Kul’tak glared at the last vestiges of creaking metal sinking beneath the frothing ocean. Damaged in the battle above, his vessel had nose dived to the surface below, where it was unceremoniously swallowed by the waiting maw of the deep waters. He had managed only to grab three items in his haste to escape drowning himself, and now he wondered exactly how well they would do him. He scanned the beach of this apparent island he was now stranded on. Well, to say it was an “island” was a bit of an overstatement. Standing at one beach, the Zabrak could clearly make out the edge of the opposite beach not all that far away. A short sprint through the sweltering glaze of the planet’s sun would put him at the other side, though there wouldn’t be much for him to do when he arrived. His fate was now dubious as both sides’ fighters zipped about erratically in their macabre dance. If one of the enemy so much as spotted him, he’d be a perfect target for a quick strafing run.

The shadow sighed wistfully and plopped onto the warm sand. He rummaged in his cloak to set the three items he’d nabbed earlier on the sand in front of him. His trusty lightsaber had been the closest thing nearby, and a lifesaver for one who was trained how to use it. Now it represented nothing. It was just here. The next item was his zhaboka, the time-honored weapon of his people. Its blades were short, but its reach made poking the weak points in battle armor much easier. The last item, one he usually kept hooked to the firm middle of his back above his waist, was his thermal imploder. A devastating weapon in close quarters, it was able to clear a room when needed. Not that he needed a room cleared on this miserable pile of sand.

Here he sat, with plenty of ability to kill anyone he encountered but with no one to encounter. Annoyed, Kul triggered the activation mechanism on the imploder and tossed it into the sea. He waited the appropriate time before smiling as bubbles rose to the surface. He was surprised, however, when a handful of some species of fish floated to the top as well.

*Well, at least I won’t starve just yet.*