PROLOUGE
There are some tales among the Yuuzhan Vong that are better left untold. These are the forbidden tales. Tales of abomination that if they were to be spoken aloud, would bring chaos and revolt. These are the most dangerous of all tales for they are true.
Chief among these tales is the one of the Forbidden Lovers:
'Many years ago there were two Yuuzhan Vong Yarlak and Kintar. Yarlak was a daughter of the shaper caste and an apprentice of the great shaper, Marak. She was wise and powerful and the gods smiled upon her.
Kintar was a shamed one, of no account. When he beheld Yarlak, he fell in love with her and desired what he should not. Eventually, his desire created within him boldness and he sought a way to make Yarlak his own. Yarlak in turn, fell in love with Kintar as well.
The love of Yarlak and Kintar was met with bloody opposition as such a thing, love between a shaper and a shamed one, is an abomination to the gods. Many sought to kill them but did not prevail, for the bond of the two was too strong. All those who came against them perished at the hands of the lovers.
It was finally seen that nothing could be done about the love of Yarlak and Kintar but such an abomination could not be permitted. The choice was then given to Yarlak, for she was a shaper, to return and seek the gods favor, or to forsake them in life and death and be with Kintar. Yarlak chose Kintar and became shamed as he was. The two were then sent away from the Yuuzhan Vong and were never heard from again.'
PART ONE: ABOMINATION
Kyp Durron entered Hapes' atmosphere with a sense of adverse nostalgia. The last time he had visited the capital of the Hapan Cluster, he had been the leader and last surviving member of his notorious Dozen squadron, a renegade Jedi Knight who would do anything to bring the war with Yuuzhan Vong to an end, even if it meant toying with the darkside.
His misguided convictions led him to a galaxy of trouble when he met up with Jaina Solo and taken her on as an "apprentice". Before it was all over with, he and Jaina had kidnapped a prisoner of the Hapan government, taken him to a hidden facility where he was tortured within an inch of his life by a scientist of questionable morals, all in the name of advancing the New Republic in their effort against the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.
Kyp had sat back helplessly and watched Jaina Solo, the daughter of his closest friend, a man that he viewed almost as a father, take a perilous turn to the darkside. It had caused him to reevaluate his own life and the choices he had made and his motives in making them. His inspection led him to take action against Jaina and stop her on her course, even risking his own life. It had been a turning point in Kyp's life.
It all seemed like a lifetime ago. Kyp was now serving in league with Luke Skywalker, his former Master and one who Kyp had opposed during the early days of the war. He was a member of the newly established Jedi Council and a respected warrior in the New Republic, now the Alliance of Planets, campaign to end the Vong invasion and occupation of their galaxy. It was amazing how things changed, Kyp mused.
And now he was back to where it all began. It was like an epic saga where the central character returns where the story began and the truth of his journey was revealed. But if there was any "truth" to his journey, it was beyond Kyp's ability to comprehend it.
The late Queen Mother, Tenniel Djo had opened up Hapes to refugees of Coruscant after the Yuuzhan Vong invasion and acquisition the planet. It was a gesture that her daughter, the current Queen Mother Tenal Ka, had left standing. It had been expanded to include refugees from the other worlds of the former New Republic. All who wanted asylum was granted it within the realms of the Hapan Cluster and now many once uninhabited planets of the cluster swelled with people.
It was this reason that Kyp and his new Dozen had returned to Hapes. They had been ordered to escort a group of refugees to the cluster to be housed for the duration of the war. It was not the work of a respected warrior but it was not the only reason Kyp was here. Queen Mother Tenal Ka was also a Jedi Knight and Master Skywalker had suggested that Kyp volunteer his Dozen so that he could visit the Queen and apprise her on Jedi business that she had missed because of her State duties. Kyp had thought that it would be a good break for his pilots and a good way for the newer ones to test out their flying skills in relatively unhostile territory.
More importantly, Kyp thought that it would be good for him to return to Hapes. In fact, ever since the first mentioning of it to him, he had felt an odd longing to return. Perhaps it would be a time where he could meditate on the past and make firm resolves for the future.
"Greetings, Master Durron." Tenal Ka said with respectful bow. He had been getting a lot of those since being made a member of the Jedi Council and in his newfound humility, he felt rather uncomfortable with it. But Tenal Ka, aside from being the Queen Mother and a Jedi Knight, was someone who in the past had viewed him with suspicion. To have her offer him this sincere gesture was an honor and thus, he deemed himself privileged and said nothing.
"The honor is mine Your Majesty." He said, returning her bow. "Master Skywalker wanted me to update you on the last Jedi meeting that you missed."
Kyp quickly went through the details of the last Jedi conference with all of the precision and unaffectedness of a protocal droid, with exception to the remarks of Waxarn Kell. In speaking of the young Jedi, Kyp's voice took on a tone of sympathy but not to the degree of allegiance. It was more like a sorrowful understanding of someone who had been in the place of another and did not envy his road.
Tenal Ka listened attentively as Kyp detailed the meeting. Her eyes flashed with keen interest upon the mention of one subject in particular, Zenoma Sekot.
"Master Skywalker believes that he will find this Zenoma Sekot?" She asked.
"Well he hopes to, but I don't really think he expects to." Kyp answered.
"He believes in it enough to go such a long way looking for it."
"He and Jacen believe that it could be the turning point of the war."
"We must put our trust in Master Skywalker then." Was her only response but in her eyes he could read a thousand concerns.
"I am not the only Jedi here who was not present at the meeting." Tenal Ka said, breaking the somberness of the moment. Kyp looked at her quizzically.
"Who else is here?" He asked.
"Leila Solo."
Kyp looked a bit surprised. Kyp knew the youngest child of Han and Leia by reputation only. Though this could be said about all of the Solo kids up until the years of the war, for he had spent the major part of their lives been off on Jedi missions throughout the galaxy, it applied the most to Leila because he had only seen her once that he could recall and had never held a conversation with her.
"She is here? I thought that she was in hiding with the other Jedi children."
"She was, but the war has been long and she has come of age in hiding and wanted to do what she could in the war effort."
Kyp grimaced at that statement. Another child willingly offering themselves to the war and a Solo child at that. It did not seem fair. The Solo's had sacrificed so much for the galaxy, even a son, now they would have another to worry about.
"What has she decided to do?"
"She was assigned to work with the refugee effort. She has been successful. She has a way with the refugees and they seem to regard her as a symbol of hope.
What else would she be, Kyp thought. She was the daughter and niece of the heroes of the rebellion and the sister of the current and deceased heroes. The refugees would identify her with her heritage and regard her with hope. Kyp felt the old admiration mixed with envy that he had regarded Leia with on his last visit to Hapes for he knew that they, the Solos/Skywalkers were what he had not been and did what he had not and could not do. It reminded him of his own failings and weaknesses. But Kyp did not begrudge the Solo/Skywalkers anything, but held them in high esteem and instead used the knowledge that spawned his envy to humble himself and remind himself of the way in which he should go.
"She is staying in the palace then?"
"No." Tenal Ka half laughed at Kyp's comment. "You do not think that Han Solo would allow another of his daughters to stay under this roof do you?"
Kyp had to laugh a bit as well as he considered what had happened when Jaina stayed in the Fountain Palace on Hapes.
"True. But I don't think you would be trying to marry her off to anyone, least of all your father."
Tenal Ka regarded his words with a simple demure smile. She loved her father and knew of the emptiness in his heart that reached even before the death of her mother, and though she would never "marry him off", least of all to one of the Solo girls, she would not be opposed to him finding happiness with another woman.
"She resides with the refugees on Lothhirim. You will see her tonight though. There is to be a conference held here and she will attend to represent the interest of the refugees."
"Am I to assume that I am invited?" Kyp asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You may find something here you may wish to take back to Mon Calamari."
" Until tonight then." Kyp gave the Queen Mother a regal bow.
"Until tonight Master Durron."
Leila Solo walked up and down the narrow rows of desks in the small makeshift school that had been established in the refugee village, Asylum City on Lothhirim. She stopped periodically to evaluate the work of one of her young charges and offer suggestions where needed and praise where deserved, always with the utmost gentleness and a soft stroke of their heads.
This was her favorite part of the refugee work, the days when she volunteered to teach the children the elemental grammar of Basic and reading. She loved looking into their innocent faces as she taught them the basic structures that would form letters and words that made up paragraphs that would later develop into thoughts and ideas. She loved opening up new worlds to them that were different from the ugly galaxy they now lived in. She hoped that these children would grow to make the galaxy a better place and if her small contribution helped in any way, she was honored to do it.
But, if the children were to make the galaxy a better place, they had a long road ahead of them. Already they were met with ugliness that permeated the universe, the least of it being the war with the Vong.
The Hapan Cluster had opened its doors at the command of its Queen but open doors did not mean open hearts. There were many people of the Hapan Cluster who had made it clear that the refugees were not welcome in their sector and not more than a few of them had taken some small measure to hinder the progress of the refugees. Though none had gone to the point of outright defiance to the Queen Mother's commands. Leila could not understand how, in such desperate times beings could be so cruel and petty to each other. It was therefore Leila's endeavor to protect the refugees and their interest as best she could. She was after all a Jedi and that is what Jedi did, at least in her opinion.
Protecting the interests of the refugees was what she would be doing tonight at the capital of Hapes. She was to attend a conference and State dinner in which issues regarding the war, Hapes and the refugees would be discussed. She was sure that not more than a few of those attending tonight would be in favor of relocating the refugees to other systems. While Leila was not opposed to relocation at some point, the galaxy was still dangerous and Hapes was one of the best protected systems at the moment. Moreover, what these people, especially the children, needed now was stability and those who had been on Hapes since fleeing their worlds had stability in the refugee villages. To relocate them now stood to do great harm to the psyche of the refugees in Leila's opinion.
As she pondered these thoughts, MT3, the astromech droid that kept the chrono for the class, chirped his signal that the time was up and the lessons were over for today.
"Study your assignments and be ready for the next class. Have a good weekend."
MT3 chirped again and even without a translator, Leila knew what he was telling her. She was to catch a shuttle immediately to Hapes.
"I know MT, I know." She said with a sigh.
There are some tales among the Yuuzhan Vong that are better left untold. These are the forbidden tales. Tales of abomination that if they were to be spoken aloud, would bring chaos and revolt. These are the most dangerous of all tales for they are true.
Chief among these tales is the one of the Forbidden Lovers:
'Many years ago there were two Yuuzhan Vong Yarlak and Kintar. Yarlak was a daughter of the shaper caste and an apprentice of the great shaper, Marak. She was wise and powerful and the gods smiled upon her.
Kintar was a shamed one, of no account. When he beheld Yarlak, he fell in love with her and desired what he should not. Eventually, his desire created within him boldness and he sought a way to make Yarlak his own. Yarlak in turn, fell in love with Kintar as well.
The love of Yarlak and Kintar was met with bloody opposition as such a thing, love between a shaper and a shamed one, is an abomination to the gods. Many sought to kill them but did not prevail, for the bond of the two was too strong. All those who came against them perished at the hands of the lovers.
It was finally seen that nothing could be done about the love of Yarlak and Kintar but such an abomination could not be permitted. The choice was then given to Yarlak, for she was a shaper, to return and seek the gods favor, or to forsake them in life and death and be with Kintar. Yarlak chose Kintar and became shamed as he was. The two were then sent away from the Yuuzhan Vong and were never heard from again.'
PART ONE: ABOMINATION
Kyp Durron entered Hapes' atmosphere with a sense of adverse nostalgia. The last time he had visited the capital of the Hapan Cluster, he had been the leader and last surviving member of his notorious Dozen squadron, a renegade Jedi Knight who would do anything to bring the war with Yuuzhan Vong to an end, even if it meant toying with the darkside.
His misguided convictions led him to a galaxy of trouble when he met up with Jaina Solo and taken her on as an "apprentice". Before it was all over with, he and Jaina had kidnapped a prisoner of the Hapan government, taken him to a hidden facility where he was tortured within an inch of his life by a scientist of questionable morals, all in the name of advancing the New Republic in their effort against the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.
Kyp had sat back helplessly and watched Jaina Solo, the daughter of his closest friend, a man that he viewed almost as a father, take a perilous turn to the darkside. It had caused him to reevaluate his own life and the choices he had made and his motives in making them. His inspection led him to take action against Jaina and stop her on her course, even risking his own life. It had been a turning point in Kyp's life.
It all seemed like a lifetime ago. Kyp was now serving in league with Luke Skywalker, his former Master and one who Kyp had opposed during the early days of the war. He was a member of the newly established Jedi Council and a respected warrior in the New Republic, now the Alliance of Planets, campaign to end the Vong invasion and occupation of their galaxy. It was amazing how things changed, Kyp mused.
And now he was back to where it all began. It was like an epic saga where the central character returns where the story began and the truth of his journey was revealed. But if there was any "truth" to his journey, it was beyond Kyp's ability to comprehend it.
The late Queen Mother, Tenniel Djo had opened up Hapes to refugees of Coruscant after the Yuuzhan Vong invasion and acquisition the planet. It was a gesture that her daughter, the current Queen Mother Tenal Ka, had left standing. It had been expanded to include refugees from the other worlds of the former New Republic. All who wanted asylum was granted it within the realms of the Hapan Cluster and now many once uninhabited planets of the cluster swelled with people.
It was this reason that Kyp and his new Dozen had returned to Hapes. They had been ordered to escort a group of refugees to the cluster to be housed for the duration of the war. It was not the work of a respected warrior but it was not the only reason Kyp was here. Queen Mother Tenal Ka was also a Jedi Knight and Master Skywalker had suggested that Kyp volunteer his Dozen so that he could visit the Queen and apprise her on Jedi business that she had missed because of her State duties. Kyp had thought that it would be a good break for his pilots and a good way for the newer ones to test out their flying skills in relatively unhostile territory.
More importantly, Kyp thought that it would be good for him to return to Hapes. In fact, ever since the first mentioning of it to him, he had felt an odd longing to return. Perhaps it would be a time where he could meditate on the past and make firm resolves for the future.
"Greetings, Master Durron." Tenal Ka said with respectful bow. He had been getting a lot of those since being made a member of the Jedi Council and in his newfound humility, he felt rather uncomfortable with it. But Tenal Ka, aside from being the Queen Mother and a Jedi Knight, was someone who in the past had viewed him with suspicion. To have her offer him this sincere gesture was an honor and thus, he deemed himself privileged and said nothing.
"The honor is mine Your Majesty." He said, returning her bow. "Master Skywalker wanted me to update you on the last Jedi meeting that you missed."
Kyp quickly went through the details of the last Jedi conference with all of the precision and unaffectedness of a protocal droid, with exception to the remarks of Waxarn Kell. In speaking of the young Jedi, Kyp's voice took on a tone of sympathy but not to the degree of allegiance. It was more like a sorrowful understanding of someone who had been in the place of another and did not envy his road.
Tenal Ka listened attentively as Kyp detailed the meeting. Her eyes flashed with keen interest upon the mention of one subject in particular, Zenoma Sekot.
"Master Skywalker believes that he will find this Zenoma Sekot?" She asked.
"Well he hopes to, but I don't really think he expects to." Kyp answered.
"He believes in it enough to go such a long way looking for it."
"He and Jacen believe that it could be the turning point of the war."
"We must put our trust in Master Skywalker then." Was her only response but in her eyes he could read a thousand concerns.
"I am not the only Jedi here who was not present at the meeting." Tenal Ka said, breaking the somberness of the moment. Kyp looked at her quizzically.
"Who else is here?" He asked.
"Leila Solo."
Kyp looked a bit surprised. Kyp knew the youngest child of Han and Leia by reputation only. Though this could be said about all of the Solo kids up until the years of the war, for he had spent the major part of their lives been off on Jedi missions throughout the galaxy, it applied the most to Leila because he had only seen her once that he could recall and had never held a conversation with her.
"She is here? I thought that she was in hiding with the other Jedi children."
"She was, but the war has been long and she has come of age in hiding and wanted to do what she could in the war effort."
Kyp grimaced at that statement. Another child willingly offering themselves to the war and a Solo child at that. It did not seem fair. The Solo's had sacrificed so much for the galaxy, even a son, now they would have another to worry about.
"What has she decided to do?"
"She was assigned to work with the refugee effort. She has been successful. She has a way with the refugees and they seem to regard her as a symbol of hope.
What else would she be, Kyp thought. She was the daughter and niece of the heroes of the rebellion and the sister of the current and deceased heroes. The refugees would identify her with her heritage and regard her with hope. Kyp felt the old admiration mixed with envy that he had regarded Leia with on his last visit to Hapes for he knew that they, the Solos/Skywalkers were what he had not been and did what he had not and could not do. It reminded him of his own failings and weaknesses. But Kyp did not begrudge the Solo/Skywalkers anything, but held them in high esteem and instead used the knowledge that spawned his envy to humble himself and remind himself of the way in which he should go.
"She is staying in the palace then?"
"No." Tenal Ka half laughed at Kyp's comment. "You do not think that Han Solo would allow another of his daughters to stay under this roof do you?"
Kyp had to laugh a bit as well as he considered what had happened when Jaina stayed in the Fountain Palace on Hapes.
"True. But I don't think you would be trying to marry her off to anyone, least of all your father."
Tenal Ka regarded his words with a simple demure smile. She loved her father and knew of the emptiness in his heart that reached even before the death of her mother, and though she would never "marry him off", least of all to one of the Solo girls, she would not be opposed to him finding happiness with another woman.
"She resides with the refugees on Lothhirim. You will see her tonight though. There is to be a conference held here and she will attend to represent the interest of the refugees."
"Am I to assume that I am invited?" Kyp asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You may find something here you may wish to take back to Mon Calamari."
" Until tonight then." Kyp gave the Queen Mother a regal bow.
"Until tonight Master Durron."
Leila Solo walked up and down the narrow rows of desks in the small makeshift school that had been established in the refugee village, Asylum City on Lothhirim. She stopped periodically to evaluate the work of one of her young charges and offer suggestions where needed and praise where deserved, always with the utmost gentleness and a soft stroke of their heads.
This was her favorite part of the refugee work, the days when she volunteered to teach the children the elemental grammar of Basic and reading. She loved looking into their innocent faces as she taught them the basic structures that would form letters and words that made up paragraphs that would later develop into thoughts and ideas. She loved opening up new worlds to them that were different from the ugly galaxy they now lived in. She hoped that these children would grow to make the galaxy a better place and if her small contribution helped in any way, she was honored to do it.
But, if the children were to make the galaxy a better place, they had a long road ahead of them. Already they were met with ugliness that permeated the universe, the least of it being the war with the Vong.
The Hapan Cluster had opened its doors at the command of its Queen but open doors did not mean open hearts. There were many people of the Hapan Cluster who had made it clear that the refugees were not welcome in their sector and not more than a few of them had taken some small measure to hinder the progress of the refugees. Though none had gone to the point of outright defiance to the Queen Mother's commands. Leila could not understand how, in such desperate times beings could be so cruel and petty to each other. It was therefore Leila's endeavor to protect the refugees and their interest as best she could. She was after all a Jedi and that is what Jedi did, at least in her opinion.
Protecting the interests of the refugees was what she would be doing tonight at the capital of Hapes. She was to attend a conference and State dinner in which issues regarding the war, Hapes and the refugees would be discussed. She was sure that not more than a few of those attending tonight would be in favor of relocating the refugees to other systems. While Leila was not opposed to relocation at some point, the galaxy was still dangerous and Hapes was one of the best protected systems at the moment. Moreover, what these people, especially the children, needed now was stability and those who had been on Hapes since fleeing their worlds had stability in the refugee villages. To relocate them now stood to do great harm to the psyche of the refugees in Leila's opinion.
As she pondered these thoughts, MT3, the astromech droid that kept the chrono for the class, chirped his signal that the time was up and the lessons were over for today.
"Study your assignments and be ready for the next class. Have a good weekend."
MT3 chirped again and even without a translator, Leila knew what he was telling her. She was to catch a shuttle immediately to Hapes.
"I know MT, I know." She said with a sigh.