniper rifle and they both prepared to fire. The bear lumbered towards NightEyes who, having equipped the sniper attachment to the gun, aimed at its head and fired. While a shot like that would cripple most animals the bear just kept lumbering forward, the shot glancing off its fur-like hide. Noticing the bear closing in on him NightEyes ran backwards, tripping over a fallen log and landing flat on his back with the bear still moving inexorably towards him. “This is it, it’s all over for me” NightEyes thought.

Noticing NightEyes’ plight Mako fired a shot at the bear’s foot, hoping to attract its attention so that NightEyes could get up. The bear slowly turned around just before it came into reach of NightEyes. NightEyes quickly scrambled to his feet and picked up Mako’s gun, which he had dropped as he fell.

“Thanks mate” said NightEyes.

“Anytime”

The bear seemed invulnerable, NightEyes suggested to Mako that they should retreat and devise a strategy to defeat it. They ran out of the clearing and crouched down behind the cover of some trees to make their plan.

“The only weak points this bear might have are its joints” NightEyes suggested.

“It’s worth a try; remember we can still retreat if needed. No point in getting killed on a simple hunting trip.”

From behind them there came more crashing and lumbering out of the trees came a second bear. This one was smaller than the first, leading NightEyes to think it might be the first’s cub. The first bear came charging out of the clearing upon hearing its cub. Soon NightEyes and Mako were surrounded with the bears coming at them from opposite directions.

“You take the cub, I’ll take the mother” Mako said.

“Affirmative, let’s see if these bears really do have a weakness.”

“I was right, the joints are a weakness” NightEyes thought to himself. NightEyes had never come up against an animal that was almost invulnerable. Never had NightEyes been threatened during a hunt, although he had once been charged at by some deer. He had startled the deer while he was following them and they had run all over the place.  What had started as a fun and enjoyable hunt had turned into a life or death situation. Climbing up the trees had been a great idea and it seemed like the situation was under control for the moment.

NightEyes started lining up for another shot against the cub, aiming at its other kneecap. The cub was already having difficulty getting up, with both kneecaps shot through the cub would be unable to get up at all and they could finish it off, after they had disabled the mother of course.

NightEyes hoped his aim would be true, he fired; the cub screamed in pain and writhed even more on the ground. The cub tried to stand but it was unable to, the shots had done their work well.

“The cub is disabled.”

“Nice work, it’s time for me to deal with the mother” Mako said.

“Coming”

NightEyes scrambled down the tree and headed towards the cub. The cub was obviously in pain, its eyes closed. Detouring to take the vibroblade from Mako NightEyes stepped up to the cub. Following Mako’s example NightEyes worked the blade into the cub’s neck, its eyes opened wide for a second and then slowly sank shut once more, the great beast had fallen.

The War Droid came striding into the clearing a few moments later. Grunting with the effort, for the bears were very heavy, NightEyes and Mako managed to lift the lifeless bodies of the bears into the droid.

NightEyes stood motionless in the clearing gazing at the bear’s bodies. Moments ago they had been frightening predators, now they were simply carcasses. Climbing into the droid as Mako had just done NightEyes wondered how long it would be before all these bears ceased to exist, before they too were extinct, like many animals before them. NightEyes decided to stop that train of thought, it was over and they had survived, that was something to be happy about.

“Let’s stop towards the edge of the forest, I’d like to have a meal before we get back to the base“ NightEyes said.

“Okay”

The meal consisted of some travel rations, not very good food but they were both ravenous. The ordeal had taken a lot of energy and they needed to replenish it. NightEyes hoped he’d get used to travel rations, then he could look forward to each meal, but that time seemed to be a long way off.

“So what are we going to do with the bears now Mako?”