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Krillgan decided to go to Livien next. Ludia thought that he might still be afraid to go to Lianna and tell the Togruta about Bacgruta. Krillgan insisted that it was because it was a low population world with a lot of wilderness. He was hoping that Uncle would let him take Smasher and Rudy hunting.
Lydna started walking more, and she liked using Rudy as her support, only she kept trying to grab the tip of his tail. Ludia told Krillgan that they have to teach her not to, or she might grab it when they are not around. Rudy doesn't have enough venom in his tail to incapacitate an adult yet, but it could really hurt a baby, especially if she squeezed it like she seems to want to. So Ludia had Lydna on her lap, and had Rudy come near her. She took his tail below the tip and gently but quickly tapped Lydna's left palm, with the tip. Lydna started crying at first, because she took Rudy's tail away before she could grab it herself. Then she started crying, because her hand went numb, and she could feel the numbness start to creep up her arm. Krillgan stood there monitoring the numbness in case he had to intervene. Ludia told her that what she was feeling, was the reason why no one should touch Rudy's tail. Rudy likes her, and does not want to hurt her, but he can, if she touches his tail. The Apothecary was fascinated by this. He knew that he wasn't supposed to touch the Vornskr's tail, but now he knew why. He asked Ludia, if they have an antidote for the Vornskr's poison? She told him that they did not, which is why they had to do something, to keep Lydna from trying to touch it. Lydna turned and hugged mommy with her good arm. Ludia hugged her back, and told her that soon she would have her arm back again. After that Lydna no longer tried reaching for Rudy's tail. She still used Rudy to help her get around, and was thrilled to find Smasher's and Rudy's den area. When she found Smasher's ball, she tried claiming it as her own. Krillgan had to take it away from her to give back to Smasher. But first he made it squeak, which sparked her interest. She could not make it squeak, but when her father had her give it back to Smasher. He showed her that he can make it squeak as well.
As they approached Livien the spaceport traffic controller tried to discourage them from landing. Krillgan told him that the reason he was landing was personal, but was okay if it translated into a business opportunity. The controller asked him, who in the Ministry he knows, that he should be allowed to land? Krillgan told him that he did not know anyone in the Ministry. He was going to the general store. The controller asked him, what it was about? Krillgan just replied it was personal. They contacted Uncle at the general store. They also displayed all the information they had on the Fenelar Phoenix. From their information it was not a pirate or a bounty hunter, so Uncle told them to let it land. Uncle was not sure what to make of the young couple with their infant coming into his store. If he wasn't curious before, he certainly was now. Krillgan introduced himself, his wife, and their young daughter. None of this meant anything to Uncle. Krillgan told him that he knew his parents. Uncle did not know anyone with the last name of Djo. So he asked Krillgan what their names are. Krillgan sensed that others were listening. He did not know that it was being done electronically. So he leaned over the counter and whispered Andriel and Chitrah.
When Uncle heard those names. His eyes went really wide. He ordered Santhe Security to stop listening. He then looked really hard at Krillgan, he certainly looked like he could be the real deal. Uncle asked him to convince him that he was not here trying to scam him. Krillgan told him that his mother told him that May-Lee's graduation dress was something his wife would want to see. The one with the shawl that he brought in for her. Uncle came around the counter and gave Krillgan a hug. He told him that he convinced him. He asked him how his parents are doing. He told him that they were doing well. He asked about the sewing machine. He said that the last he knew about the sewing machine, was it was being used in a dress shop on Lianna that his mother opened with a friend. That is where he would be heading after he leaves Livien. Uncle knew about the dress shop, which gave him even more reason to believe that this really was the son of Andriel and Chitrah.
He left his store and took them to the dress shop. He called out to May-Lee, asking her, if some guys could have permission to enter her workshop? May-Lee came out front to see who Uncle had brought with him. When she saw Krillgan, she first put her hand over her mouth, than she hugged him. She had tears in her eyes when she asked if his parents are all right. Uncle asked her, who his parents are? May-Lee said Andriel and Chitrah of course. She ushered them into her workshop. Ludia noticed the dress in the display cabinet and walked over to it. She told Krillgan that it was more beautiful than what she imagined. May-Lee looked critically at what Ludia was wearing. She asked Uncle if he could tell that this was one of Andriel's designs. Uncle told his niece that he was still a man, so he noticed the beautiful woman rather than what she was wearing. This made Ludia blush, and she thanked him for the compliment. May-Lee warned him that he should not let his wife hear him talk like that. Uncle told her that she would not be jealous, she too would understand. Uncle mentioned that he wanted to invite them, and their crew, to dinner in the hunting lodge. Krillgan said that it might not be possible. He told them that they have a passenger. Then he asked May-Lee if she ended up marrying the Apothecary in training? She told them she did, and she wore that dress as her wedding dress. Not only that, but she blames the regular dances that his parents coerced them into having, as being the reason she is now a grandmother. Then she asked them why he wanted to know about her husband. Krillgan told them that they rescued an Apothecary on Lorrad that was being starved to death, and now he has trouble eating. He was hoping that her father and husband could help them with the situation. This was outside his knowledge as a healer. May-Lee told him that her father has passed away. But she was sure that her husband was willing to help. Uncle told them that he could come to dinner as well, they would make special accommodations for him.
Krillgan told Uncle that there was also his special internal ship's security team. He was hoping that he could make special accommodations for them as well. Uncle asked him, why they would need special accommodations? Krillgan told him that his head of security is a Rancor, and his assistant is a young Vornskr pup. Uncle and May-Lee just looked at each other. Uncle realised that they must have some interesting stories. May-Lee was thinking about how dangerous this must be for their baby. Uncle told him that it will take longer to arrange something for his security team, but the rest of their crew were welcome to come. Krillgan told him who the rest of his crew are. Then Uncle returned to his store so that he could contact the hunting lodge to make arrangements.
May-Lee took them to go see her husband. Her husband liked that the patient was also an Apothecary. So he invited him to come and stay with them, for the duration that they would be on Livien. When Uncle returned, Krillgan asked him what they should wear. May-Lee asked them if they brought the outfits they wore at their wedding. They told her that they did, but Ludia said that she doubted that she could fit into hers, since having the baby. Maylee suggested that at least Krillgan should wear his. Ludia should bring one of the dresses her mother-in-law made for her, to the dress shop, and she will make sure it fits.
Ludia and Lydna returned to the ship. They came back with the Apothecary, Rasha and Elibet. All the women had dresses with them, which would need to be altered. May-Lee thought that she still had an outfit that she made for her daughter, when she was Lydna's size, that would be perfect for her, for tonight's dinner. The three women had a nice time socialising with May-Lee. Uncle was not expecting any customers, so he hung out with the two Apothecaries and Krillgan. That's when he found out that Krillgan's training as a healer, was similar to that of an apothecary, but was not sure how it differed. Grimm was busy with minor repairs, while Kran made sure that everyone's footwear for the evening, would be polished up to Father Chitrah's standards. Rudy was pouting because he was not allowed to go with Rasha and Lydna. Smasher tried cheering him up by reminding him that Ludia said that she thought they might be going hunting in a day or two.
When they arrived at the hunting lodge, only Krillgan and Ludia sensed that there was more to the lodge then it appeared. Uncle introduced his wife as Krinta Santhe. Krillgan's eyes went wide, then he made a deep bow, saying he was honoured to meet Princess Krinta. Krinta laughed, and told him that he does not need to be so formal here. When Krillgan stood back up. Krinta told him, that she was no longer a princess. When her son was born, her aunt made her the Queen. When Ludia was introduced to her. She curtsied then told her that she was the second Queen she has met in her life. Queen Krinta asked her who the other queen is. Ludia replied Mother Andriel. Everyone on her planet knows that she is a Queen, but no one would dare call her Queen, in case they hurt her feelings. They all love her too much to do that. Queen Krinta liked hearing that. She knew that Andriel was special, but to hear that people consider her a Queen made her feel good. Krinta told Ludia that she has just shown her the high standard for being a Queen. She hopes that in her eyes at least, she can live up to it. Ludia turned red and apologised to her, she did not mean to offend her. Krinta told her that she was not offended in the least. To be compared with Andriel, is a very high honour. She is very proud indeed that she has suggested it. Ludia did not know what to say so she curtsied again. The rest of the crew followed their Co-Captains lead. They bowed and curtsied when they were introduced. May-Lee was holding Lydna, and had the honour of introducing her to Queen Krinta. Lydna liked the nice lady, so she reached out to her, showing that she now wanted her to hold her. Krinta did not hesitate to take her into her arms. She then introduced her son and daughter, and May-Lee's son to her dinner guests. Krillgan guessed that they were around Erin and Shmi's age. There were a lot of stories being told at dinner and after dinner that night. So much so that they were invited back for the following night and the next night as well. As they were leaving Krillgan quietly asked Uncle how many people they had employed beneath them. He counted at least thirty before he had to stop, and knew that there was more than two levels. Uncle stared at him. He asked him what he was besides a healer. He knew that he wasn't a Sith, and he did not carry himself like a Jedi. Krillgan told him that the Sith called him a Revanite, even though he did not know what that meant. His name means that he is both a "Healer", and a "Righter of Wrongs". That is the best answer that he can give him. That was enough for Uncle. He asked him to come by the store in the morning. He will let him know then, when he can take his security team hunting. After they left, Uncle shared with Krinta, what he had discovered so far about Krillgan's abilities. If the Sith had known, they would have tried even harder to get him. He told her that Krillgan is a good man to have as an ally. With his own ship, it is advantageous that he is mobile. Queen Krinta agreed. She wants him to meet her aunt when he goes to Lianna.
For the next few days, the ladies from the ship would take Lydna and go socializing with May-Lee. Queen Krinta would show up with her daughter. Through the course of the first day they found out that Ludia was also a force user. She learnt that though Rasha was not a force user herself. She was sensitive enough to the force that with either Ludia's or Krillgan's help she can do most things that a force user can. The Queen tried to find out why Ludia and Krillgan did not have twins, since they were both force users, but Ludia managed to skirt the issue. None of the other women knew that strong force users normally have twins. So the Queen did not pursue the issue.
When Krillgan took Smasher and Rudy hunting, he noticed the units of Santhe Security following them, Smasher and Rudy noticed as well. At first they were concerned that they might spook the game they were after. But the creatures did not seem to notice them. Rudy has fine for the first part of the hunt. But he was still young, and Vornskrs normally hunt at night. So he tired quickly. He ended up spending most of the hunt riding on Smashers back. Whenever they came across a smaller game animal, Smasher would wake Rudy up, to let him know they found one his size. Rudy would leap off of Smasher's back, and go pursue the game. Most of the time he was successful. Whenever Smasher or Rudy killed a game animal, they would let Krillgan gut it. So that the animal's hide was as intact as possible. Krillgan thought that Uncle would appreciate having the hides, as a gesture of appreciation for letting them go hunting. Smasher and Rudy only ate the animal's innards while they hunted, so that the meat could be stored in the big freezer when they returned to the ship.
That evening, Krillgan told Uncle, to tell the units that were following them, not to be so close. He thought that he should remind them that humans are still on their menu. The only reason the Rancor and Vornskr did not go after them today, was because his security team know what human flesh tastes like. But they had not had any of the game animals yet, so it was easy to persuade them to ignore them. Uncle wanted to laugh because both units prided themselves in their stealth capability. Then he realised that Krillgan just admitted that he could communicate with the two animals.
May-Lee's husband found something to help the Apothecary's digestive system start functioning properly again. It was a semi-solid, spoiled milk product that was made on one of the farms. It was a product that could be stored in the cooler in Rasha's cabin. Not only that, the Apothecary was taught how to make it. So that as long as he had a milk source, he could continue to make it for himself. The Queen had heard about the Clan Brew and Singing Mountain winery. So when Krillgan brought the bottles that had been kept chilled in the cooler, in his cabin, to share at dinner, the Queen was delighted. When Krillgan admitted to having access to its source. The Queen asked if he could deliver some to the palace on Lianna. Krillgan asked her how much she was interested in purchasing. When the Queen told him how much she would like. Krillgan told her that the supplier does not deal in such large quantities. He told her how much he could promise to deliver, and not more than one delivery per year. The Queen was disappointed, but said she would authorise its purchase. She also told him that this would be something else that would make the Barseg Royal Court jealous of Lianna's Royal Court. Since she doubted that they had access to a supplier.
Everyone was disappointed all around, when Krillgan informed them that it was time to leave. It was only the Apothecary that was looking forward to moving on, so that he could reunite with his family. Queen Krinta told Krillgan her personal code for having access to landing at Santhe Corporation. She also told him what sub code to use, so that they knew that she is not aboard his ship. Otherwise they could start panicking, and she did not think he would like to leave his ship, with a band playing military music.
When Krillgan did talk to the traffic controlled on Lianna's spaceport, he had to remind the controller that they were talking over unsecured communications, because he had come right out and asked if the Queen was aboard, after Krillgan gave him her code. After he apologised, Krillgan gave him the sub code, which only had meaning for Santhe Corporation Security.
Because the Fenelar Phoenix was an unknown vessel, as far as Santhe Security was concerned, they surrounded it the same way they had for the Cerean bounty hunter. Security was surprised to see a young couple with an infant come down the ramp, followed by an older gentleman. The couple had special id issued by the Chalactan PD, but nothing for the child. They asked the guy why they had been issued the special id. He told them that he and his crew had helped them recover some kidnap victims from slavers. So Security knew that there were more people aboard. The older gentleman did not have any id. Just a letter addressed to them from their Queen, asking them to have Lianna PD issue this gentleman some new id, with all the information that would be required, written in her handwriting. There was also a promissory note issued to the Apothecary guild, that the palace would cover any reasonable expenses occurred in establishing this man in his own Apothecary shop. Since there was nothing indicating that he was to have an audience with Madame Santhe, Security contacted her, asking for her permission to escort the gentleman to Lianna PD Headquarters. After reading the contents of the letter, and the promissory note to her. Madam Santhe asked, that after escorting the gentleman to PD Headquarters, they should then escort him to the guild office. After that, she would like them to bring him back, so that she may talk with him.
Now the letter the young man was carrying, was addressed to Madam Santhe. After the analysis of their letter, Security asked them about the metal content of their outfits. Both the man and woman realised that they had forgotten to remove the daggers from their boots, and handed them over to Security for safe keeping, until after they had their talk with Madam Santhe. Because they were unsure of the metal contents of their outfits. Security had to scan each one individually. Lydna was not clear on the concept. So Krillgan had to hold her while Ludia was being scanned. When they put Lydna down to be scanned, she refused to stand up. Ludia believed that it may be because she was used to holding onto Rudy for extra stability. Security told Ludia it was alright. They can compensate for a child.
Madam Santhe was looking at an image of their daggers, and a quick scan computer analysis. Origin: unknown, metal content of the blade: unknown alloy, handle: bone, unknown species, when they entered her office. Krillgan handed her the letter from her niece. When she read about the purchase agreement, she asked if they had any samples on their ship. Krillgan told her that they only have one bottle of Clan Hard Brew, and one bottle of Singing Mountain Winery wine, left chilled aboard ship. He did not know that he was supposed to bring them. Madam Santhe told him that he can bring them when he comes for dinner. Krillgan told her that they were not prepared to come for dinner, and they had personal business to attend to, before they could even consider a dinner invitation. Madam was surprised that they would be that quick to turn down a dinner invitation to the palace. This was not a regular freighter captain and his wife.
She read on. It was near the end of the letter that her niece finally decided to reveal who this freighter captain's parents are. She had to sit down when she read that. Her niece went on to say that they have become good friends, and that they are both force users. This threw Madam off a little. She knew that they were not Jedi, because her niece would have said so. They could not be Sith, because Sith are friends with no-one. She asked the couple to be seated, because they were still standing, just as she was when she started reading the letter. She than contacted Security and told them that they can return their daggers to them. She also told security to disable any alarms that might be triggered when they go through a scanner. This had Security puzzled, because that was the setting for fully armed security personnel. The head of security himself took the daggers to Madam's office, to make sure that she was not under any duress. When he entered the office he heard Madam asking the young man how he uses the force as a healer. To the head of Security, that was all he needed to hear, to understand Madam's decision. He was a force user, so having a couple of daggers was nothing compared to what he could do. But being a healer, showed that he wasn't a Sith. Healing required knowledge of the light side of the force. After the head of Security left, Madam Santhe sealed the doors, so that she could talk privately with the couple. When the doors were unsealed. The secretary that brought them their tea, and a little container of juice, was surprised to see the little child sitting comfortably on Madam's lap. Lydna was reluctant to try the juice, since she had only had her mother's milk until now. It was only after her father said that he would drink it, if she did not want it, because he really likes juice, that she tried it. She liked the sweet taste, so she did not surrender it to her father when he asked if he could have it. Madam found out in her private talks that Krillgan really was Andriel and Chitrah's son. He would not share what happened on Manaan, but she could see that his wife knew. He would not say what planet they settled on, only that they were well received by the locals. Madam Santhe assumed that his wife Ludia was one of the locals. She was not surprised that he wanted to visit with the Togruta community, considering that is where he spent the first years of his life. He did not go into too much detail on how he became the Captain of his ship. Only that their old Captain was killed by pirates, and he helped rescue the crew from slavery and helped them get their ship back. She was surprised and pleased to hear that his wife was Co-Captain of the ship. He also listed who the rest of the crew are. She was also surprised to hear that he maintained the position of first officer, when his wife became Co-Captain. Madam Santhe passed along the list of crewmembers to Security, and told them that they all had the special Chalactan id.
When security left the ship alone, and somehow the ramp was raised. The Cerean researchers decided they wanted to have a closer look at the ship, because it looked very much like it may be a Fenelar design. The Cereans, along with others, believed that the Fenelar were way ahead of their time in their ship designs, and were shocked that the Mandalorians had wiped them out for no reason, other than to get their hands on their capital ship designs, and their shipyards. The researchers believed that everyone had left the ship, so they could examine it without bothering anyone. They had it towed into their hanger. They were disappointed that no security code was used to prevent access, because breaking the code would have given them insight into the Fenelar's computing capabilities. The Cereans believed that computing capabilities go hand in hand with creative design. When the ramp was lowered, and they were about to board the ship. They saw movement at the top of the ramp. What they saw made them raise the ramp as quick as they could, and run for the communicator. Instead of contacting Security, they entered a familiar code, and got Madam Santhe in her office.
Madam Santhe was sure she set her communicator to privacy. When she saw the Cerean wives, she remembered that they knew how to get around the privacy setting. The Cereans were panicking and asked Madam Santhe to send security to their hanger right away. There are savage creatures aboard the Fenelar ship. Madam Santhe looked at Krillgan. Krillgan got up and leaned over the desk to look into the communicator. He asked them, why they called the creatures savage? Was one of them eaten? They said no, but they could have been. Krillgan told them that many things could have been, but did not happen. That does not give them the right to call his internal ship security team savage. This made Madam Santhe raise her eyebrows when she looked at Krillgan. One of the women asked him, what he meant by internal ship security? Krillgan told her that they were more effective than booby traps in keeping people from entering his ship without permission. Now Madam Santhe knew he was teasing them. She asked them, what was the ship was doing in the research hanger? No one had authorised it to be moved. Now all the Cerean women had red faces. They said that they just wanted to have a look at it. It looks like it is a Fenelar design, and it is extremely rare to be able to examine any Fenelar ships, except the Kandosii Dreadnoughts. Krillgan told Madam Santhe, that this ship is rare, even by Fenelar standards. It is the only surviving prototype, and had never entered production. The Cerean researchers heard this and wanted to get aboard even more. Madam Santhe saw that Krillgan really did enjoy teasing the women. She asked him about his internal ship security team. He told her that Smasher, his head of security, is a Rancor. Smasher's assistant Rudy, is a Vornskr. So between the two of them, one of them is awake at all times. They both consider most human type species, as being quite edible. Madam Santhe asked him how her research team can get past his security team. Krillgan told her that Smasher and Rudy are both very protective of the crew because to them they are family. For the same reason, they are very protective of the ship, because it is their home or den. So for Smasher and Rudy to accept them into their den, they have to except them as family. The Cerean researchers were getting impatient, and wanted to know how they could be accepted as family. Krillgan told them that he and his wife would have to come down and give each one of them a hug. So that Smasher and Rudy could smell their scent on them. The Cereans told them to hurry up and get down there. Then terminated the contact.
Krillgan told Madam Santhe that after introducing the researchers to his crew. He would like to head over to the Togruta Enclave. Madam Santhe told him that she will arrange to have two security personnel meet them at the research hanger, and drive them to the shuttle terminal. They will also give them an address to call before heading back. So that someone can meet them at the terminal when they come back. She also recommended that they leave their daggers on their ship.
Krillgan let Ludia and Lydna have the window seat. It was a different experience to look out the window when someone else was flying the ship. They stopped off at the dress shop before going on to the enclave. When they first entered the store front, someone called out from the workshop that they will be right out to look after them. A moment later Shaak came out and started asking the young couple how she may help them, but stopped part way through. She looked at Krillgan, than yelled out his name. She then threw herself at him, hugging and kissing him. Krillgan was laughing and asked her to stop because she might make his wife jealous. A couple of ladies called out from the workshop, asking what was going on out there. Shaak grabbed Krillgan's hand and started pulling him towards the workshop. She called out for all ladies to cover themselves because a man was entering the workshop. Later Shaak confessed that she had not said that since Chitrah was there. There were no female clients in the workshop at the time, so the women inside were confused by what Shaak said.
When Bandaa and Shaas saw who was following Shaak into the workshop, they dropped their embroidery, and jumped up and hugged and kissed Krillgan, much like Shaak had done. All the young women working in the workshop wondered who the purple young man was, that made their mentor, and her companions so excited. Bandaa asked Krillgan if his parents had also come. He told her no. Then he told them that he has bad news. He told them that Bacgruta had passed away. Shaak admitted that it was bad news, and the enclave would need to know. But that does not take away from the joy of seeing him again. She then asked him why such a pretty young lady would want to marry him. Krillgan told her that there was not a very big selection of eligible young man on their planet, so she could not afford to be picky. Ludia wondered if this was where some of Krillgan's humour came from.
Krillgan introduced his wife and daughter to the three Togruta companions. Lydna was letting mother know that she was hungry. So Ludia asked Shaak were she could nurse her daughter. Shaak asked one of the young seamstresses, what was wrong with this picture? The young seamstress answered that the lady is not wearing a nursing dress. She knew that they would soon have a new project.
Shaak had Shaas take Ludia and Lydna into the back office, so that she could have a quieter place to nurse her. One of the young seamstresses followed them, so that she could boil some water to make tea for everyone.
Krillgan noticed that his mother's sewing machine was not in the workshop. All three of the machines he saw were much newer commercial models. He asked Shaak about it. She told him that she keeps her machine in the back office for herself. So that she could use it from time to time. She introduced Krillgan to her latest batch of young seamstresses that she was training. There are currently three other dress shops on Lianna, with seamstresses, all trained by her.
While Ludia was nursing Lydna, Shaas accessed the dress shop's site on the local net, to show her a copy of the nursing dress Shaak had mentioned. Soon Lydna would be too large for it, but there was always the chance that she might need it again. Shaas told her that it was the last design her mother-in-law had left them. Ludia had her go back to the main page to see the young ladies dancing in their outfits. She recognised some of them as being the young ladies that were sitting at the sewing machines, when they came in. Shaas told her that they do not use professional models whenever they upgrade their site. They use the people who work here, and some secretaries from the Interior Ministry. The secretaries that were on the old sites would usually recruit the secretaries for the new site. That way the new models always had someone to talk to, if they needed help, or advice. Lydna wanted to nap after the nursing. So Ludia held her with her head on her shoulder. Shaas took a small clean towel and placed it on Lydna's head, so the bright lighting in the workshop would not wake her up.
Shaak asked Ludia if she was uncomfortable undressing in front of Krillgan, so that they could grab her measurements. Ludia said she was okay, she had undressed in front of him once or twice before. Lydna woke up just enough to see that it was father that was taking her from mother, and fell right back asleep. After they had her measurements, the four young seamstresses divided the project between them, and started working on it right away. Ludia was attracted to the double display case in the workshop, and was surprised to see a man's suit in it, along with the woman's dress she expected. She asked them what the story behind it was. Shaak asked Krillgan if he remembered. Krillgan remembered his parents talking about a special suit and dress in a couple of stories, but he could not seem to remember them. Shaak took them back to the office. She opened a special file on her computer. It was a copy of a file that had been uploaded to the Royal Watchers website. Then deleted by the site itself, when Andriel and Chitrah became wanted fugitives. Both to protect themselves, and the photographer who had edited it and uploaded it, from the Sith. Ludia commented on how young and beautiful Krillgan's parents look in the vid. The person who edited it did a wonderful job. When she saw the invitation to the palace, Ludia told them that former Queen Anthila had just invited them to dinner at the palace, but Krillgan turned her down, because he thought it was more important to visit the Togruta. Shaak and her companions were shocked. They loved the Royal family. They loved how accommodating they were of Andriel and Chitrah, then later of the Cerean family. They told Krillgan how wrong he was for turning her down. Krillgan tried defending himself. First he told them that he did not turn her down, he just told her that his top priority was meeting with the Togruta, after that they would see what happens. He still has a bottle of Clan Hard Brew, and a bottle of Singing Mountain Winery wine, that he is supposed to take to the palace, when they do go for dinner. Besides they have nothing to wear. It is not like going for dinner with Queen Krinta in her hunting lodge, where the outfit his parents made him for his wedding was nice enough for him, and one of the lovely dresses his mother made for Ludia, was acceptable. The three Togruta women put their hands to their faces. "You had dinner with Queen Krinta?" Ludia told them that she is a really lovely lady, inside and out. They were introduced to her son and daughter, and her husband they had already met. "You actually met her husband? That's impossible. We were told that Princess Krinta had an affair with a young prince from Alderaan who had fled his planet, because of the civil war. When Queen Krinta gave birth to her daughter, the Alderaanian Prince abandoned her, because some Barseg Noblemen placed a price on his head out of jealousy. They were furious that she was willing to have illegitimate children with him, rather than marrying one of them and having a legitimate heir."
Krillgan and Ludia looked at each other. Krillgan told Shaak and her companions, that they could not talk about this anymore. Shaak and her companions were embarrassed, because they had basically called Ludia a liar, and they had lost the opportunity to learn more interesting things about the Royal family. They apologised to Ludia for speaking so harshly. They also asked Krillgan if they brought their wedding clothes. Krillgan patted his backpack. He asked them if it was better for them to see it here. Or should they wait until they reach the enclave, so that everyone could see them. Shaak said that it would be better at the enclave. She then asked if they would indulge her, and put on his parents' outfits, because he had mentioned that there was still a good chance that they would be going for dinner at the palace. Krillgan and Ludia agreed to try them on, because they were both curious as to how they would look in them. Shaas took Lydna from Krillgan, who did not wakeup this time. She also took her thumb out of her mouth, and replaced it with the tip of one of her head tails. She told Ludia that once children have sucked on the tip of a head tail, they usually do not go back to sucking their thumb. As far as she knew, Krillgan had never sucked his thumb.
Krillgan's chest was larger than his father's, so they could not do the shirt up. Shaak examined the shirt with him in it. She told him that if she added some material, in the seam under both his arms. She could get the shirt to fit him, but he would not be allowed to take the jacket off, because the fix would be too obvious. When he tried the jacket on over his regular shirt, it just fit. Apparently when the tailor custom fitted it to Chitrah. He left a little room for Chitrah to grow. Which was good, because Shaak did not know how to do alterations on the jacket. The pants fit Krillgan like they were made for him. When Ludia tried on Andriel's outfit. It was tight all around. She could hardly move in it. Let alone breathe. But everyone complimented her on how nice she looked in it, including Krillgan. Krillgan even lifted her up using the force, and placed her in front of the mirror so that she could see for herself. Shaak told her that Andriel had left enough material in the seams that she could let it out for her, and no one would notice. Shaak asked, if she should go ahead and do the alterations? Ludia said it was up to Krillgan. The clothes belong to his parents. They would only be his, by right of inheritance. After a moment's hesitation, Krillgan said that he believed his parents would want them to. So Shaak started putting chalk marks on all the seams on the outfit Ludia was wearing, including the little jacket. Krillgan had to put his father's silk shirt back on, so that Skaak could be sure were to alter it. She then made Krillgan take a deep breath, so that she could get the right measurements for adding the material.
The young seamstresses had finished assembling the nursing dress, by the time Skaak was ready to close the shop. Ludia tried it on and loved it. She even placed the sleeping Lydna in the part where infants can sleep. It was both durable and comfortable. So Krillgan got to carry her old outfit. The young human seamstress used the communicator in the office to call home, and let them know that she is on her way to the shuttle terminal. This way her father could meet her there and walk her home. The three young Togruta seamstresses told their mothers that they would catch up to them, after walking their friend to the shuttle terminal. On the way to the Togruta enclave, Lydna woke up and started crying "Momma", because she did not know where she was. Ludia told her she was right there and placed a hand on her, on the outside of the dress. At the same time placing her other hand inside the dress to touch her that way. When she calmed down she brought her outside of the dress, and carried her. When Lydna realised that it was only because her mother had changed dresses, that she was confused. She calmed right down. When she let her mother know that she was hungry again. Ludia put her back in the dress. At first Lynda was apprehensive. But when she found out that her mother could nurse her, while she was inside the dress, she was right at home.
When they arrived at the enclave, the human's working on the weaving looms in the common room, always took it as the signal for them to leave, when the seamstresses showed up for dinner. Only there was a bit of a commotion this time amongst the Togruta, because of the couple that the seamstresses brought with them. The humans were very considerate of their Togruta hosts, and left as quickly as possible, so the Togruta could have their common room back. A lot of the older Togruta felt compelled to touch Krillgan, just to assure themselves that he really was real.
The heads of the Lianna Weaver's Guild, proudly showed Krillgan and Ludia all the new looms they had, as well as showing him how well they have looked after his mother's loom. They had women from all over Lianna, from daughters of Lianna's Nobility, to paupers that live next to the Balosar enclave, come and work on their looms. All because of his mother. Both Krillgan and Ludia were humbled by this. There was no mistaking the love and respect that these women had for Andriel. A young Togruta man, came up to Krillgan and told him how sorry his mother will be for missing him. She is not feeling well, and is at home in bed. Krillgan asked him if he could take him to his mother, because he is a healer. The rest of the Togruta heard this, and were both surprised and pleased.
Shaak wondered why he did not mention it to her earlier. Then she remembered that they were talking about dress designs and alterations, most of the time they were at the shop. The young man told him that it was not necessary, the Togruta healers are looking after her. Krillgan told him that he knows that the Togruta have always had good healers, but he can do things that many good healers cannot. So the young man took him, and all the healers followed. After a short conversation. Krillgan asked the woman to take his hand. It wasn't long before she started feeling better. Krillgan told her that he had just given her body a big boost in fighting the disease. She is not cured yet, and needs to continue in taking the medicines her healers are giving her. She needs to keep her mouth covered when not eating, so as not to infect anyone. But she should be strong enough to come out and enjoy everyone's company for tonight. After they left the lady, so that she could dress, the healers asked Krillgan, what he did, and how he learnt to do it? Krillgan told them that what he has is a gift, that by touching someone he can speed up their healing. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be taught. As far as he knows he is the only one that has been given this gift.
The healers wanted to ask him more questions, but the lady dressed quickly and had a shawl covering the lower part of her face. They knew that if she showed up in the common room without them, the community might be upset with them for keeping Krillgan away.
After they returned to the common room and everyone had taken their places for dinner. Shaak's father, Heshaak stood up, and told everyone that as much as it is a joy to see Krillgan and his family. He has come bearing sad news. Krillgan knew it was his turn to get up and speak. He told the Togruta that he traveled to Yitabo to find a friend that he faintly remembered from his childhood. Instead of finding his friend, he found a grieving mother, and a grieving husband. "Bacgruta is dead". With that he sat down. Ludia hugged him, because she knew that it was hard for him.
Heshaak stood up, and thanked him for sharing that. He knew that it was never easy telling people he cared about, bad news. His words touched a chord in Krillgan's heart. Maybe this is why it had been so hard to come here. Heshaak also reminded the people that in her own way Bacgruta was a warrior. She had touched their lives, because they had touched hers, and given her many happy years with a loving mother, father, and husband. Many people had given up on her as the living dead. But they had the privilege of seeing her reborn. The Togruta need to be proud of that fact. Almost everyone there started hitting the palm of their right hand on the table in front of them, to show that they were in agreement with what Heshaak just said. Heshaak sat down and the food was brought out for them to start eating. At first Krillgan thought he would not eat, but after Heshaak's words, he knew that not eating would not honour Bacgruta. He ended up eating more than expected. It has been a long time since he has tasted Togruta cooking. Ludia was also pleased that Krillgan was eating well. Having the food brought out like this was new for Lydna, and she wanted to touch everything. Ludia asked Shaak what foods are okay for an infant, that has only nursed, be allowed to touch. They both knew, that from whatever she touches, some of it will end up in her mouth. Shaak got up and came back with a small plate of soft foods, which were easy for little fingers to squish. She told Ludia what the foods were, then pointed out the dishes that she took them from. Lydna reached for the small plate, because it was easier to reach than the others. She liked how the different things felt in her fingers. Because she saw the adults putting this stuff in their mouths, she thought she would try it to. She was hoping for a sweet taste like the juice, but found the first thing she tried had little taste at all. Put she did like how it felt in her mouth, and pushed it all around with her tongue. She did swallow some, and she pushed some past her lips, and it made its way down her chin. She tried another thing. It was a different colour, and was also nice and squishy in her hand. This one had a nicer taste, with a little sweetness. It also felt nice in her mouth. Again she swallowed some, and pushed some past her lips. She tried all the different coloured things on her plate. She liked putting them in her mouth like the grownups did. She's a big girl now.
Ludia noticed that Lydna was mainly reaching with her left hand. She wondered if her daughter was going to be left handed like her mother.
The adults at the head table had been talking back and forth throughout dinner. They all believed that they needed to do something to honour Bacgruta, and were considering different options. When they finally decided on what to do, they let Shaak make the announcement. She stood up and got everyone's attention. She told everyone that because Bacgruta loved the Togruta dances. In two days' time, they will have an evening of sharing and impromptu dancing, to honour Bacgruta. Anyone that would like to share something about Bacgruta, please talk to one of the elders. When she sat down, she leaned past Lydna and Ludia, to talk with Krillgan. She asked that he would say something, even if it was just a repeat of what he said tonight. Krillgan promised that he would.
When it was time for desert, someone brought a little bit of fluffed sweet cream on a small plate for Lydna. Lydna loved that she had her own plate. This stuff was a different texture, not as thick as the other things, and it was sweet. She tried to get as much of it in her mouth as she could, but it did not cooperate. When she would squeeze it, to put it in her mouth. It would squeeze through her fingers. She probably ended up with as much outside her mouth, as inside. Her mother used her tongue to wash her face.
Everyone around Lydna also smelt that she needed to be changed. Shaak took the family to a place where they could clean and change Lydna. She also suggested that Krillgan change into his wedding outfit. She asked Ludia if her daughter, one of the Togruta seamstresses could try on her wedding outfit. It would probably be a little big, but it would give them an idea on how it looked on her. Ludia said she would not mind. So Shaak sent her in to change when Krillgan came out.
Back in the common room Shaak announced that Krillgan was gracious enough to bring the outfit he was married in. Everyone knew that Chitrah was the main architect of this outfit. They all came around to touch it. The men especially were surprised, that though the leather was soft. It was still stronger than anything they had encountered. They asked him about the leather. What animal did it come from, that it was so strong? At first Krillgan was hesitant to say. Then he remembered that the Rakata had taken the Rancor to many worlds. Only a few knew that they originated on Dathomir. So he told them that it was Rancor leather, and was supposed to have an armour rating of 3. Some of the Togruta men asked Shaak, if she thought this leather would protect them from the Akul? She said that she did not know. She told them that she was sure that Krillgan would let them borrow it, if they wanted to go to Shili to find out. None of the men volunteered. They told her that having one Akul Killer in their clan is enough. When Shaak's daughter came into the common room. Shaak told everyone that this is the outfit that Krillgan's lovely bride, Ludia, wore at their wedding. They could see that Andriel and Chitrah collaborated to make this outfit. They could tell that the bride was supposed to ride some sort of beast, to where the wedding took place. To the Togruta that meant that the bride came from a prestigious family. After everyone asked their questions and made their comments. Krillgan touched both garments with the force. When they started glowing with the blue light. Krillgan told everyone that the Akul would not have been able to hurt his bride. The Togruta gasped in amazement. Someone tried to cut the sleave of the dress with their stone knife. The knife shattered. One of the elders complained, because every one of the shards of the shattered knife was as sharp as a razor blade. It was going to be difficult to clean the floor of the common room now. Especially if they were going to dance on it in two days, and not have anyone cut their feet while they are dancing. A young man apologized to everyone. He did not believe that the dress material could really be that strong. Everyone carefully backed away from Shaak's daughter, because the shards were all around her. They also had to be careful because a lot of the Togruta had the shards on their clothes. Krillgan asked Shaak's daughter not to move, but just relax. He picked her up using the force. Ludia had just returned with Lydna so missed the excitement. She helped stabilise the young lady in the air. Krillgan told Ludia that she was going to her. So the Togruta saw her carried in the air to Ludia, then put down. Krillgan told the Togruta that the boots she is wearing is made from the same type of leather as his outfit. So if she had stepped on the stone shards, she could have pushed some into the floor, making it even harder to clean up. Heshaak asked Krillgan if he could use the force to pick up all of the pieces of the stone knife. He told Heshaak that he was not that proficient in the earth element to do that. Then Krillgan asked Ludia if she could. She had studied using living stone. Ludia asked what happened. Krillgan told her that one of the young men had tried to cut the sleeve of her wedding dress with his stone knife, when it was glowing. The knife shattered, and now there are razor sharp pieces of stone shards everywhere. Some of them would probably have some of the shards in their clothes. Ludia said that if she tried anything right now. She would also be pulling the stone knives that everyone has on their bodies. Which would be worse. Krillgan told Heshaak that everyone would need to toss their stone knives to his wife, so that she can catch them and place them in the next room. Then she will try to gather all the pieces of the shattered stone knife together. Krillgan started by tossing his two knives. Ludia easily caught them. Shaak had come up to her side. Because she had not been in the crowd when the incident happened, she was pretty sure she was clean. So she took the knives from Ludia. Shaak knew that Ludia had only caught two, but had handed her four, and they looked very interesting. The Togruta would call before tossing their knives. After Shaak had laid them all down. She picked up Lydna, who was sitting at her mother's feet this whole time, and went into the room with all the knives. Ludia concentrated, reaching out with the force, but being careful not to touch the stone walls. She tried to form a small stone lance out of all the pieces. She held it a moment in the air. Long enough for Krillgan to grab a large metal plate and hold it underneath. So that he could catch the pieces when she let go. The Togruta where in awe of both of them, and proud that they were their friends.
When everyone went to retrieve their knives, Krillgan and Ludia could not find theirs. That is because Shaak had hid them on her person. After all the Togruta put away their knives, Shaak passed their knives around, so that everyone could see their handles. Krillgan had to describe how the handles were made. This impressed the Togruta as much as their using the force. They all went back into the common room to sit down and have tea.
Everyone wanted to know what happened to his family after they left Lianna, and the real story on how he convinced his wife to marry him. He started off with a very condensed version, of his and Ludia's relationship. Basically, that he played with Ludia all his life, after his parents found a planet for them to live on. It was only natural for him to want to marry his best friend. He was equally diplomatic about the things that happened to his family. Again mainly mentioning only those things that happened in the Seswena Sector. The Togruta were polite, and did not mention that they knew his family disappeared on Manaan, because of what the Cerean bounty hunter shared with them. It was only later, when they talked with the Cerean bounty hunter, that she confirmed that there is still a large bounty on Krillgan and his family. That they knew he had to be careful with what he said, even to his friends.
They spent the night with Shaak and her extended family. Bandaa and Shaas telling Ludia about the last morning Krillgan spent with them, listening to their tummies. Poor Shaak, all Krillgan heard in her tummy was gas.
The next morning when Santhe Security picked them up from the shuttle terminal, Krillgan asked them how he can get a wooden cask of New Ale, from his ship to the Togruta enclave. There will be a special celebration the following day, and he promised to supply them with one. The officers told him that there will be no problem. They will contact the local transport company they use. They should have a refrigerated unit at their gate within the hour.
Shaak had contacted the Cereans and invited them to the celebration, she also asked if the bounty hunter could say a few words about what she remembered about Bacgruta's life on Yitabo. It did not have to be long. The Cereans contacted Madam Santhe right away, asking for her permission to go to the celebration at the Togruta enclave. Madam Santhe gave them permission, then she contacted Security. Security told her that they already know about the celebration at the Togruta enclave. They just made arrangements for a cask of New Ale to be sent there from the freighter. Madam Santhe wondered if it was the Clan Brew. Her niece never mentioned anything about Clan Brew in her letter. She just mentioned Clan Hard Brew, and the Singing Mountain Winery wine. The head of Security also asked her if their undercover security team would be allowed to bring their children when they go to the Togruta celebration. They believe it will help them blend in better with the humans that will be there. Madame Santhe said that they could, provided they remember the primary reason they are there. She then called Research and asked them to ask Krillgan to come by her office when he has a minute.
Grimm and the Cereans were very excited to tell Krillgan and Ludia, what they had discovered about their ship. Their ship was even more powerful than anyone had ever imagined. There is another mode called ship assault mode, it was never activated because the two heavy turbo laser batteries on each side of the front of the ship were never connected. All the wiring and heavy power cables are in place, and have been properly maintained. The ship's power unit has more than enough capacity to handle the laser batteries. In fact the Cereans want to move one of each of the heavy turbo laser batteries from the front side to where the missile launchers are, and place the Ion Cannons they have, in their place. The laser batteries would take up less room, so they would still be able to fire four missiles per side. The Cereans are looking into finding someone who could mass produce the missiles that the ship needs. Krillgan and Ludia liked that idea. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise for any pirate or bounty hunter that tries to take them on? The only ship that could take them on would be a capitol ship. Even they would run if a stream of missiles started coming out of their belly.
The Cereans also want to have a closer look at his starfighter. They were reluctant to enter Cargo Bay 1, when they realised that that is where his internal ship security team make their home. There are a number of upgrades they would like to do to it. When Krillgan went into Cargo Bay 1. Smasher and Rudy complained that they would rather go back to the last planet. There are too many strange females running around the ship, and they all smell like they come from a common herd or pack. Krillgan told them that he liked the last planet as well. But he can't think just for himself, he has to think for all of them. Right now these strange females are helping Grimm to know their flying den better, and equipping it so that it can better defend itself from those who would want to attack it. Smasher said he understood. Rudy didn't, but would do what Smasher wants him to do.
When Krillgan finished pulling his starfighter down into the hanger, the head of R&D came up to him, and told him that Madame Santhe would like to see him when he has a minute. Krillgan went back aboard the Phoenix and told Ludia that Madame Santhe asked to see him. Ludia asked him to go without her. She needs to take a nap with Lydna.
Madam Santhe got right to the point. She noticed that in his agreement with her niece, there was no mention of New Ale, yet he just sent a cask to the Togruta enclave. Could he supply casks for them as well? Krillgan would need to talk with Ludia to see if they talked about the Clan Brew with Queen Krinta. He was sure that they did. He told Madam Santhe that he believed that they did discuss it, in terms of cases of bottles. He would not be able to supply her with casks of Clan Brew, or Clan Hard Brew. But he might be able to supply her with casks of a product similar to Clan Brew. The quality should be on par with the Clan Brew. He would not know for sure, until he returns with their first shipment. Madam was satisfied, and told him that they can discuss the details when he returns with their first shipment.
Just before he got up to leave, he asked Madam Santhe if Lydna could come to dinner with him and his wife, because they do not have anything formal for her to wear. Madam Santhe smiled, she knew that his first visit with the Togruta must have gone well. She told him not to worry, they have had enough little girls living at the palace, that there is bound to be something nice for her to wear. She asked him when she can expect them. He told her that the evening after the celebration at the Togruta enclave, would be fine.
Just before the whole crew departed for the enclave, Krillgan told Smasher and Rudy that they would have the whole flying den to themselves. Not even the strange women will be bothering them, until the following day. He put out Smashers porridge cakes, because there would be no one there in the morning to do so. Warning him not to eat them until the morning, or he will be hungry the following day. Smasher knew how to open the cooler units. Krillgan had taken enough meat out of the freezer that morning, leaving them in the coolers to thaw, for Smasher and Rudy to be fed for two days.
When they arrived at the shuttle terminal, they found out that Santhe Corporation had already booked their seats on the shuttle, so none of them would miss their flight, in case there was a high demand for seats. The Cereans were surprised to see them there, and asked if they were also invited to the celebration at the Togruta enclave. Krillgan said they were. They told Krillgan that it would be safer if they walked together. The one honour wife used to be a bounty hunter. She is capable of protecting them. Krillgan told them that both he and his wife also have trained, and know how to protect others. The told him that this is good, the burden for protecting them will be lessened on her. They will let her know that others present are capable of assisting her.
Krillgan asked Grimm about honour wives. He told them that all the Cereans working for Santhe Corporation, are only one family. You have the husband, the first wife, also known as the bond wife, and the rest are all honour wives. He told them that this is a very small family by Cerean standards, where they average twenty women for every man. They are also unusual in that they have had a high birth rate amongst the wives, including two sons being born in one family. Something that has not happened in more than a thousand years. Krillgan thanked Grimm for that information. Krillgan told Ludia that Smasher told him that they all belonged to one herd.
When they exited off the shuttle, Krillgan noticed that it appeared like some human families were waiting for them. Some of those family members looked familiar. Krillgan was pretty sure that at least one of them was a security officer at Santhe Corporation. The way they came up behind them, told him that they must be an undercover security detail. They must have been to the Togruta feasts before, and knew that it was safe to bring their children. It was smart of them to let their families come and enjoy themselves while they work. He was pretty sure the ex-bounty hunter also knew they were there.
When they arrived at the enclave, both Krillgan and Ludia were surprised to see how many people were there. The feasts have become a lot more popular since he has a child. Lydna started wriggling when she saw all the children playing, and having fun. She wanted to play too. Ludia held onto her just a little longer than she liked. Until they came to an area where there were some children close to Lydna's age. There was a Nautolan little boy, and a human boy and girl. With their mothers hovering nearby, keeping a watchful eye on them. When Ludia let Lydna down, the Nautolan little boy waddled over and gave her a hug. Lydna first touched his headtails with her hand, then she tried sucking on the tip of one, before deciding that it wasn't the same as sucking on a Togruta headtail. The two of them then went over to the other two children their age. Krillgan sensed that his wife was not going to leave Lydna, even though she was perfectly safe. So he kissed her on the cheek, and promised to come back for her, after finding out where they would be sitting, and just before they started serving dinner.
For Rasha, Grimm, Elibet, and Kran, this was somewhat reminiscent of a feast on Kindell's world, only there were a lot more alien species. They were shown to a table where Bandaa and Shaas were sitting with their spouses. Krillgan introduced them to his crew. They were told that once the meal was over, all the tables would disappear, and they would have to find a place to sit against the wall. Krillgan was told that he would be sitting next to Shaak and her husband at the main table. Since he was one of the speakers at the celebration. Someone would go get Ludia and Lydna, when it was time to eat, and bring them to him, so he did not need to worry about them. Krillgan was also introduced to one of the Cerean honour wives, who was also at the table. Shaak told him that she would also be saying a few words.
Lydna had a lot of fun playing with the other children. At first she did not want to leave when her mother said it was time to go. But the other mothers were also collecting their children, so if she stayed she would have no one to play with. So she reached up when mother bent down to pick her up. As she rested her head on her mother's shoulder, she realised that she was both tired and hungry. She let her mother know she was hungry, but mother told her that she needs to eat first, before she can nurse her. Lydna forgot about nursing when someone put a plate of interesting things in front of her. There were even some wobbly jellies for her to squish and try in her mouth. Everything tasted better than before, she did not know it was because she was hungry. She tried really hard to get as much of the nice squishy stuff on her plate, in her mouth, as she could. Father even tried to give her a drink from what he was drinking. She could taste the sweetness of the juice, but it was mixed with something that was not sweet. It was a new experience trying to drink from a cup like a grownup. She probably had more run down her chin than entered her mouth. Ludia told Krillgan that he would have to change her after dinner. Krillgan pretended not to hear.
When Ludia was full, she knew that she should nurse Lydna. But she did not want to do it while Lydna was wet and sticky. She sighed as she picked Lydna up, and took her away to clean her up and change her. Lynda did not drink as much milk as Ludia expected, before she fell asleep while nursing. Ludia hoped that meant that she was able to get a fair amount of food from the plate into her mouth. She returned with the sleeping Lydna, as they packed away all the tables.
Shaak stood up to start the celebration. She told everyone that they were there to celebrate the life of their friend, Bacgruta. "She was a human, with the heart of a Togruta warrior. She had shared with her what her life was like before she met the Togruta. She was born to a woman in the lowest of life's circumstances. Many women in her position kill their offspring, so that they don't have to suffer like they did. Some say that the mother was too weak to kill her when she was still a baby. But those people have never looked into the eyes of a baby, and had a loving Togruta warrior look back at you."
A young mother with her baby in her arms danced across the common room. All the adults were moved when the baby cooed, then reached up to try and touch the mother's face.
"Our friend was abused as she grew up. Life was not easy for her."
A young lady stood up and tried to dance, but two men stood up and started pushing her back and forth between them.
"But having a warrior's heart she persevered through the trials, even protecting those that were not as strong as her."
This time it was another younger girl that tried to dance, with the two men pushing her back and forth, then the young lady got up and put her arms around her, so the two men could not touch her. The two men sat down, and the two young ladies danced briefly.
"Most people would have believed that she was at the end of her life when she walked into the dress shop, and met real Togruta warriors. But this was just the beginning of a new chapter in her life."
Three Togruta young ladies got up and started dancing. A fourth one stood up and went up and hugged each one of them. Then the four of them danced together. While they continued to dance, Shaak continued speaking.
"Our Bacgruta was reborn. But with every birth, there are birthing pains."
The fourth dancer started acting like they had severe stomach pains. The other dancers surrounded her and tried to help her. It wasn't long before she started feeling better again, and they all went back to dancing. Other young men and women got up and started dancing with them.
"As much as we loved our Bacgruta, this was still a dangerous world for her. If she would have been hurt, we would have been hurt. We needed to find a safe place for her."
The fourth dancer danced freely in the middle of the group, with the rest of the dancers dancing around her. Some looked like they were ready to protect her, others looked around like they were looking for something.
"Another friend of the Togruta told us about the world her mother lived on. Her mother also has a heart of a warrior, and would protect her. Her world did not have the dangers for Bacgruta, that our world did."
Shaak sat down and so did all the dancers except the dancer that had been dancing in the middle. A Togruta male stood up and started speaking.
"The husband of our friend agreed to lead us. The voyage was dangerous for Bacgruta. My companions and I, agreed to protect her until we knew she was safe."
Four young men got up with a blanket. Three of them covered her with the blanket, while the young lady but her hand on the fourth young man's shoulder. As he led her around.
"He left us when we reached the right world, making sure we had directions to the kind woman's home. Only she wasn't there. She had a new family. But she did come when she was called. When she found out that her daughter had sent us, she opened her arms and her heart. Bacgruta had found a new mother, and the family accepted her as their daughter."
The Togruta male speaker sat down, so did the one who was leading the young lady, taking the blanket. The young lady danced with the three remaining young Togruta males, then Bandaa playing the part of the new mother appeared, and the three young men handed the young lady over to her. The two of them danced together, than Bandaa's husband, and Shaas's husband got up and joined them. After they danced for a while they all sat down. The Cerean honour wife stood up.
"I was hired by Mr. Radcliff, for a most unusual assignment. He asked me to watch over his wife's first daughter and her family. If possible, to protect them, from those who were hunting them. While on Yitabo, I met her second daughter, Bacgruta, and the man who married her. She was full of life, and everyone around her felt it too. She loved to dance in the Togruta style, and was even teaching the local young women and men the best she could, with her husband's help."
Some young ladies got up to dance, after a while some young men tried joining them, but the young ladies started scolding them for doing it all wrong. This made all the Togruta laugh, and the Cerean had a big smile.
"When I returned to Yitabo, to report that the daughter and her family were safe. They treated me like family. Bacgruta and her mother made sure I had lots of nice tasty treats, for my trip to Lianna."
The Cerean sat down, three female and two male dancers got up. They all danced together, then one of the female dancers left, while the other dancers waved goodbye. Then they sat down. Shaak whispered to Krillgan that it was his turn. He got up and started speaking.
"I went to Yitabo hoping to find a friend that I barely remembered from my childhood. I remembered that she was always happy, and was the only one who could get my mother to actually dance."
A Togruta lady stood up and helped her friend get up. The two of them danced together then sat down.
"Instead of finding a happy friend, I found sorrow. She had passed away. Mr. Radcliff had found in her the daughter he did not know had been missing from his life. Within one month of Bacgruta's passing, he also passed away. Bacgruta's mother, my grandmother, and Bacgruta's husband were there to comfort me."
The two couples that had danced earlier got up to dance again. Then the one lady left them, than the one man left them. The two remaining dancers were crying on each other's shoulders. Then a young man joined them and at first cried with them. Then the three of them started dancing together, in their sorrow trying to comfort one another, than they sat down.
"It has been very hard for me to come to you. Knowing you have been so close to my family. Knowing that I would be bringing you the sad news of Bacgruta's passing."
With that Krillgan sat down, and Shaak stood up. The Cerean reached across and hugged Krillgan. She whispered, "I know who you are, and I would give my life to protect you."
Shaak started speaking. "Yes Bacgruta has left us. But we know where she has been welcomed. It is our ancestors that have invited her to come sit by their fires. They have invited her to hunt with them, then when all is ready, to feast and dance with them."
With that Shaak stepped forward and started dancing. Bandaa and Shaas jumped up and started dancing with her. It wasn't long before all the Togruta women were up and dancing. Then Shaak beckoned Ludia and the Cerean to join her. When Ludia got up, after passing Lydna off to Krillgan. She saw that the Togruta women were beckoning all the other women to join them. Rasha and Elibet got up to join them.
In love Krillgan reached out with the force to touch his wife and to strengthen her. When he did he discovered something unexpected. Ludia was pregnant. Ludia felt Krillgan gently touch her, then suddenly withdrew the touch. When she looked at him, he seemed a bit surprised. Then he smiled and reached out and touched her again. When the women sat down, Ludia asked him what that was all about. Krillgan told her she is pregnant.
The Togruta men then got up to dance. Shaak told Krillgan to go join them. He handed Lydna back to her mother and got up. He really wanted to dance like he did on Dathomir, but restrained himself. He tried following the Togruta's lead.
Shaak asked Ludia, why the look of surprise on her face. Ludia told her that Krillgan just told her that she is pregnant. Shaak congratulated her. She also told her that this is the first time that she has ever heard of, where it is the husband informing the wife that she is pregnant. Ludia looked at Shaak and told her that she is going to need more dresses. Shaak laughed and told her that she will have a bunch more nursing dresses made up for her tomorrow. Then Ludia started asking her how to get Lydna to transition to solid food? She wasn't sure how much longer she should nurse her, now that she has another baby on the way. Shaak told her to calm down, everything is going to be fine. Then she told her that she has already started Lydna's transition to solid foods.
Shaak waved Bandaa and Shaas over. They each shared their experience in weaning their babies. The Cerean overheard them and shared how she weaned her son. The men had long since finished dancing, and many of the humans that live in the area have already gone home. Krillgan had heard enough to decide to go over to see how his crew were doing. Heshaak was the one to go over and tell the women that they needed to continue this discussion in the morning.
Like the crew of the Phoenix, the Cerean family was spending the night in the Togruta enclave. This had become normal practise for them over the years. The other wives were interested in hearing what the bounty hunter was discussing with the rest of the women.
The next morning the discussion continued over breakfast. As the group left the enclave and walked toward the dress shop and shuttle terminal, Ludia confessed to Shaak that a lot of the advice the women have been giving her is impractical for her. Because she lives on a ship, she has no access to a kitchen, so she is dependent on serving her daughter the foods that others have prepared and packaged in a form she can use. The Cerean took note of what Ludia said. It did negate a lot of the advice that she had been given. They included it in their report to Madam Santhe on the Togruta celebration.
Krillgan continued on to the shuttle terminal with the Cerean family, because the bounty hunter asked him to. She told him the other wives feel more comfortable for her, when they know that there is someone present who can assist her. Then she smiled and winked. To Krillgan that meant that she had not told them about the undercover security officers that were accompanying them. So he smiled back.
At the dress shop, Shaak confirmed the measurements they took of Ludia for the new nursing dresses, before Ludia tried on Andriel's silk outfit with the alterations. Krillgan returned just as the ladies had finished dressing her. When Shaak gave him permission to enter the workshop, he stopped at the doorway and told her how gorgeous she looked. He knew his mother would be very proud to see her like this. Ludia told him to hurry up and get his father's suit on, so she can see how nice they look together in the mirror. Krillgan wasted no time in changing. Yes Shaak's alterations on the shirt were clearly visible, until he put the suit jacket on. The jacket was snug when he put in on over the silk shirt. It was fine, as long as he did not have to fight anyone in it. All the seamstresses told them how lovely they look. The smile on Ludia's face, was all the assurance that Krillgan needed that they had done the right thing.
When the secretary had brought Madam Santhe her morning cup of tea, she saw that she had paused whatever it was that she was watching, and listening to, on her computer. When Madam Santhe looked at her, to thank her, she had tears in her eyes. Madam Santhe told her that she will send her a connection, so that they can watch the video feed that Security had included with their report on the Togruta celebration. One of the officers had recorded it on his personal home recorder. She told them to remember that the dancing was all impromptu.
When she started watching, everyone in the office gathered around her computer, because she had the largest screen. It felt good to have everyone so close together when they watched it. This is why she thought that she had the best job in the world, and the best boss on the planet.
When they arrived at the palace that evening. The acting palace secretary highly approved of the outfits they were wearing, he led them to a room full of small dresses to select one for Lydna to wear. They tried a few on before Ludia was satisfied that they found one that she would be comfortable in. It was a bonus that it also went well with their outfits. Krillgan felt that it was his turn to carry his daughter, as they walked through the palace, because the acting palace secretary led them at a quick pace. It was only when they stopped, so that they could be announced, that he put Lydna down, so that they could walk in as a family. When they were seated with Princess Anthila at the dining table. She introduced the acting palace secretary as her husband. He was the former palace secretary, and they only felt it was safe to marry and not create a scandal, when Krinta became Queen. He will from time to time relieve the palace secretary, like tonight, to give him a well-deserved night off.
She asked them about their version of the rescue of the Apothecary on Lorrad, because she had already heard his story. She also told them that the Barseg PD, had informed the Lianna PD that his wife had sold their business on Barseg at a fair price, and she and her children were on their way to Lianna, to be reunited with him. That was good news for Krillgan and Ludia, it will also be something that he can share with his parents.
Krillgan did not tell her about the healings he performed. But he did tell her about everything else. Including Lady Brelmy, the daughter of a Barseg Nobleman, being an important figure in the Lorrad underground. After he shared what he knew about her. Princess Anthila looked at her husband. He knew that he was dismissed, to find out everything he could find out about her, and cross reference it with what Krillgan just shared. The one interesting fact that he later pointed out to his wife. It was because of Chitrah ordering the freighter's computer to monitor the first officer's activities, and reporting it at the next port-of-call to the local authorities, that the rape became public, and the first officer arrested. Otherwise it would have remained covered up. Quite possibly with the young lady dying in an accident, so that the family would not have to be shamed.
Princess Anthila was surprised to hear that both Krillgan and Ludia believed that the Lorradians did not know that they were force users. Because none of them actually witnessed them using the force. Princess Anthila asked if that was why they did not wear lightsabres, because that would give away that they are force users. Krillgan told her that he doesn't have a lightsabre, nor does he feel he needs one. The lightsabres he took from the Sith Lord, and his apprentice, well he gave one to his wife, and the other one to his first officer Rasha, after they had been purified. This statement sent Anthila's head spin. He just admitted to fighting a Sith Lord, and besting him, without using a lightsabre. "How did you beat a Sith Lord without a lightsabre? Why did you fight him in the first place?"
Krillgan told her that he does have a sword. He then pulled a dagger out of his boot. Princess Anthila's husband would have had a heart attack, if he still would have been there, instead of conducting his research. Krillgan told her that his sword is made out of the same metal as his dagger. He touched the dagger with the force so that it started to glow blue. He told her that he has been told that it has the same properties as a lightsabre, only it's heavier, and the blade does not retract when it is not activated. Princess Anthila sent one of the servants serving dinner, to go to the kitchen, and get an old metal knife, but not one that is part of a set. Let the staff know it is going to be damaged. When she returned with the knife, she gave it to Princess Anthila. She held the knife by the handle with both hands over the dinner table, and challenged Krillgan to cut the blade, because a lightsabre could do it. Krillgan easily sliced through the knife blade with the dagger. Princess Anthila hardly felt it passing through the knife. She made like she was going to touch the severed blade, until Krillgan warned her not to. Like with a lightsabre, the severed blade will be very hot. She stuck the blade into a glass of water, and a little bit of steam came out. She then started looking for the tip of the blade. In case it was burning through her dining table. Krillgan told her that it landed on one of the platters with food on it. He then picked it up using the force, and dropped in in the same cup of water as the rest of the knife. One of the servers was going to remove it, but Princess Anthila just asked her to put it aside. She wanted her husband to see it when he returned.
She than asked Krillgan to tell her the story. Krillgan told her that a Sith Lord had hired some pirates to do some work for the Lord, and placed an apprentice in charge of them. What they were doing was hurting some friends of his, so they asked him if he could help them. He confronted the apprentice, destroyed her lightsabre, and gave her quite a thrashing. She barely escaped with her life, and his friends rounded up the pirates.
Because there was no reason to keep them. Incarcerating them would have been a big drain on resources. He told his friends to either kill them, or let them go. His friends decided to let them go, but first marked them, in case they came back. They would not be let go a second time.
When the Sith Lord found out what happened, he had the pirates go back, just to lead him into a trap. Princess Anthila asked why he did not send his apprentice back. Krillgan told her that the Sith Lord probably killed her for her failure. Because the apprentice he fought in the trap was less skilled, than the apprentice that he had given a good beating to. After he dispatched the apprentice in the trap, he then found and confronted the Sith Lord. She asked Krillgan why he did not come right out and say that he killed them. Krillgan told her that he cannot say for sure that he killed them. They both fled their bodies before they died. Which means that they must have had at least one body nearby that they could possess. Princess Anthila asked if he was concerned about the Sith Lord trying to retaliate for what he has done. Krillgan told her that the easiest body that a person who uses the dark side of the force can possess, is that of a non-force using baby, before it is born. After the baby is born, it will take a long time for the Sith to fully control its body, but because it would have been a non-force using child, the Sith would have very little force using abilities available to him. It would take between 18 to 20 standard years before the body would reach its peak physical abilities. The only threat that the Sith could really pose to him, is if he used his mind to think something up. Krillgan wasn't too worried about that. Because if a Sith was really smart, he wouldn't be a Sith.
Princess Anthila started laughing at Krillgan's logic. She had thought something similar as well. But some of them do display a high degree of cunning. She also made note to tell her niece that they always have to be careful with the information that Krillgan shares. He always seems to be holding some information back. Which is dangerous for them, if they don't know all the players involved in a given situation.
She asked them where they were heading next. Krillgan told her about picking up that shipment from Lorrad, for Seswenna, to throw off the inspector and the PD officer. So he was hoping to pick up a couple of more shipments to make it economical, as well as having people in that Sector that he would like to visit. Princess Anthila remembered that his family spent time in that Sector when the Mandalorian bounty hunter was after them. They would have talked all night if Princess Anthila's husband had not come back with his findings, and reminded her that she needs to be in the office first thing in the morning.
They told Ludia that they can drop off the dress Lydna is wearing with her secretary at Santhe Corporation. Krillgan asked her why they never mention how much it is going to cost him, for all the work the Cereans are doing on his ship. She asked him to drop by her office after they return from the dress shop, and she will show him why.
As they were getting ready to leave, the acting palace secretary handed Ludia a gift basket. When she looked inside, it was full of little frozen food packets for Lydna. Princess Anthila told her that the Cerean mothers all reported to her about how difficult of a time she was going to have weaning Lydna, because of the lack of availability of a kitchen, so her kitchen staff prepared something for her. There was also a container of a fine granulated substance. Anthila told her that if she adds a heaping spoonful to a cup of hot tea water, stirring gently, it will turn into a porridge after 3 to 5 minutes. It is supposed to be made from the easiest grain for a person to digest, so is very good for little children, and is readily available on most worlds. That is what her servers had been feeding her daughter this evening. You can also sweeten it up by adding a dollop of jam. By using different jams, it will have a different flavour every time. Ludia was almost in tears as she thanked them for their thoughtfulness.
At the dress shop, when Shaak found out they were heading to Seswenna, she asked if they were heading to Luptoom. If they were, she wanted to arrange for her first student to go with them. She wanted her to see what they wear, and she wanted her to visit the textile mills where they weave their famous cloth. Andriel had sent them some nice pieces from there. So she was hoping her student could find things that would be as nice. Ludia did not see it as being a problem.
Krillgan asked Shaak, how her friend was with strange creatures? Because they have a Rancor and Vornskr aboard their ship. Shaak thought that at first they were joking. But when she saw how serious they looked, she knew it wasn't a joke. She called up the seamstress at her shop, and asked her if she was interested in going to Luptoom. She told her that she would love to go, but it is a long and expensive trip. Shaak told her that she can arrange for the trip there, only she will be getting up close to a Rancor. The lady thought that the Rancor would be locked in a secure container, so agreed to go. She wanted to know how much time she had to pack. Krillgan told Shaak that he will give her a 24 hour notice for departure, because there is work being done on the ship. Shaak passed that information along, and told her that she was sending her one of her students, so that she can look after her dress shop while she was gone.
When they returned to Santhe Corporation, Krillgan went to Madam Santhe's office, while Ludia and Lydna went back to the ship for a much needed nap. In her office Madam Santhe let Krillgan read some of the reports generated by the Cereans working on his ship. They mainly dealt with design changes to ships that had not yet been built, based on what they observed on the Fenelar ship. Madam Santhe told Krillgan, that the amount of practical knowledge the Cereans were getting, by examining his ship, was something that could not be measured in credits. Every design change that has been mentioned will save the company hundreds if not thousands of credits. In some cases they have been able to jump from the first prototype design to the third prototype design, without having built the first two prototypes. The Cereans consider his ship to be the pinnacle of Fenelar design, in the ship sizes that Santhe Corporation is interested in. Because it is the last ship that they know that they designed, and the indications are that the next step would have been production on a large scale. Krillgan smiled, "It sounds like I should be charging you for examining my ship." "If that is what you want." Krillgan told her that he was happy with how things stood right now.
Madam Santhe told him that to the Cereans. Working on his ship is more fun and less stressful than a paid holiday.
When Krillgan returned to the Research hanger, the Cereans told him about the modifications they have done to his starfighter. They were surprised that he was missing the module that synchronised his starfighter with his ship's force field. They could not understand why he would have a starfighter aboard, if he can't use it?
The only thing Krillgan could think about was, "Great. Now Rasha is going to start asking him to let her take it for a spin. Not just Ludia."
They told him that they upgraded his in system drive, making it more powerful. Now normally it would result in a dramatic increase in speed. But because of the other modifications the speed is only slightly increased, and his manoeuvrability has remained relatively unchanged. To Krillgan it was his manoeuvrability that is important. They told him that they installed a laser cannon in the nose of his starfighter, doubling his firepower. They also installed a hyperspace drive system in it. It is the slowest, and the smallest system there is, so it should only be used if there is an emergency. Because there is no room for an astrometric system in the starfighter. Everything will have to be entered manually. They told him that they have already cleared it with spaceport traffic control, so that he can take-off to test the starfighter, than return to Santhe Corporation Headquarters.
Before pushing the starfighter out of the hanger, he asked them how things were progressing with the Fenelar Phoenix. They told him that they should be finished in 33 hours.
Krillgan found some space debris while he was putting his starfighter through its paces. So he opened fire on it to test the new laser canon. Traffic control contacted him right away, and told him that they had an indication that he fired his weapons. "Was everything okay?" He told them that he found a piece of space debris, and tested his weapons on it. They asked him about the space debris. He told them that the space debris is dead, it is a confirmed kill. They laughed and asked him if there was enough left to be a hazard to other ships. He told them that what was left would only be a hazard if they were traveling near light speed. That was all they needed to know. No one was allowed to travel near light speed in that sector of the system. Krillgan than told them that he was returning to the planet. He gave a glowing report when he returned to Santhe Corporation, which made the Cereans happy.
Because he used the new laser cannon, they checked the firing system to make sure it handled the extra power passing through it okay.
Krillgan used Research's communicator to let Shaak know when they were expecting to leave. He obtained the name and particulars from Shaak, concerning her friend, to pass along to security. To let them know that they will be taking a passenger when they leave. He then notified his crew, to let them know when they would be leaving. He also suggested to Rasha that if they need any supplies, she should ask security where they can get them.
The next day Madam Santhe's secretary contacted Krillgan. She told him that Madam Santhe asked her to contact the shipping companies, to see if there was any shipments of goods heading to the Seswenna Sector, for an independent to take. They informed her that there was a shipment on Lianna's spaceport for Luptoom in the Seswenna Sector, and if he was willing to take the Trax Tube, there was a shipment on the Randon spaceport for Seswenna itself. After verifying the particulars. Krillgan asked her to notify them that they will be taking both shipments.
When security notified Krillgan that his passenger had arrived, he went out to the main gate to meet her. Krillgan guessed that she was only a few years younger than Shaak herself. She was very well dressed, and Krillgan asked her if the outfit was her own design. She told him that she would love to take credit for everything, but most of it, is her interpretation of an outfit that was a collaboration between her mentor Shaak, and the lady that had trained her, Master Andriel.
Before they entered the Research hanger, he told her that he needs to hug her, because of the Rancor and Vornskr. She said she did not understand, she thought that the creatures would be locked up, because they are dangerous. He told her that the Rancor is his head of internal ship security, and the Vornskr is his assistant, they are only dangerous to anyone who would want to board his ship without his permission. She said that she will only agree if his wife does not mind. Krillgan told her that if she prefers he could get his wife to come out to give her a hug. It will have the same affect. She told him that it was alright if he did it.
He gave her a strong hug. It had been so long since someone had hugged her like that, that she felt it was over to soon. He told her not to take offence, that he will not be introducing her to any of the research team still working on the ship, they are only interested in their work, and preferred to be ignored. Krillgan introduced her to each member of his crew, including Smasher and Rudy. When he introduced Lydna. He told the lady that she is not yet a crew member, so he is not sure where she will fit in. He might have to make her another captain, or maybe co-first officer, because so far, she has shown herself to be very good at inspecting what everyone is doing. This made the lady more at easy, knowing that the captain had a sense of humour. Since it is an older ship, she will be sharing the first officer's washroom facilities.
After she was shown her cabin, Rasha took her to her cabin so that she could see the facilities available. The door to the wardrobe popped open when the lady walked by. Because there were so many nice outfits hanging there, the lady asked if she could look at some. Rasha told her that most of them were not hers, but she did not think it would hurt if she had a quick look. When she pulled a couple out to examine them, the lady became excited and asked her, where she got them? Rasha told her that the outfits were not hers, they belonged to the co-captain. She would have to ask her about them. The lady said that she would love to look more closely at the outfits, because they look like they may have been designed by Master Andriel herself. Rasha told her that she will have plenty of time on the trip to examine all the outfits. The lady told Rasha how excited she now was for this trip, and it hasn't even started.
Krillgan and Ludia wanted to get Lydna used to sleeping in another bed besides there's. They eventually wanted her sleeping in her own bed by herself. But the cabin they wanted to use for her, was being used by the seamstress. Rasha was more than happy to have her sleep with her, so they started laying Lydna down in Rasha's room for naps, which was inconvenient for the seamstress, because she could not examine the outfits in Rasha's wardrobe while Lydna was in the cabin napping.
When Lydna wasn't napping. She was running around. She no longer used Rudy for support. So Rudy would be found following her around. She also suddenly became chatty. She would go and have lots of conversations with Smasher. At first Krillgan and Ludia were concerned, because they knew what male Rancor did to baby Rancor, when they became annoying. Smasher told them that he did not find her that annoying. She was bubbly and happy, and wanted to share that. When he did find it get annoying. He would squeeze his ball to get her attention. Than he would throw it. She and Rudy would both go chasing after it. Each one trying to be the one to bring it back to him. He would always have a good laugh watching them.
After they picked up the shipment at the Randon spaceport, Krillgan decided to make a detour to Yitabo. He wanted Smasher and Rudy to have a chance to get out and stretch their legs. He did not know when they would have another opportunity. He also wanted to take Lydna to visit his grandmother. So he landed by the Wookiee settlement rather than at the spaceport. He let Ludia fly his starfighter. While he sat in the back seat holding on to Lydna. She loved the ride. It was very exciting for her to see the countryside racing by. Emily and Kenny were delighted to have them as guests, and to have Lydna running around the ranch house. What they did have to be very careful about was not letting her outside. They were afraid that she would head straight to the Nerfs. Ludia had to give Emily a massage every night because she tried to keep up with Lydna. Krillgan had to massage Kenny for the same reason. Emily noticed that Ludia seemed to be sick every morning. So she asked her, if she was pregnant? Ludia told her that Krillgan said she was. Emily suggested that she ask Kenny to pick her up a homemade remedy for morning sickness at the market. The local women swear by it. Ludia instead asked Kenny, if she could go to the market with him? She wanted to check out the different jams that they had, so that she could start adding them to Lydna's porridge. She was also curious to see how much different it was, from what she imagined it to be, when she heard Mother Andriel telling her stories. She found out from Kenny that the baker that had been so nice to Andriel and Chitrah, had passed away, but his son now ran the business, and he still made the sweet dough balls. Of course the vendors started talking when Ludia bought the remedy for morning sickness. The vendors that dealt with her all said that she was a much nicer person then they were lead to believe. They could not understand why she did not come to the market more often. They also found it peculiar that she would buy something, but it was Kenny that actually paid for it.
When Krillgan and Ludia left Lianna. The former bounty hunter turned researcher and honour wife, asked her husband, if she should tell the other wives who Krillgan really is. After thinking about it. He told her in the morning, that she should tell them at dinner tonight, so that they can be doubly proud of the work they did for him and his ship. They are researchers, so they know enough not to tell anyone else.
Madam Santhe sent an invitation from the palace, in her name as Princess Anthila, to Lady Brelmy on Lorrad, through the Interior Ministry. She did not want one of her Heralds getting their outfits destroyed, by exposure to the Lorrad air. At first they were upset with her, but when she sat down with them, explaining her decision, they understood. Quite a few of their outfits had been handed down from one generation to the next, in service to the palace. It would be a shame to see one destroyed. Needless to say, the invitation created quite a stir in the royal palace on Barseg. It had been more than a century since a person of Noble Barseg birth, had been invited to the palace on Lianna.
When the Barseg Nobility found out that Lady Brelmy was still single, and the extent of her holdings on Lorrad. Her father found himself receiving numerous marriage proposals for her. Many were from Noblemen that had no assets on Lorrad, and saw it as an opportunity to expand their asset base. He knew that many were already married, and discretely inquired into how they planned on rectifying the situation. Many of the wives would have accidents if he agreed. It was easier than going through a divorce, where the wife's family would usually get involved, and demand a portion of the Nobleman's assets.
At first Lady Brelmy wanted to turn down the invitation. She had some nice clothes, but none were of a standard that would be acceptable in any royal court, and all her clothes had soot stains. It was her own executives that ran her companies, and the leaders of the Lorrad underground, that encouraged her to at least correspond with her. They told her that the Santhe House has a good reputation, and the invitation has upset many Barseg Nobles. So she wrote Princess Anthila back, telling her of her clothing dilemma. Princess Anthila wrote her back, informing her that there is a Togruta Master Seamstress on Lianna that is fully capable of sewing her a dress, worthy of the courts of Lianna. She can put her up in a cottage on the palace grounds, until she is ready for an audience in the palace. In the meantime, she would like her to have a tour of Santhe Corporation. Where there is no restrictive dress code. Lady Brelmy's advisors pointed out to her where the real talking with the Princess will take place. The invitation to the palace is a ruse, to elevate her status among the Barseg Nobility. From the rumours they have heard, it was working.
Lady Brelmy was intrigued by the invitation, and wanted to find out if the Lianna nobility was any different from Barseg nobility. So she accepted the invitation, and made arrangements to travel to Lianna. She was met on Lianna's spaceport by a couple of royal Heralds, and a contingent of Palace Guards. She was whisked straight through security and straight onto the Royal Shuttle. On the trip down to the palace grounds, the Heralds outlined what was planned for her. They were to take her to the cottage where she would be staying. There she will meet the Palace Secretary. Once she was settled in, they would re-board the shuttle, and fly to the shuttle terminal nearest the dress shop. There the palace limousine was waiting to take her to the dress shop where she would be measured and she could discuss with the Master Seamstress the details of her dress. If she is not comfortable with what she is currently wearing. The Master Seamstress has dress designs that have been on display, and can quickly make alterations to them for her.
Lady Brelmy had noticed how dirty her clothes looked, next to the people from the Palace. When in fact they were clean. Just stained. She decided that she wanted to try on the outfits that were being offered. She was told that after her return to the cottage. When she was ready, she should notify the Palace Secretary, and he would make arrangements for her to be taken to Santhe Corporation Headquarters.
On the shuttle ride to the dress shop, one of the Heralds had thoughtfully brought along a computer, and connected to the dress shop's Holonet site. So that Lady Brelmy could see the types of outfits that they would normally sew. She liked both the outfits, and how happy the models looked showing off the outfits. This was also the first time she had seen what the Togruta looked like. She was glad that she saw them on the computer first. Otherwise she might have stared.
She found the Master Seamstress to be a very pleasant lady. She also liked how she stood up to the Palace Guards, not allowing them into her workshop. When they contacted the Palace requesting some female Guards be sent to the dress shop. The Palace Secretary refused their request, telling them that the Togruta are fully capable of providing security in their own dress shop. They are even cleared to providing security for their Queen, if she chose to enter their dress shop.
After Lady Brelmy had her measurements taken, she was drawn to the two outfits on display in the case in the workshop. The Master Seamstress informed her that the outfits belong to the lady who co-founded this dress shop, and her husband. They wore them when they were invited to the palace for dinner with Princess Krinta. Where they also met Queen Anthila for desert. Lady Brelmy stared at the outfits for a long time, as she remembered how nice her life was like back in those days. Back before she was raped, and her father did not want to have anything to do with her.
Shaak did not want to intrude on the Noblewoman's reminiscences, but she had work to do, and decisions needed to be made. So she addressed Lady Bremly, when she did not respond, she risked offending her, by gently touching her arm while addressing her.
The Lady had not noticed that Shaak had touched her, when she seemed to wake up and turned to her. Shaak told her about the decisions she needs to make. She told Shaak that she wants to try on the outfits she would recommend, because her own outfits were too badly stained to be seen on Lianna.
Because Shaak regularly rotates the outfits she has on display in the storefront windows. She had quite a closet full of outfits that had never been worn. The Lady was close in size to what she had. So she pulled out three that she thought would look nice on her. The Lady liked all three when she first saw them. She loved them when she tried them on, and saw how they looked on her. She was surprised that the Master Seamstress said that they would look even nicer, once they were properly fitted. After she marked them up with chalk, she handed each one to a young Togruta seamstress, sitting at each of the three sewing machines.
The Lady was curious and asked if she ever trained humans? Skaak told her that she has and still does. The first seamstress she trained is a human, who has her own dress shop. She is currently traveling to Luptoom, to visit the factories there. Sometimes they have limited runs on some of the fabrics they make, and you can only see them to purchase them, if you show up in person. So the human seamstress she is currently training is looking after her dress shop, until she returns. Lady Brelmy asked if she was also on their Holonet site, because she noticed that all three Togruta seamstresses were modeling outfits on the site. Shaak told her, that the first human model she saw, is her seamstress, she was also in the group shot with the three Togruta. (On the flight back to the palace Lady Brelmy checked out the site once again, wishing she was that seamstress.)
Shaak showed Lady Brelmy the sketch of the dress she wanted to make for her. She then went into her office and came back with the shawl she had commissioned the ladies in the weaver's guild to make for her design. Lady Brelmy was surprised that Shaak had not made the design for anyone yet, and asked her why. She told her that the Master Seamstress and Dress Designer that had trained her, had told her that she will have design ideas that she needs to hold on to. When the right lady for the design walks into her shop, she will know it was for her. When Shaak first laid eyes on Lady Brelmy, she knew that this was her design. Lady Brelmy was honoured and felt very special. A feeling that she had not had for a long time. She also loved the shawl that Shaak had placed on her shoulders. She really wanted this design.
Shaak had pulled out some bolts of silk that she thought would look good on Lady Brelmy. She draped each one, one at a time, over Lady Brelmy's shoulder so that she could see how each one looked against her skin. She let Lady Brelmy choose the one she thought looked best, to make her dress out of. After everything was agreed upon. Shaak asked her if she wanted to return to the dress shop for her final fitting, or did she want her to bring it to her cottage. Lady Brelmy told her she would return. She liked the atmosphere in her dress shop. She then asked the Master Seamstress about the expense in credits for everything. Shaak was a little surprised.
"Didn't the Palace Secretary tell you that the Palace was incurring all of the expenses?"
Lady Brelmy was a little embarrassed, she had not paid as close attention as she should have, to everything the Palace Secretary was saying. She had felt like a child again when she was checking out the cottage, and the three women that were assigned to the cottage and her, while she lived there. The first outfit was ready. Lady Brelmy was reluctant to surrender the shawl back to the Master Seamstress, it felt so comfortable. Shaak and the seamstress that had done the alterations helped her to get dressed. Lady Brelmy loved the results. It was just like the Master Seamstress said, it looked like it was originally designed for her.
They sat down and had some tea while they waited for the other seamstresses to finish with their alterations. Lady Brelmy asked about the lady whose outfit is hanging in the display case. She told her that she had to leave Lianna, because the Sith wanted to take her baby away from her. The Sith had arranged their marriage, hoping that they would give birth to a force using child, that they could train to become a Sith. Lady Brelmy said that she detects that she has tremendous respect for the woman. Did she know anything about their marriage relationship? Shaak told her that she met them when her friend was starting to fall in love with her husband. He is a special man. Kind, caring, and considerate. She believed that he started loving his wife after he met her mother. Because he knew that this was the type of person his wife would become. The type of person he wanted to love forever, as his wife. She hated him at first because the Sith had arranged the marriage, and they both had to leave their families because of it. So he had to be strong and gentle at the same time, until he finally won her over. By this time the other outfits were ready. Lady Brelmy thanked the Master Seamstress for the tea and the lovely story. Before leaving the workshop, Lady Brelmy asked the Master Seamstress if she knew if her friend was able to get away and raise their child safely. Shaak simply answered yes. Lady Brelmy loved stories with happy endings.
The tour of Santhe Corporation Headquarters was exquisite. Santhe Security even put on a special demonstration for Lady Brelmy. Now she knew why they were so highly respected, as a security force. After the tour, Lady Brelmy had a chance to have a talk with Madam Santhe, as she preferred to be called, when at work in the company. Their first conversation was mainly small talk, as they started to set the groundwork for a relationship. Every day, Lady Brelmy would come back to Santhe Corporation, and meet with Madam Santhe. Each subsequent talk that they had, Lady Brelmy started opening up more and more to Madam Santhe.
She told Madam how her father was so upset with the one they called the Blue Ghost, for getting the ship's computer to record everything that the first officer of the freighter did, including recording her rape. Madam Santhe asked her, why her father was so upset with the Blue Ghost, when he should have been upset with the first officer? Lady Brelmy said that he was upset with the first officer. Because of him, he could not get a bride price for her.
Madam Santhe asked her, if she had ever heard of a Nobleman's daughter being raped before? Lady Brelmy said that she was the only one that she knew of. Madam Santhe asked her again to think about why her father was upset with the Blue Ghost, because she could not be the first Nobleman's daughter to have been raped, in the long history of Barseg Nobility? After thinking about it for a long while, Lady Brelmy suddenly went pale. She looked at Madam Santhe and told her, "The Blue Ghost saved my life. If it had not become public knowledge that she had been raped. She would have had an unfortunate accident, like so many Noblemen's daughters." Which is why her father sent her to Lorrad, the next thing to having an accident.
They talked for a long time that day. For the first time in her life Lady Brelmy felt comfortable talking with someone about her rape. She wanted to talk with her mother, but her mother would not let her. In the short time she had come to know her, Madam Santhe had become a surrogate mother for her. Madam Santhe had gotten up from behind her desk, and moved the chairs on the other side of her desk right next to each other. So that they could hold hands and talk and hug some more.
Madam Santhe had forgot about the time limit, for being in secure mode, and the computer was not allowed to warn her, because she wasn't behind her desk, where she could see the monitor. It wasn't until she noticed the flashing red of her monitor against the wall behind her desk. That she realised that Security thought that she was in a hostage situation. She told her computer to tell Security to stand down, it might be a few more hours yet, before she open's her door.
The computer did more than tell them. It let Security hear her for themselves. They had the computer run an analysis of her voice, they wanted to know if she was under duress. The computer determined that Madam Santhe was annoyed by what she perceived as an interruption. The fully armoured and armed Security Officers outside her door felt that they could not leave their positions, until they were sure that Madam Santhe was alright. The Head of Security approached the Cereans, to see if they could hack into Madam's computer, so that Security could listen in on what was being said. The Cereans being very fond of Madam, were also concerned, and did hack into her computer. After listening for a few moments, the Cereans undid what they did, and told the Head of Security, that they could not help him. Madam's conversation with Lady Brelmy was too personal. They also told him to leave them alone. The door to her office will open when Madam Santhe orders it to, and not before. The only thing the Head of Security could do, was rotate his men (male and female) out of their positions outside Madam Santhe's door, so they could remove their armour for bathroom breaks, and replacing fluids they were losing through sweat, as they wore the heavy armour.
When Madam Santhe did open the door and came out, it was obvious to the office staff, that she had been crying. She reminded Security that she had ordered them to stand down. She then asked her secretary to bring a carafe of cold water and some tea. She brought the water first. After she brought them some tea, Madam Santhe sealed the door again. When they did finally come out, Madam Santhe contacted palace security to have the shuttle on standby. She did not want her guest being late getting her dress, or being late for dinner tonight.
They hugged, before Lady Brelmy departed for the palace. Everyone in the office knew that they were now very good friends. Madam Santhe went to security herself and apologized. She told them that she had lost track of time, and what was happening in her office, was too important to be interrupted, because they thought she might be a hostage. She knew that the female officers understood.
When Lady Brelmy entered the dining hall, she looked lovely. Princess Anthila was very proud of Shaak, and what she accomplished. She introduced the acting Palace Secretary to Lady Brelmy as her husband. She asked him if he could join them for dinner as her husband, and a Nobleman of Lianna. So that Lady Brelmy could see that not all Noblemen are bad, except for the ones on Barseg. They all laughed over that, instead of crying like they wanted to.
Conversation was light, dinner was amazing. After dinner, Princess Anthila dropped a bombshell. She asked Lady Brelmy if she would live in the palace permanently, as her "Lady in Waiting". Her duties would be similar to a Palace Secretary, but only for her. So she would be working constantly with the Palace Secretary in coordinating functions. She would need to represent her both in the palace and out. Her husband would be heavily involved in her initial training. She will be given time each day, for her own affairs, including the overseeing of her empire on Lorrad. Lady Bremly smiled, she liked the way Princess Anthila made that sound. She told her that she will let her have three Lorradian months to decide. Then she will either need a firm yes or no.
Lady Brelmy knew that on Barseg, this was a coveted position, and would automatically elevate the status of a house. It was usually offered to married woman because of that. Lady Brelmy asked Princess Anthila, how many toes she would be stepping on, if she accepted this position? Princess Anthila told her none. It is not a regular position in this palace. Two generations have gone by, without anyone in this position. Because it is a personal position, it is a personal choice as to who gets it. If anything, the Ladies of Lianna would be more curious than anything else, to know why the position was offered to her, if she accepts. If she turns it down, then this conversation did not happen. Lady Brelmy blushed, because of the confidence the Princess must have in her, to even offer her this position. She told the Princess that she should would have her decision within the time she has been given.
Lady Brelmy only took one outfit back to Lorrad with her, leaving everything else in her cottage. She made sure it was well sealed in her luggage, before exiting the Lorrad spaceport, to take the shuttle to the surface. She did not want to get any soot on it, when departing the shuttle terminal.
Her company executives all recommended that she take the position. She knew that they were well qualified to run her company for her. After all, she had handpicked each one. They were also well positioned for further acquisitions, should the opportunities present themselves.
Her Father contacted her to let her know that he had started negotiations for her marriage. She told him point blank, "She was not interested in any man that was paying him for the privilege to rape her. She was old enough under Barseg law, that he no longer had that authority to do so. (She knew that none of the Noblemen on Barseg had the strength, patience, and gentleness, like the seamstress's husband. So that she could fall in love with them. On Barseg, women were property. Even a Nobleman's wife.) Besides, she was now the new Lady in Waiting for Princess Anthila of the Royal House of Santhe on Lianna. She had just returned to Lorrad to make the arrangements, so that she could continue to run her factories from there."
This was more than a slap in the face to her father. Some of the Noblemen that recently expressed interest in his daughter had strong connections to Barseg's royal court. He had been hoping to leverage that connection to get an appointment for himself, or his wife. Now all that was lost. In anger he severed the connection with his daughter. Lady Brelmy was surprised by how quickly she had decided to accept the position. She no longer felt safe on Lorrad. It was too easy for a Barseg Nobleman to try and force himself on her. The courts would never call it rape.
Lydna was helping her father finish off the plate of berries that mother had brought back with her, from the market. Berry season was just beginning, and it was promising to be a good one. The morning sickness cure did help lessen the symptoms in the morning, just not eliminate them. Ludia did like going with Kenny to the market, then helping him prepare dinner with some of the items he purchased. She was learning a lot from helping him. Some day she might even be able to cook a complete meal for her family, the way Kenny does. Krillgan wanted to wait until the end of berry season before returning to the ship. Lydna just found that this was a nice food that she could eat with her hands, and in her own words, tasted "Yummy". She even found it tickled when her father would lick all the juice off of her face. She liked sleeping with her grandmother Emily, but could only call her "Em". Some nights she wasn't quite asleep when her mother would come in to give Em a massage. She knew that Em had to be a really good person for her mother to do that. The gentle rocking motion in the mattress, when Em was getting her massage, was usually enough to put Lydna finally to sleep.
That night Krillgan had a dream. His mother appeared to him and told him that he needs to hurry. Their One Clan really needs his help. When Krillgan woke up, he woke up Ludia and told her that they need to get dressed and leave right away. His clan needs his help. Ludia woke up and asked him what was wrong with the Singing Mountain Clan. Krillgan told her not their clan, the clan that he and his mother belong to on Eriadu. The One Clan. He doesn't know what is wrong, just that they need him.
Ludia went to wake Em, to tell her that they have to leave. She was hoping that she could dress Lydna without waking her. Krillgan went to wake Kenny to give him the news, he wished that he could have made up a batch of Kolto when he had the time. He asked Kenny how much of the Kolto medication that he made up, do they have left? Krillgan did not like the answer. He asked Kenny, if he had a small glass jar? When Kenny gave him one, he started dripping Kolto into it right away. When he felt that he had enough, he sealed it and handed it to Kenny. He told Kenny that if it looks like they are going to run out. He should take this oil, and ask the Apothecary to make it up the same way he would make up Kolto for med kits. The mixture is similar, and should last them until the next time he can return to Yitabo. Kenny went to the kitchen to put the jar in the cooler. He also put some water on to boil. He doubted that neither he nor Emily would be able to go right back to sleep, without having a soothing cup of tea first. He then went to Emily's bedroom, because he was sure that that is where he would find everyone. He arrived just in time to hear Krillgan tell Emily about his dream. They all hugged, and kissed, and had tears in their eyes, as they said goodbye. Lydna seemed to wince a little when Emily and Kenny kissed her goodbye, but she did not wakeup.
Ludia had to tell Krillgan what to take, as she was holding the sleeping Lydna in her arms. She made sure that he grabbed all the lovely jams she had purchased. After loading everything in the starfighter, and making sure it was secure. Krillgan used the force to help lift Ludia and Lydna onto the back seat. To Ludia they felt as light as a feather when she jumped up into the backseat. When they were settled, Krillgan jumped rather than climb into the front seat.
The sun had already risen over the mountains, when they arrived next to the Wookiee settlement, and most of the Wookiees were up having breakfast. Krillgan and Ludia joined them, thanking them for looking after his crew. Krillgan even remembered to give the hunter a nice hug, telling him that he was thankful he wasn't eaten, which brought a laugh from everyone that was present. After everything was secure aboard ship, and the ramp was raised, Krillgan and Ludia went to the bridge. Krillgan took the pilot's seat and told the computer that they were doing a silent departure. Ludia was in the captain's seat, with Lydna in her arm's, monitoring everything, especially the items on the engineer's console. Since Grimm was still sleeping.
The crew and passenger were woken up by the computer, telling everyone to prepare for the jump to hyperspace. Krillgan was not waiting until they reached the edge of the system to jump. After the jump, everyone wanted to know what was going on. Even Smasher and Rudy came to the crew lounge to find out what was happening. They were expecting to go hunting again today. While everyone was having their breakfast Krillgan told them that his mother appeared to him in a dream. Telling him that he needs to get to Eriadu, to help his clan there.
The passenger later told Rasha, that she was not expecting this trip to be so exciting. It was just like one of her adventure stories she used to read as a child. First she discovers an amazing treasure. Then she is treated as royalty by the walking mountains of fur. Now suddenly they are rushing into the unknown. She will have some lovely stories to tell Shaak when she returns to Lianna. Rasha told her that other than Shaak, she cannot tell anyone else about the Wookiees. She told Rasha that having a secret is part of what makes this a great adventure. Rasha wondered how she would react if she knew that their Captain had a bounty on his head.
Lady Bremly's father sent her mother to try and talk some reason into his daughter. Instead, when she arrived on Lianna, she warned her daughter that her father was going to attempt to take her factories away from her. Since she wasn't on Lorrad to stop him. Lady Bremly took her mother to Santhe Corporation Headquarters to tell Madam Santhe what her mother told her.
When Madam Santhe heard what her husband was planning, she called a meeting of all department heads to help come up with a solution.
It was Head of Security that reminded her, that it is company policy not to subcontract work, unless the company's security system is up to Santhe Corporation standards, so that there is no chance of losing proprietary information. They would need to go there with a large contingent of security officers, to help bolster their security, in preparation for a possible bid on some outsourced work, while they upgrade their security system. That would prevent anyone from trying to seize the properties, even a Barseg Nobleman. Madam Santhe liked that idea, and gave him the go ahead. She then took the afternoon off, to have tea with her Lady in Waiting, and her mother, in Lady Brelmy's cottage. Her mother was very impressed with Princess Anthila being willing to visit with them, when she is obviously a very busy lady.
When Madam Santhe left to return to Santhe Corporation, to close up some files before returning to the Palace. The mother told Lady Brelmy how proud of her she was, especially how proud she was of her for standing up to her father. She is happy that she found some good friends and allies. When Lady Bremly showed her mother all the outfits that a local Togruta seamstress has sewn for her. (She had quite a collection, now that she was a Lady in Waiting). Her mother wanted an outfit sewn for her. She told her that these are far nicer designs than anything she has seen on Barseg. She was sure that the wives of the other Noblemen will be very jealous.
When Lady Brelmy's father landed at the freighter's spaceport on Lorrad, in his private yacht. He did not notice the large freighter with Santhe Corporation's emblem on it. His luxury sedan came right up to the bottom of the ramp to pick him up. So he would spend as little time as possible outside. In the sedan, his local advisor briefed him on all the preparations that had been made for his coming. A large contingent of the local PD would be present to back up his security people. In case his daughter's security people tried putting up a fight. Their informants tell him that her security people will resist them, from trying to enter her compound. Her father suggested that they go to the largest compound first. Once that one falls into his hands, the rest are sure to capitulate.
When they arrived at the compound, he sent his advisor to order them to let him onto his property. The security guard in the gatehouse, told the advisor that this property belonged to Lady Brelmy. He has taken his Lord to the wrong compound. The advisor went up to the officer in charge of the PD, and told him to put the security guard in his place.
When the PD officer went to the gatehouse, he noticed a Security Officer in the gatehouse from Santhe Corporation, along with the local security guard. He asked the Officer, what was he doing there? He told the PD officer that they were there to upgrade Lady Bremly's security to Santhe Corporation standards, in preparation for Lady Brelmy placing a bid for some outsourcing work, for Santhe Corporation. The PD officer tried telling him that this property belongs to her father, not to Lady Brelmy. The Santhe Corporation officer told the PD officer, that Santhe Corporation has done its homework. According to all the paperwork filed with the Interior Ministry, this property does belong to Lady Bremly. If the PD try entering the property without her written permission, they are allowed to shot them on sight, according to both Barseg and Lorrad law. They can also be sure that one of their missiles will stray from its intended target, and blow up the luxury sedan, with everyone in it.
The PD officer went and entered the luxury sedan. He told Lady Brelmy's father, that they can't do anything for him. There is a contingent of heavily armed, and armoured, Santhe Corporation Security officers, protecting the compound. The PD has nothing that can match their firepower. It would be suicide for them to rush the gate. They also threatened to blow up this sedan with a stray missile. Once Santhe Corporation has finished upgrading their security system. The PD would not be able to help them, even when the Santhe Security Officers leave. He will have to find another way to take over the compounds.
Instead of being upset, the PD officer saw the Nobleman smile. He dismissed the officer, and told the chauffeur to take him back to his yacht.
When he returned to Barseg, he was quite surprised to find that he has been summoned to appear before the King. When he went to the palace, the King asked him, how his daughter managed to get the prestige appointment, of being Lady in Waiting to Princess Anthila on Lianna? When no Barseg Nobleman has been able to set foot in their palace, for more than a century. Lady Bremly's father told the King, that his daughter has proven herself to be a very astute businessman on Lorrad. Even being able to outmanoeuvre some Noblemen. He assumed that Princess Anthila must have heard of her skills, which is why she must have invited her to be her Lady in Waiting. The King mentioned that the Santhe family must be watching them much closer than they had suspected. He then asked the father to report to him, any new developments concerning his daughter, and the royal court on Lianna. Lady Bremly's father promised the King that he would. He could not believe his good fortune, he had just been handed unrestricted access to the royal court of Barseg. Every Nobleman's dream. All because of his daughter.
When he returned home, his wife had returned from Lianna, dressed in a manner befitting their new status. He told her that he had just returned from an audience with their King, all because of their daughter. He now has unrestricted access to the royal court. What is even more amazing, was how his daughter had outmanoeuvred him. Preventing him from taking over all her holdings. He has never felt so proud of her. His wife told him that he should tell her himself. It will go more towards repairing his relationship with her, than anything she could do.
The father was surprised that his wife believed that his daughter would receive him. He flew to Lianna right away, to try. He was not given permission to land anywhere on the planet. He did dock at the spaceport and took a shuttle to the surface. Palace Security was expecting him and told him that he was granted an hour's audience with his daughter. The meeting went better, and faster, than Lady Bremly expected. She was happy for her father, and his new status. Secretly she was happy that her father admitted that he was proud of her, for outmanoeuvring him on Lorrad. He left knowing that he could come back, but he must give more notice.
He reported immediately to the King, upon his return to Barseg, about being allowed on the palace grounds, and about being given permission to return. The King was delighted, and of course wanted to be kept informed. Lady Brelmy's mother would return to Lianna with the excuse that she needed a new dress. The father did not mind, because he liked how jealous the ladies of the court were of her outfits. Lady Bremly enjoyed her mother's visits, and would have her stay with her at the cottage. She would also warn her when her father planned on coming for a visit. He would visit just often enough, to maintain his status in the royal court on Barseg.
Krillgan had convinced Ludia, that he should go to Eriadu by himself. This is his clan, and mother had only spoken to him in the dream. He had promised her that he would wear his full amour outfit, just to be safe. So when they entered the Eriadu system, the Fenelar Phoenix went to battle mode, so that Krillgan could leave the ship in his starfighter. It certainly was easier leaving the ship, not have to use the force.
As he approached Eriadu, Krillgan asked, if he could land on the planet, since he would not be able to dock with the spaceport, unless they had a starfighter bay? They told him that all three shuttle terminals were now operational. They asked him, if he had a preference? He asked, if there was a shuttle terminal at Old Town Factoryville? They told him that there was, and gave him the planetary coordinates.
After parking the starfighter, the Imperial Troopers in charge of keeping the terminal secure, did not know what to make of the person who got out of the starfighter. He had on some new bounty hunter armour, with a sword strapped to his back, and a shielded blaster pistol on his hip. They had no reason to talk to him, so they let him go.
Krillgan removed the helmet after leaving the terminal. He would much rather use the force to tell him what was around him, than relying on the electronics that were in his helmet.
The sun was about to set, when he found what he hoped was the Devaronian Inn. He was very relieved to see a Devaronian matron when he entered the main door. While registering for a room, he asked the matron how he might get to the Devaronian clan. It was important that he talk to a lady whose name in Basic means Flower. She asked him, if Flower was in trouble? He assured her that he wasn't a bounty hunter. He just needed to talk with her. She told him that a truck will be stopping by, to deliver supplies in the morning. He can catch a ride in it to the clan. She also told him where the cantina was if he was hungry, and told him what time he needs to have his room's computer wake him, if he wanted to have breakfast in the cantina, before leaving.
After he left for his room, the Devaronian matron contacted the dress shop using her communicator. She told Uleanna that a strange man dressed in armour, had just come into the Inn. He asked how to get to the Devaronian clan, because he needed to talk to a lady whose name means flower. "Could he be the one her grandmother prophesied would come, before she died? The one that her aunt Andriel would send them, to protect the clan." Uleanna said that she hoped so. Uleanna asked the matron, if he had a lightsabre? "Did he look like he could battle a Sith?" The matron said she wasn't sure. He did not have a lightsabre, but he did have a sword. Why would anyone in this day and age have a sword?
Uleanna wanted the matron to ask the man if Andriel sent him, but was afraid to have her mention that name. Bounty hunters do come to the cantina in disguise hoping that someone might mention that name. So that they might be able to get a lead as to where she might be hiding. Bounty hunters have already tried kidnapping a couple of Devaronian women, who had mentioned her name in a conversation. If it wasn't for their self-defence skills, they would have gotten away with it. They contacted the Garrison Commander right away, who ran the bounty hunters off the planet. They were told that if they returned, they would be arrested, than executed for attempted kidnapping. Uleanna told her to just watch him, they will find out who he is, when she sees him tomorrow.
The matron walked to the cantina. She found the young man, he had just finished placing his order. He wasn't wearing his armour, he wore a nice shirt, and some leather pants. She asked his server what he ordered. She told her that he had first asked if they have oven baked chinchawwas. She had to tell him that it hadn't been on the menu for years. The matron's heart had skipped a beat when the server mentioned chinchawwas. The server said that he asked her to recommend something, so she recommended the Reek steak with wild fungi in cream sauce and potatoes. She also recommended a side order of sweetweed salad. He said that he was very interested in trying the salad, but was not a big salad person, so he might not finish it. The matron told her to charge his meal to his room. The server knew that he must have some connection to the Devaronian clan, if he was being allowed to charge it to his room.
The next morning after breakfast, Krillgan in full armour, went to clear up his bill. The Devaronian matron told him that Flower will decide what he should pay. The truck was waiting just outside for him.
The Nosaurian driver looked like he was impatient to get away. After they were on their way. The Nosaurian told him that he thought bounty hunters usually had big guns, and he did not expect one to be catching a ride in his truck. Krillgan told him that he was adequately armed for anything he had to face. He was not a bounty hunter, or he would have kicked him out at the Inn, and commandeered his truck for his own purposes. The Nosaurian did not like that comment. He gave Krillgan a quick glance. "How do I know that you won't try doing that, when we stop at the Devaronian general store?" "If I did, it would be a short walk home for you. But I won't, because that is where I will be getting out."
The Nosaurian did not ask him anymore questions for the rest of the trip. He just kept taking quick glances at him. Not sure whether to trust him or not.
When he backed the truck up to the store. Krillgan got out as soon as he stopped, before he said anything. He only took a few steps, then stopped when he saw the sign over the dress shop. "Andriel and Dreamara's Unity Dress Shop". His mother will like that name. He started walking again when a Devaronian woman came out of the dress shop, and stood their looking at him. Definitely older than him, but younger than his mother.
He approached to what he thought was a comfortable distance to talk. He stopped and told her that he was looking for a lady whose name in basic means flower. The lady asked, who is he? He told her that his name is Krillgan, he is the son of Andriel, who sent him. The lady first put her hand to her mouth, then she launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck. She backed away like she had just received an electric shock, when her cheek touched his. "You have fur". Krillgan could see that her eyes were watery. She told him that she is his cousin. Her name is Uleanna, which means flower in basic.
She said that her grandmother told them before she died, that Andriel would send them someone to protect them when they needed it. She did not think it would be one of their own. She hopes that he knows how to stand up to a Sith. "The Moff contacted them to warn them that "The Brat" was returning. Before he was taken away by the Sith, he promised to return some day, and make slaves of us all."
Krillgan mildly reminded her that it was not appropriate to talk like that about a member of the clan. He could not help it, that their planet was invaded, and his clan disintegrated, while he was in the womb. He had no stability, nor a true understanding of right and wrong, or good and bad. It was only natural that he chose the path he did. It was very unfortunate that he was also a force user. Uleanna asked him, why he was defending him? Krillgan told her that he had received everything that that man had lost. If his clan had not disintegrated, Krillgan could not have benefited from being there, when a new clan was born. Uleanna said she understood where he was coming from. But that does not change the very real danger they are in. Krillgan told her that he is fully aware of the danger, which is why his mother sent him.
At that moment a young Devaronian teenage girl with red hair, came out of the shop, followed by a blond haired human man. Uleanna introduced her daughter and husband. Uleanna noticed Krillgan staring at her daughter's hair. She told them that they noticed something very interesting in all the Devaronian-Human families they have in their clan. All the daughters have hair, where the sons do not. Krillgan apologised, he was so used to seeing his mother without hair. That to see an obvious Devaronian young lady with hair, was a shock. He should not have been, because he also has hair, as well as Devaronian fur. The young lady came up to him and touched his cheek with her hand. She asked him, why if he has Devaronian fur, does he look purple? Krillgan told her that he also has his father's blue skin. He pushed the fur slightly aside on the back of his hand, so that she could see the blue skin underneath.
They took him into the dress shop to show him around. He asked them if he could leave his armour some place. People keep thinking he is a bounty hunter. Uleanna had a mannequin in her workshop that is not being used. He can hang his armour on that. Krillgan warned her that when he needs to put it on, he is not going to stop and ask permission to enter the workshop. He will barge right in, and put it on. She told him not to worry. She doubts that she will have any real customers today. "After they were warned that…" She had to stop and think, because she could not remember his name, and she did not want to call him "The Brat" again.
"After they were warned that the Sith was coming, most people are too afraid to come out of their homes."
After Krillgan took his armour off, both mother and daughter took him to the storefront, because of all the natural light. They wanted to have a closer look at his shirt. Uleanna asked him what type of silk it is made from. He told her that it was Rimohtad Spider Silk. The daughter asked him what else was in there. He told them it was a special metal. He took them back into the workshop, drawing the entrance curtain closed, to keep must of the sunlight out. He then touched his shirt with the force, so that they could see it glow. He told them that his shirt was probably better armour than the suit of armour. But the suit of armour looks more intimidating.
Over lunch, Krillgan found out that Uleanna is now the head of the clan. The clan elders that were first nominated are still elders, but they are more like advisors now. It was the clan that chose the new name for the dress shop, after her grandmother passed away.
It was very nice of his aunt Lindream, to come visit them all the way from Deysum III. She signed a contract with the Nautolans for the fish products that they produce. She also signed a contract with their joint venture Devaronian/Human Shellwork Jewellery Company. They have artisans that handcraft jewellery from the shell of the Eriaduan Flow-mollusks. They traveled to Luptoom together to the textile mills to have a look at their specialty fabrics. Krillgan asked her how long ago this was, and was there any fabric left. Uleanna believed that a year or two had passed, and there was still a good selection of fabrics when they left. They just could not afford to take it all.
After lunch Uleanna went with him to talk to the Nosaurian clan. On the way he asked if she could make up a small package of the items, his aunt signed contracts for, and have it sent to the spaceport, for his ship the Fenelar Phoenix to pick up. He might be able to send more people, who would be interested in signing contracts, their way. She asked him why she doesn't just give it to him. He reminded her that this is a Sith Empire planet. He does not know what type of repercussions there will be, for fighting and defeating a Sith, on one of their worlds. He might have to suddenly depart this planet, and cannot afford to clutter his mind with little things.
The Sith barged right into the Moff's office, ignoring all the personnel in the outer office that tried to stop him. He told the Moff that he was only there because the ground crew at the shuttle terminal told him that he wants to see him, and the Sith are supposed to show some level of courtesy to the local Moff. The Moff looked at him for a moment. He asked him if he knew why his uncle nicknamed him "Chaos" when he first saw him at the Sith Academy. The Sith said he did not know, nor did he care. The Moff told him that his uncle only saw destruction in his life.
"There was nothing there that an Empire can be built upon. They could not find any way to use him, which would help build the Empire. The only reason his Master took him as an apprentice, was because he felt obligated to the Empire, to try and make something out of him. Since he was the one who brought you to the Academy, and somehow you survived. In a class that had the lowest survival rate of any group, and everyone believes it was because of you."
"Well your uncle is dead, killed by the Emperor that he served."
"Yes, and the Emperor is also dead, which is why your Master let you go. But make no mistake, by uncle was a loyal Sith, right to the very end. Though he was surrounded by those conspiring against the Emperor."
"My Master let me go, because he could not stop me!"
"He could have, but there was no point. He saw you racing towards your death, just as I have."
"Dreams and visions. They don't have any meaning unless you give meaning to them. I've seen my death a thousand different times, in a thousand different ways. Yet I am still here. The Devaronians are weak. They will kiss my feet, and do whatever else I say, when I show up. They will do it, because they know that I will hurt the ones they love, if they don't. No Jedi would dare come to this planet to save them. Not only would they have to try and beat me. But they would have your entire military to deal with, and your military has been trained to detain and kill Jedi."
"Don't be so naïve. There are other force users out there, who we are not at war with."
"Do you really believe the Voss will leave their precious mountain, to help some pathetically weak people?"
"There are others. There is one who will destroy you, if you don't leave this planet."
"Now whose being naïve?"
With that the Sith left the office.
Airy was out front of the building, standing beside the Moff's repulser-lift limousine, with a polish rag in his hand. When the Sith stepped out of the building, and ordered him to drive him to Old Town Factoryville. Airy told him that he only takes orders from the Moff. He will have to find some other way of getting there. The Sith ordered Airy to get out of his way, he will drive himself. Airy didn't move. He told the Sith that he cannot drive the Moff's limousine. The Sith became angry and used the force to throw Airy against a barrier. Airy called him a fool, because he was the only one who could drive the limousine. Then he collapsed.
The Sith sat in the driver's seat. As soon as he touched the steering wheel, it locked up, and alarms started going off. It kept repeating the warning "Unauthorised User". The Sith swore, the vehicle was keyed to the chauffer's DNA. He used the force to blast the driver's door off, and got out.
An open military vehicle was going by, the type used to chauffeur officers. The Sith grabbed it with the force. Bringing it to a dead stop. He threw the three military personnel out of the vehicle, using the force. Then he hopped in and sped away.
As soon as the Sith left his office, the Moff contacted his personal security detachment. To send a unit and a hovering camera droid, to follow the Sith, but not engage him, or interfere with anything the Sith does, or is being done to the Sith. The other thing the Moff did is contact the dress shop in Old Town Factoryville. He warned them that "the Brat" just left his office, and is on his way to them. Unfortunately, with all the chaos outside of the Moff's office building. It was a while before anyone noticed Airy.
Uleanna introduced Krillgan to the Nosaurian elders, as Andriel the Warrior's son. He had been sent by Andriel to protect the Devaronian clan. But for some reason he has felt compelled to come talk with them. The truck driver that had driven Krillgan in the morning, happened to be walking by, chewing on a piece of roast chinchawwa. He overheard the introduction that the head of the Devaronian clan made. When he saw who she introduced, he tried making himself very small, hoping that he would not notice him. He could not believe that he had mistaken the son of Andriel the Warrior, as a bounty hunter. If the rest of the clan finds out, he will be the laughingstock of the clan.
Krillgan told the elders that he had recently been to Manaan. The Selkath had just finished with the basic assembly of an orbiting starfighter base. They built the base to help protect the system from pirates. Only they have no pilots. The Selkath told him that they would be willing to hire Nosaurians, because of their reputation of having some of the fastest reflexes. He does not know what the details of the contract would be, but he knows that the Selkath will be fair.
They asked him if the Selkath will let them live on Manaan, if they work for them? Krillgan told them that he would expect that they would. Only right now Ahto City does not look that much different than what he has seen here, with rubble everywhere. The down side is that there are no Chinchawwas to hunt. But there are plenty of fish to be caught, if they like fish.
The Nosaurians do like fish. So eating fish would not be a hardship. They had also heard grandmother Dreamara's prophesy from the head of the Devaronian clan. They knew that there was coming a day, that alien species such as themselves, will not be welcome on Eriadu, anymore. So they need another planet where they can establish themselves. If the Selkath are as fair as this man says, then Manaan would be their new home. They told Krillgan that they will send some young men to Manaan. If the Selkath are as fair as he says, then they will defend the system for them.
Just as they finished talking, Uleanna's husband runs up to them panting real hard. They had trouble understanding what he was trying to say. Finally Krillgan heard, "Moff… called… Sith… coming."
They had been meeting outside. They were all surprised by how fast Krillgan got up and ran. The one Nosaurian elder commented, "He has excellent reflexes." That is a great compliment, coming from a Nosaurian.
Uleanna got up, and ran for the dress shop. Her husband had to walk because, he was out of breath. Many of the Nosaurians also ran, because they wanted to see what was going to happen. Could the son of Andriel the Warrior, really stand up to a Sith, and protect the Devaronian clan?
Krillgan was fully dressed in his armour, minus the helmet, and back out in the square, before Uleanna reached the square. When she reached the dress shop, she found her friend Matrucy had taken the back way from the bakery to the dress shop, to find out what was going on, and who the purple man is. Her eyes went really big, when she found out that the purple man in armour, was aunty Andriel's son. They all stayed in the storefront, because they had a good view of the square from there. Krillgan could feel all the people in all the buildings around the square, and more were coming. He knew that they were probably peeking through ever doorway and window that was on the square. For the Devaronians the stakes were very high. What happens here will determine whether they are slaves, or free.
The Sith was surprised to see someone standing to oppose him, rather than the women of the clan ready to grovel at his feet. He jumped out of his vehicle, and asked the stranger, if the Devaronians had hired a bounty hunter to dazzle him with his party tricks? Krillgan told him that he wasn't a bounty hunter, he had also not been trained as a Sith, so did not know any tricks.
Krillgan took a good look at the Sith. He had the largest set of horns that Krillgan had ever seen on any Devaronian male, so he knew that head butting was out. His face was twisted, but not from using the dark side of the force. It was twisted from always being angry. Angry with others, angry with life, and angry with himself. The Sith knew that Krillgan had insulted him, with the remark about tricks. So he decided to show him one. He created a force fireball and threw it at Krillgan. Krillgan decided not to use wind, and knock the fireball back at him. He was hoping that he might somehow reach him before it was too late. He will not listen to anything, if he is suffering from burning pain. Krillgan believed that the roads and the square, were made from dirt, so he decided to make an earth shield to block the fireball. He found out the hard way that they were paved, but covered in a layer of dust, that made them look like dirt. He was able to make a very flimsy earth shield from the dust, to block the fireball. Fortunately it was enough.
"How did you do that?"
"What do you mean? You are the one who has been to a Sith Academy. Don't they teach you anything there?"
"They taught me this."
He hit Krillgan with a strong force push. Krillgan strengthened himself and used the force to stand against the push. He did not want to smash into the wall of the building behind him. There are people inside, and a lot of them would be hurt when the wall collapsed. Instead he created two grooves in the pavement with his feet, as the force push, pushed him back.
The Sith stared at him with an open mouth. No one at the Academy has ever been able to stand up to his push. They have all gone flying when he hit them. It was his favourite attack.
"Is this what you were trying for?"
Krillgan hit him with a strong force push of his own. Sending him flying into the wasteland. Krillgan wanted to get him away from all the buildings. Away from accidentally hurting someone. He ran to the edge of the square to stop the Sith from coming out of the wasteland.
The angry Sith got up and activated his lightsabre. Time for fun and games were over. He started laughing when Krillgan pulled his sword.
"The Sith Lord reacted the same way you did, before I cut off his head."
As they clashed, the Sith demanded to know who he was? Krillgan felt that he was far enough away from everyone that no one could overhear them. The camera droid was behind them, so no one could read his lips.
He told the Sith, "I am Krillgan, son of Andriel. I was here in my mother's womb, when The One clan was born."
The Sith told him, "When I was in my mother's womb. My father was killed, my mother was raped, and humiliated by the Sith, and all the clans died."
Krillgan told him, "That is why you were born weak. Whereas I was born strong. You could not understand that the only source of strength you had, came from your mother's love. A person that you thought of as being weak."
The Sith became angrier, and told Krillgan, "You did not know what you was talking about."
Krillgan continued, "You went to the Sith thinking that they could make you strong, but they lied, because they couldn't. It was only family and clan that can make you strong. Neither of which the Sith could give you. You knew this in your heart, and only became angrier."
The Sith wanted to kill Krillgan really bad. The more Krillgan talked to him, the angrier he became. Twice, Krillgan knocked him down with a force push. He did not hit him as hard as he did the first time, when he knocked him out to the waste land. But hard enough for the Sith to know that he can get passed his guard, and hopefully he would have a moment to think about what he was telling him, before he continued his attack.
Krillgan concluded, that the Sith was very thick headed, and it wasn't because of the horns. He felt that he could spend the whole day trying to get him to understand the truth, and he wasn't going to listen. Krillgan decided to end this fight.
Because the Sith was attacking in anger, he did not notice the force's warning, until he felt the dagger in his gut. It was a fatal wound, only in that it would lead to his death. But he would not die quickly, just painfully.
The shock of his mortality, and everything that Krillgan had been saying to him. Finally hit home. He fell on his knees and dropped his lightsabre.
He told Krillgan, "As a child, I wondered why my mother used to humiliate herself, by going to some Imperial Troopers, and letting them do what they wanted with her. Just so she had their ration packs to feed me, and my sister, and herself. So that they could survive. He started to convince himself, that she must enjoy being humiliated, because it could not be love. So he would hurt her, and humiliate her, in front of others. Even though he would sometimes hear her crying at night. He thought this was the way it was supposed to be. He was strong, because he could humiliate her, and she was weak, because she could not stop him. He did not know that she had weakened herself, because she had never eaten enough, just to make sure that he and his sister were fed. Maybe he was angry because she would not stand up to him."
Then he looked at Krillgan. "I wish I was you!"
Krillgan told him that he wished he could share with him what he had received from the clan. The Devaronian looked at him. "But you did. I could feel it when you talked. That is why I was so angry. I have believed lies all my life. I thought, that if I killed you, I would never have to face the truth again in my life. Now that I know what it is, it is not any easier to face."
The Devaronian did not block Krillgan, when he reached into his chest with the force, and stopped his heart. He asked Krillgan if he was going to cut off his head. Krillgan shock his head and said "No".
With that the Devaronian male fell over, dead. His mother ran over crying. She knelt down and took his head in her lap.
Krillgan told her, "He never really understood love. He could not understand how humiliating yourself, could make him strong." The last thing he told her before standing up, "He did not die a Sith!"
She thought she had not heard him right. She looked up to question him. But instead he saw him hand her son's lightsabre over to a special Trooper.
Ulianna ran up to him with his helmet. Then they led him away to their waiting vehicle.
The rest of the clan came over. They saw the purple warrior talking to the mother before he left with the special Troopers. They asked her, what did he say? She told them, that he said, that her son did not die a Sith.
The women did not want to believe her. Uleanna put her hand on the mother's shoulder, and told her that she believes her. She then proceeded to tell the clan who their hero is, and who sent him. She told everyone, that if Krillgan said he did not die as a Sith. Then he died as a member of their clan, and they need to treat him like one.
The Moff and his personal secretary had watched the signal transmitted by the camera droid. They both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the Sith fall over dead. The Moff told his secretary that they need to find out if there is an audio upgrade for this droid. It would have been nice to hear what the two combatants said. His personal guards were not able to get close enough to hear anything. He had told his personal guards, to let the warrior know that he is not under arrest, he is just being brought back, to be questioned by the Moff.
When the fight had started, he had received word that his chauffeur, Airy, had been found unconscious, and was being transported to the medical center. He had sent one of his personal staff to the medical center, to keep him up to date on Airy's condition.
When Krillgan approached the outskirts of Eriadu City, one of the Special Troopers handed him his earpiece, so that he could communicate directly with the Moff. The Moff asked him if he knew how to heal. Krillgan told him that that he is a trained healer. The Moff told him that his chauffeur was injured by the Sith, and was taken to the medical center. His condition just worsened. They say he has an internal haemorrhage, and they want to operate. Krillgan's heart started racing, he asked if his chauffeur is still Airy? The Moff was at first surprised, but said he still is. Krillgan told him to tell them to cool Airy's body down, especially in the area of the haemorrhage, and not to cut him open. Krillgan told the guy sitting next to him, to tell the driver to get to the medical center as fast as he can, at the same time as the Moff did.
The Moff told his staff member at the medical center, to tell the medical staff to cool Airy's body down, and not to operate. Make sure that they know that this is an order.
The physician in charge, considered himself to be a type of hero. He ignored what the Moff said they should do, and started to prep Airy for surgery.
Because they were in the surgical amphitheater, the Moff asked his staff member to give him the full audio-visual feed from the amphitheater.
Krillgan runs in, just as the physician was about to cut Airy open. He hits the physician with a force push. Smashing him against the wall of the surgical theatre. Narrowly missing a lot of equipment. He tells the physician that he said not to cut him open. He then asked the person that had been standing next to him, why his body was not cooled down? The assistant said, that the head physician said that cooling the body down, would make it harder to find the ruptured blood vessel, once they were inside.
One of the technicians asked Krillgan what he was doing, because his vital signs monitors started giving him strange readings. Krillgan told him that he was slowing Airy's heart down, to slow down the blood loss, since they had not cooled the body. He asked the assistant if they had located the ruptured blood vessel in their scans. The assistant pointed to a monitor and showed him where they had located the rapture. Krillgan was sure he could find it. He asked the assistant if Airy's body would reabsorb all the blood, once the blood vessel was sealed off. The assistant said that he was sure that some would be reabsorbed, but he wasn't sure if it all would be.
Krillgan reached into Airy's bloated abdomen using the force, and searched for the ruptured blood vessel. Once he found it, he carefully pinched the part of the blood vessel that had ruptured, without pinching the whole blood vessel shut. He brought Airy's heart rate back to normal, and asked the assistant to search for any more ruptures.
Krillgan did not want to touch Airy with his hand, until he was sure that they found everything. The assistant did as he was told. He could not find any other major damage, and could not figure out how the blood vessel now appeared to be sealed. He told the warrior that he could only find blood seepage from bruising, but no major ruptures. Krillgan reached out and placed a hand on Airy. The assistant watched in real time as the internal signs of trauma started to disappear. The blood in Airy's gut was being reabsorbed at a much faster rate than the assistant thought possible. Krillgan told the assistant to carefully monitor the ruptured blood vessel, in case it starts leaking blood again. Krillgan released it. After a couple of minutes the assistant said that he could not find any signs that it was leaking any blood.
A while later, Airy came around and looked at Krillgan. "Do I know you?"
"No, but if I had let you die, my parents would have been very upset with me."
Airy smiled. Now he knew who this young man is. After another few minutes, Krillgan took his hand away. He told Airy that he was healed, but he wants him to rest, just to be sure.
The Moff spoke through the amphitheater's internal system. "Congratulations Doctor on performing a successful surgery, and saving Airy's life."
Everyone knew that this was how the Moff wanted the medical team to report this incident. The Moff also warned the doctor, that if he disobeys him once again, he can expect more than being smashed against the wall. The entire medical team wondered who this warrior is. He obviously used the force to help with the healing, but he is not a Sith, because Sith can't heal others.
No one tried taking any of Krillgan's weapons away from him, when he was led to the Moff's office. The Moff's Personal Secretary closed the door behind him, as he entered the office and the Moff motioned him to sit down.
"I know who your parents are."
"Does that mean that you are going to hand me over to the Dark Council?"
The Moff laughed. "Why would I do a foolish thing like that?"
Krillgan was just a little confused and curious.
"If I intended to harm you, I certainly would not have let you anywhere near me. I also would have had you disarmed, the little good that would have done. No my motivation is purely selfish. I was hoping that you would do me a personal favour."
"What favour is that?"
"Before I ask, I want you to have an understanding of who I am. I know that your parents are Agents of the Force. I tried telling both the Sith and the bounty hunter, hunting your family this. But they would not listen. It appears that you also have inherited this mantel. Being a force user, you are now the enemy of both the Jedi and Sith, because of their narrowmindedness. It is sad, because they could both learn a lot from you, making this galaxy a better place to live, for us non-force users."
"I am not a Sith. Neither are any of the people working in my office, nor are any of my special bodyguards. We are all Revanites. Right now, all my people think you are as well. I don't know where or how you received your training. It is also better that I don't know. I just know that you were not trained by one of us. You seem to have been taught in the ancient ways of using the force. Ways that both the Jedi and Sith have forgotten. The only gift that the force has given me, is that I can dream the future. So the favour that I would ask of you, is that you come back and save my life."
Krillgan was just as surprised by this request as he was by everything else he just heard.
"How am I to do that?"
"I don't know. I just know that the Emperor is dead. Much to the pleasure of the Dark Council. Now they can rule the Empire the way they want too, without his interference. So the war will continue. The Sith will tear the Empire apart, as they all try to replace him, at the same time as continuing the war with the Republic. I have seen that the Republic will be able to successfully retake this entire sector back from the Sith. When that happens I will die, unless you come back and rescue me. If you rescue me, my people will surrender themselves and also live. If you don't, they will all fight to the death to try and protect me."
"Where will I take you?"
"I don't know. My dreams always end with either you coming for me, or my dying. I don't think it would be safe for me, to try and re-join the Sith Empire."
Krillgan studied the Moff. He never had any indication that the man was lying to him, or trying to trick him. He knew from the stories his parents told him, that this man was intelligent, and a little unorthodox in his style. If he is a Revanite, then he has been playing a dangerous game all his life. The Sith would not hesitate to kill him, if they found out. This helped Krillgan see that as far as the Sith are concerned, they are both in the same predicament.
Krillgan promised him, that he would do his best to come back for him, when the time comes. He asked the Moff, how he was going to cover for him, when he reports to the Dark Council? The Moff seemed unconcerned about that. He told him that he has given him enough believable facts, that he can make up a story, about how the Devaronians hired a bounty hunter, to protect them from the renegade Sith. There are enough reports about bounty hunters being able to kill Jedi, that they will believe it. He will also point out that he saved them the embarrassment of having to send one of our own to kill him. He will make sure that it is written nice enough, that they will quickly forget it, once they have finished reading it. He has a lot of experience writing reports. When Krillgan stood up, they both shook hands on their understanding. The same group that escorted Krillgan to Eriadu City, took him back to his starfighter at the Old Town Factoryville shuttle terminal.
After he took off, Krillgan contacted Eriadu spaceport, to get the coordinates for the Uvena System to enter into his hyperdrive. He did not want to hang around the Eriadu system, waiting for the Fenelar Phoenix. He did leave a message for the Phoenix to find him in the Uvena system, after they had picked up their package.
His jumping out of the system on his own, was the last piece that the Moff needed, to finish his report. There was no tie-in to the Fenelar Phoenix. That would have raised a lot of red flags. The Dark Council read how he jumped out of the system, in a modified Davaab Starfighter, capable of hyperspace travel. The Dark Council knew that bounty hunters often used small ships, which were not designed for hyperspace travel, and modified them, so that they could. So the report was buried like so many others, and not forwarded to the Imperial Navy. Who would have connected it to their mysterious military escort ship, with a Jedi crew.
Krillgan did not like that his hyperspace drive control module did not display how long the trip was supposed to take, until after he jumped to hyperspace. It displayed the time in hours. When he converted it to standard days he started to panic. Almost 18 standard days. The Fenelar Phoenix would get there long before he did. They would hunt for him and not find him, because he was stuck in hyperspace. He also did not have the food, or waste management facilities, for that long of a trip.
Krillgan remembered his father mentioning that there was a connection between the force and hyperspace. That the Rakata were able to exploit. He wondered if he could use the force, to help his starfighter travel faster through hyperspace. He reached out to the hyperspace drive with force energy.
Krillgan found himself going into a force trance as he continued to feed his hyperspace drive, force energy. It worked. The hours remaining before reaching the destination dropped rapidly on the display, only Krillgan did not notice, since he was in the trance. For almost four standard days he traveled through hyperspace in a trance. When he dropped out of hyperspace in the Uvena system. Krillgan collapsed forward in his cockpit, unconscious.
The Shistavanen pilot controlling the recovery vehicle, commissioned for removing space debris, after the Shistavanen gunship units, defeated any pirate incursions. Had been watching the Davaab Starfighter drift in the system. It looked like it was undamaged. None of the gunships reported engaging, or even seeing a Davaab Starfighter. So it could not have been involved in this last battle. His vehicle would have no trouble towing it. But it was too big for the scrap recycling facilities to handle. He would have to tow it to a small moon or asteroid, and dismantle it into manageable pieces, before it could be recycled. He decided to tackle the intact starfighter, after cleaning up this last battle. The Davaab Starfighter had been drifting close to two standard days, before he was able to start towing it.
Krillgan woke up with a big headache, because he was dehydrated. He consumed all of his drinking water reserves, as soon as he woke up. It took him a while to orientate himself, remembering where he was supposed to be. He was pretty sure it was a Shistavanen who was piloting the ship that was towing him. He hoped that he would be on the traffic control channel. He asked the pilot of the recovery vehicle, if this is the Uvena system? The Shistavanen pilot asked, who was talking to him? Krillgan told him, that he is the pilot of the starfighter he is towing. The Shistavanen pilot broke the tractor beam connection, and manoeuvred his ship so that he could look into the cockpit of the starfighter.
"Why didn't I see you, when I looked before?"
"I must have been slumped over the controls sleeping, the last time you checked. Because you probably saw the empty back of the pilot's seat, you must have thought no one was in it."
What Krillgan did not know, was that while he was unconscious, his body had naturally used the force to make him look small, as a defense mechanism. The Shistavanen pilot told him that he had watched him drifting for close to two days, with no sign of life. Krillgan told him that the hyperspace jump was unusually hard on him. So he passed out after entering the system.
The Shistavanen pilot laughed, and said that he made it sound like he got out and pushed. Krillgan told him that that was what it felt like. The pilot asked him what brings him to the Uvena system. Krillgan told him that he has some friends on Uvena Prime that he hasn't seen in many years. Since he already was in the Seswenna Sector, he thought he would swing by.
The pilot became suspicious, "What type of friends would you have on Uvena Prime?" Krillgan looked at the Shistavanen pilot. He looked like he was old enough.
"Have you ever seen the fight between the Devaronian woman, and the son of a martial arts instructor?"
The pilot had been watching it when he was called out to clean up this fight scene. He just answered 'yes'.
"Do you remember seeing a purple boy, sitting next to the instructor's youngest son?"
The pilot loved watching the two children interact. He just said "yes". Krillgan told him that he is the purple little boy. It was his mother that was fighting. His family had become good friends with the instructor's family. So he was going to Uvena Prime to visit them.
The Shistavnen pilot relaxed. He told Krillgan that it was his favourite fight of all time. There are a lot of people who still enjoy watching it. He told Krillgan that he hopes he has a nice visit with the family, and left him to return to Uvena II. When he came home he continued the playback of the fight. He froze the image when it showed the two young children in the stands. He felt good that he could give the young kid a hand. He was glad he didn't dismantle the starfighter on him.
When Krillgan exited his ship on Uvena Prime, the ramp attendants saw the patch of the Martial Arts Institute stuck on his armour, and they bowed to him out of respect for the Institute. They were pleased that the foreigner returned their bow.
Krillgan noticed the gunships parked at the shuttle terminal, and went over to have a look at them.
The gunship pilots did not like that a foreigner was looking at their ships. What if he was a spy for the pirates? They hurried out to their ships, to confront the foreigner. They yelled at the foreigner to get away from their ships. When he turned around, and they saw the patch on his armour, they were angrier still, and asked him where he got it? He told them that when he was young, his family had stayed with the family of the head instructor of the Institute. Because he was close to the same age as his youngest son, they allowed him to attend the beginners' class with him, since they were playing together. When it was time for him to leave, his friend gave him his practice uniform, with this patch sewn on it. He would wear that uniform whenever his father instructed him in the martial arts, because his father had been in the instructor's class. He has outgrown that practise uniform, but he will never outgrow the patch.
The pilots were still sceptical, but the foreigner spoke with reverence. They respected the Institute, and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. His story would be easy to verify. His family was probably the only none Shistavanen family to set foot in the Institute. They asked him, what was his interest in their gunships? He told them that first and foremost, he was admiring there design. He would have a lot of trouble, if he ever had to face one in his ship. He pointed to his parked starfighter. They told him that they would not have any trouble beating it.
Krillgan smiled and told them, "Not with me piloting it."
The pilots liked the confidence of this foreigner and started warming up to him. He asked them if they thought their government would ever entertain the idea of selling some gunships. They told him that they doubted they would.
"Not even to the Selkath on Manaan?"
This had the pilots thinking. They knew the Selkath kept a neutrality stance, when it came to conflicts between the superpowers. They could not see the Sith blocking the deal, if the Selkath approached them. The foreigner also told them, that it would probably be Nosaurians that would be piloting them. They told him that it would be suicide for the Nosaurians to pilot them. They cannot wear helmets, so if the cockpit lost atmospheric containment in the middle of a fight, they would die.
Krillgan told them that it was suicide to race pods, but the Nosaurian still do it. He mentioned to them, that the Selkath had started building resorts and casinos on Manaan. They are looking for tourist credits, to help them rebuild their planet. They have also had pirate problems. They just finished building a space station to house starfighters, but their gunships would be even better. He will tell the Selkath the next time he sees them. So they should notify their government, to expect a Selkath delegation to visit them.
Now the pilots were suspicious again. Either this foreigner liked to talk, or he was respected by leaders on other planets. The group leader instructed two pilots to follow him. If he did go straight to the Institute and was well received, then everything he said was true. If he is trying to fool them, then he is a very clever pirate spy, and they will have to neutralise him.
The two pilots did not realise that they stood out, almost as much as the foreigner. They were used to wearing their pilot jumpsuits, and the respect that the people showed them, for piloting their gunships. So while they were waiting for the local transit to show up, Krillgan walks up to them and asks them if he has the right change for riding the transit. They were embarrassed that he noticed them, and told him that there was no cost for riding the transit. He asked them if they would sit with him, to make sure that he got off at the right location. Because he was quite young, the last time he rode this system, and the adults made sure he always got off when he was supposed to. They reluctantly agreed. They were told to follow him, they would not be disobeying orders, if they followed him real close.
On the ride, they mentioned that he was dressed like a bounty hunter, but he did not have any bounty hunter weapons. He told them that he was not a bounty hunter, but was in fact the Captain of an independent freighter called the Fenelar Phoenix. He had been called to assist his clan. He had left his ship to help them. He wasn't sure what the situation required, so decided to show up in full armour. He also told them that because this is a peaceful planet, he left his weapons and helmet in his ship, so as not to offend anyone. They asked him what weapons he left behind. He told them that he left his modified blaster pistol, and sword, on the ship. They were disappointed, they were hoping for more exotic weapons then that.
They almost missed the stop, to get off the transit. One of the other passengers noticed Krillgan's patch, and told them that they needed this stop, if they were going to the Institute.
When they entered the building, Krillgan went to the center of the main foyer, and sat down. The two pilots did not know what to do, so they went back, and leaned against the wall, near the main door. They had to acknowledge the bows of the people entering and exiting the building. It wasn't hard for most people to figure out, that they were there, because of the foreigner.
A young student entered the head instructor's class and waited patiently at the side, for the head instructor to signal him to approach. This was not the head instructor that Chitrah knew. It was in fact his oldest son. The old instructor had retired, when his wife became ill, so that he could devote all his time to look after her. The Institute let him continue to live in his old apartment. It was his oldest son that was now the head instructor. He was not the most gifted of the old instructor's students. But his knowledge of the martial arts was solid, and he had all the good qualities of an instructor. So it was not a surprise to anyone, when he was offered his father's position. He also had all his father's best students backing him. He could call on them to demonstrate the best techniques to his class. So when the young student approached him. Everyone behind him heard their conversation, including his kid brother.
So when he heard that there was a purple foreigner in full armour, wearing a patch of this Institute on his armour. The brother knew, that he could only be his childhood friend Krillgan. Before his brother dismissed the young student, he approached his older brother, and asked permission to leave the class, and greet his old friend, Krillgan.
The head instructor was glad that his brother approached him, because he wasn't sure what to do about this foreigner. If it was Krillgan, he would like to go greet him himself. After his brother left, he glanced back at the Institute's representatives. They let him know, that they were not opposed, to him ending the class early.
The two pilots saw the man in the practice uniform of one of the head instructor's assistant's show up. Instead of confronting the foreigner, the assistant called out his name, the foreigner jumped to his feet and the two of them embraced. This was all the proof the two pilots needed. They knew that this was a man to be respected. They bowed to the two men hugging in the middle of the foyer, and left the building. The two men did not see them, but the head instructor did, as he walked into the foyer with the two most senior students. To the head instructor this was a very good sign.
Krillgan also gave him a good hug, than he introduced Krillgan to the two men. He told him that they were in the same class as his father. Krillgan bowed deeply to show them respect. He also told them that his father continues to follow the instructions he received here, and has faithfully passed them on to others. This pleased the two older Shistavanen, because they had tremendous respect for Chitrah.
The head instructor dismissed them, because they also act as his bodyguards. Then the three of them headed up to their father's apartment. They told Krillgan about their mother, and that the hospital has sent her home to die. Krillgan demanded that they give him every detail, as he has been trained as a healer.
When they entered the apartment. Krillgan removed his armour without being asked, and hung it in the front closet. All the while asking them questions, that were hard for them to answer. When he removed his boots, they both noticed the dagger in each one, which made them both smile.
Their father heard them come in, and that they were talking with someone, so he came out to greet them. He felt good, that it was Andriel and Chitrah's son. That they had not been forgotten. His sons told him that Krillgan claimed he is a healer, and was asking detailed information about mother's condition. The father showed Krillgan the last charts from the hospital. They meant nothing to Krillgan, because he did not know what tests they had done, and he did not know what was normal for a Shistavanen. So he could not tell if something was too high or too low. When they showed him the last scans of their mother's inoperable brain tumour. This was something that he could understand. He studied the scans very carefully. Making note of the blood vessels and nerves that passed through the tumour, but were not part of it. Then he made note of the blood vessels that were feeding it, and would have to be severed.
They had noticed, that when they took Krillgan to see their mother, he was very careful not to touch her. At first they were offended, because he was supposed to be a healer, yet he seemed afraid to touch his patient. Then he shocked them, by saying he can heal their mother, if they let him.
They wanted to know, how could he heal her, when their own physicians could not? He told them that he knows that by conventional means, if they went in and removed the tumour. They would do more damage than the tumour itself. If the body lived, the brain would not, and their mother would be in a perpetual sleep. Never able to wake up. But he is not a conventional healer. He is a force user, and has been trained to use the force, to assist in healing. He can operate on their mother, using the force. He can remove the tumour from her brain which as far as he can see is the only major health issue. The two brothers were divided. The youngest was for letting Krillgan try. The oldest was not convinced, that Krilligan was any kind of healer. It was the father that decided.
He asked Krillgan, what did he need them to do? Krillgan told them that he needed someone to hold her head absolutely steady. He cannot afford to have her head move even a little bit, because he could end up severing the wrong blood vessel or even a nerve. Killing part of the brain. He would also need someone to have a container ready, for the tumour to be put in. He also suspected that it could be double the size that they saw in the scan.
The older brother was confident in one sense. That Krillgan seemed to know what he was talking about. But was terrified on the other hand, because he was talking about the high risk of potential damage. The father said that he would keep his wife's head steady and climbed up on the bed to position himself. The youngest son ran into the kitchen and came back with a salad bowl. Krillgan did a preliminary scan of her brain to help prepare himself. He found that he could actually see better, if he kept his eyes closed. He sat down on a chair, and asked the oldest son to keep him steady. Because he needed to keep his eyes closed to see. So there is always the risk of him losing himself, and falling over. He told the father he was starting. The oldest son kept his hands on Krillgan's shoulders.
Only Krillgan could see, as he first used the force to peel the tumour away from the blood vessels and nerves that he identified in the scans. Then he pinched closed the blood vessels that were feeding it, and separated them from the tumour. He started elongating the tumour, looking for a way out. He settled on following the nerve bundle leading to the sinuses. He then forced it through the thin membrane separating the nerve bundle from the sinuses. The family saw what looked like a dark noodle starting to come out of their mother's nose. The two brothers thought it looked gross, which meant that their children would have enjoyed seeing it. It kept coming, and coming, and collected in the salad bowl. After the last of it came out, Krillgan told the father that he no longer needs to hold his wife's head. Krillgan reformed the tumour back into its original shape, which it had in the brain. He suggested that one of them take it to the hospital, and give it to the physician in charge of their mother's case. This will give them an opportunity to examine it. Maybe they can find a way to help the next person that comes to them, with something similar.
Krillgan asked them, where can he touch their mother, to feed her some healing ointment, to help complete the healing? The father asked him to explain. He told them that he has Kolto inside of him, and can administer it through his fingers. Normally he would just need to touch skin, but her fur is too thick, blocking him from doing so. The father suggested that he place his fingers just inside her lip, but must be careful that she doesn't bite his fingers off. The youngest son asked, if this was the reason he was so careful to not touch her before? Krillgan told him that he was right. If he had touched her while she still had the tumour inside of her. The body would have first enveloped the tumour, like a scab on a wound. Then it would have tried dismantling the tumour piece by piece. But if the tumour was growing faster than it could be dismantled. Than nothing would have been gained by doing so. Now the body can rid itself of any remaining tissue that may be inside. He said all this while holding his fingers just inside her lip.
The oldest son volunteered to take the tumour to the hospital, and placed it in a sealed glass jar. When he met with the physician, he told him that a foreign friend of the family, came to visit them. It turns out they are also a healer. He doesn't know how he did it. But he was able to extract it from his mother's head. The physician was sceptical, and asked him to ask his father, if he could bring her in for them to examine. He also sent the tumour down to the lab to be examined. Where they confirmed that it indeed was the tumour that was in her brain.
While at the hospital, the oldest son called his wife and told her to bring the entire family to grandfather's apartment. They have a special guest there that they should all meet. He also asked her to call his brother's wife. He would want to meet his family as well. Then he told her that grandmother has been healed. Then he disconnected, in order to hurry back to his father's apartment. Krillgan had told the father that when his wife wakes up, she will probably be hungry. The father took the youngest son with him to the kitchen, to make her a nice broth. While they were there, they realised that none of them have eaten, and they had a guest to look after as well.
When the mother woke up, she asked Krillgan to remove his fingers from her mouth. Krillgan did, and asked her permission to put them back, because he had not finished healing her. She asked if that was why his fingers tasted oily. Krillgan told her it was. So she let him continue with the healing. When the broth was ready but cooling, the father came into the bedroom to check on things. When he saw that his wife was awake, Krillgan had to take his fingers out of her mouth again, so that they could hug. The youngest son heard the commotion and rushed to the bedroom. He also wanted to be with his mother, until his father asked him, if he has burnt dinner? He ran back to the kitchen, hoping he hadn't. By the time the oldest son returned from the hospital, Krillgan felt that she no longer needed Kolto.
After greeting his mother, he told his father that the hospital physician wanted to examine his wife again. He also warned them that their daughters-in-laws were also coming over, with all the grandchildren. When the mother heard that, she asked that they all leave her bedroom so that she can dress. They asked Krillgan if it would be alright. He said that they should leave, unless they were planning on helping her. At which point she started throwing pillows at them, telling them that she did not need their help to dress herself. Now they knew for sure, that she was healed.
When the whole family was in grandfather's apartment. He cautioned them about telling anyone about Krillgan healing grandmother. He told them that this was Krillgan's gift, and he had the right to administer it however he chose to. Otherwise they will have every patient in all the hospitals, crawling to their door, looking for Krillgan to heal them. He told them that Krillgan would only be with them a short time, and it was not selfish for them, to want to enjoy his company.
Krillgan had a very enjoyable visit with the family. Before he left, he left them with a small supply of his Kolto ointment. Which they judiciously guarded, and used primarily at tournaments, to heal injured participants. The other institutes were grateful, in that they treated all participants the same.
Father did not take his wife back to the hospital, until after Krillgan had departed. To keep him from being cross examined, and possibly attracting the attention of the Imperials. They told the physicians about the healer using Kolto to complete the healing, and how he said that it would have been a waste of Kolto if he would have administered it right away. This helped the physicians to establish Kolto use guidelines, when they were able to get their hands on some, at a later date.
The Shistavanen pilot in his recovery vehicle, was jumped by pirates, while he was cleaning up the debris, from the most resent battle. They thought that he was responsible for their friends being killed. Not realising, that he had no offensive capabilities. Fortunately for him his vehicle was better armoured than any starfighter, and he was an excellent pilot, who knew the capabilities of his ship quite well. So after raising the initial alarm, "Help! Help! Help! Under attack from four pirates." He concentrated on keeping alive. When a pirate starfighter flew past him, he would grab it with his tractor beam. Because his ship was heavier, he would almost bring the pirate to a dead stop. This greatly irritated the pirates, because they were jerked on their seats restraints, and would have to fly away, to get back up to attack speed, once he released them. This also caused the other pirates to miss him, when they shot at him. Since when he grabbed the pirate ship, his ship would suddenly be jerked from where it was. The pilot knew that it was only a matter of time, before the pirates figured out his tactics, and finished him off. So he was overjoyed when the young Davaab Starfighter pilot called him, to tell him to hang on, because he was almost at his location.
The Shistavanen pilot thought that the Davaab pilot was fearless, taking on all four pirate starfighters, by himself. His next broadcast surprised the gunship pilots racing to his rescue. "Wahoo! One pirate down. Only three pirates left." Then they heard, "He got another one. Only two more to go." They called out to him, asking him, who was out there with him? He called back, telling them that it was a foreigner in a Davaab Starfighter.
"Don't shoot him he's a friendly."
"He just got another, and the last one turned tail."
"That Davaab Starfighter is pretty fast. The last pirate did not get very far, before he caught him and eliminated him."
The Fenelar Phoenix jumped into the system during the fight. Racing to the location, asking if they needed help. When the Phoenix arrived in system, the pirate's support ship decided to jump out of the system. So the last pirate starfighter, really had nowhere to run to.
When the gunships showed up, they made sure that their friend was okay. They then thanked Krillgan for helping their friend, and asked if there was anything they could do for him. He told them he was fine. His ride had just arrived, so he will be on his way out of their system shortly.
The gunship pilots told their friend that they were escorting him back to base. They would send someone else out, to clean up the mess he made. They asked him if he knew who that pilot was, that just helped him? He told them that if they buy him a drink, he will show them.
When they arrived in the cantina, the recovery vehicle pilot asked the guy at the bar to play his favourite fight, and let him have the control. The gunship pilots started giving him a hard time, saying he promised to show them who helped him, not watch their favorite fight. The pilot froze the image when the camera zoomed in on the two children having fun watching the fight. The pilot touched the screen, and told the other pilots, that this is the pilot that just saved his life. He knew this, because he had first talked to him, after he entered the system, and was on his way to Uvena Prime, to visit with his friends.
The squad leader contacted the Institute, it just happened that Krillgan's friend took the call. The squad leader asked him, if they just had a foreigner visit them? Krillgan's friend said they did, and he was ready to apologise on his friend's behalf, if he did anything wrong. The squad leader told him that he did nothing wrong. He just saved his friend's life, by destroying four pirate starfighters that attacked him. The next time he comes for a visit, they would like the opportunity to thank him. Word got around, and the entire Institute was very proud of the instructor's family's foreign friend.
Ludia started scolding Krillgan for always getting into trouble whenever he is out of her sight. Krillgan kissed her, and told her that she was upset because he did not leave any pirates for her. She laughed and told him that he knows her too well.
The seamstress was disappointed that they arrived too late to see anything but the debris. She never knew that life on a freighter could be so exciting. Grimm told her that normally it is quite boring. All these things must be happening because she is with them.
They jumped to the Luptoom System, to unload the last of their freight, and so that the seamstress could visit the textile mills. Ludia wore one of her nursing dresses, when they went down to the surface, because Lydna was not completely weaned. She had quite a crowd of Luptoom women surround her. When Lydna suddenly became shy, and disappeared into her mother's dress, while she was sitting down, the women all wanted to know, where could they get one? The seamstress told them that she was authorised to make them, but she was from Lianna, so it would be hard to get the dress back to them. Krillgan told them that they should get a hold of the seamstress on Eriadu, in Old Town Factoryville, at Andriel and Dreamara's Unity Dress Shop. She will be authorised to make them, since the designer is a member if her clan.
When Krillgan returned to the ship, he had Grimm contact Shaak. Grimm connected his computer to the ship's communication system. So that they could have both audio and visual communication.
It took a while for them to get used to the time delay, because of the distance the signal was traveling. When Shaak understood Krillgan's request, she let him know that she would be happy to transmit his mother's designs to a dress shop, which was honoured to bear her name.
Uleanna was surprised and happy, when her communicator suddenly started spitting out dress designs, with Andriel labeled as the designer. She had no designs by Andriel, except the designs she made for the women, so that they could wear something, while their bodies could transition from being a sack of bones, to their true body size, once they all started eating regularly again. She contacted the "Elegant You" on Lianna, to thank them for sending the designs, and to find out why they did it. The nice Togruta lady told her that she is a friend of Krillgan, who contacted her from Luptoom. Because some women there were interested in Andriel's nursing dress. Shaak also told her that if she was interested, she could also send her some of her own designs. Uleanna was interested, and this was the beginning of a long distance friendship. Uleanna was also able to report to the clan that Krillgan was able to successfully get away from the Sith. Since they had not heard anything, since the special Troopers escorted him away.
Ludia understood the source of many of Mother Andriel's dance outfit designs. She also understood why Elibet did not want Kran going down to the surface. Grimm refused to go as well. Ludia did not want Krillgan sightseeing on Luptoom, either. So once he was finished with the freight delivery, he also waited for the women on the ship. With his spare time, he did wander around the spaceport. He happened to find a freighter that was heading to Lianna. So he booked passage for the seamstress and all her fabric special runs, since he wasn't planning on going right back to Lianna. He was planning on heading to Manaan.
When the seamstress found out, she was only unhappy that she was leaving friends behind, because it was supposed to be a direct trip. She did regret it afterwards, when the freighter was intercepted by pirates. Everyone on the ship was terrified, including the crew. She had never been so scared in her life. When they did get away, she remembered Grimm's words and wondered if she was the cause of the pirate attack.
When she arrived back on Lianna, she told Shaak that the first part of the trip was very exciting. The trip back was terrifying. She will only go back into space, if she can do it on the Fenelar Phoenix. That crew knew how to handle pirates. She had even started liking the Rancor and the Vornskr.
When they arrived on Manaan, Krillgan informed the elder about talking with the Nosaurians on Eriadu, so he can expect a visit from them. He also told him about his trip to Uvena Prime and the gunships that the Shistavanen have designed, and built, to battle the frequent visits by pirates to their system. He told him that he thought they were better than just starfighters, in battling the pirate threat.
Because the elder and all of his people, highly valued, everything that Krillgan said, they did send a delegation to Uvena Prime. They were pleased to find that they were expected. Apparently Krillgan talked to the right people during his visit.
When they entered negotiations for purchasing the gunships. They found that the Shistavanen had very little understanding of Kolto, and how scarce it was to find on the open market. They thought that the Selkath could bring them a tanker transport full of it for them. So the first part of the negotiations was establishing a credit price for Kolto. Then it was establishing how much the Selkath could give them in the trade deal. The Selkath agreed to give them 2/3rds of the cost of the gunships, and two recovery vehicles, but in two shipments. This helped them maintain the image of the scarcity of Kolto. When the first shipment of Kolto arrived, within a few days, 1/3 of the patients in all the hospitals were sent home healed, before they ran out of Kolto. Then the medical community started to panic. They realised that they had wasted precious Kolto, on minor, easy to treat, sickness and injuries. They were only getting one more shipment of Kolto, and that would be it.
The Selkath had given them the recipe Krillgan had made up, when he made the batch of ointment for his friends. They told them that a healer had recently visited their planet, and had come up with the recipe. This caused the medical community to start looking at their plants again, for their healing potential.
Since the Sith had taken over the Seswenna Sector, the medical community had started to rely completely on the Imperial Pharmaceutical Companies. Because of the Kolto and the plant based ingredients that were added to it, there was a great movement, in going back to a more natural way of healing.
The Nosaurians caused a number of major changes to occur on Manaan, once they started to settle in. The Nosaurians designed a course for Pod Racing, and it was later also used for Swoop Racing. They were also able to make five variations of the course, so that racers were never sure which course they would be racing on, until the day of the race. Construction in Ahto City, was only permitted, if it did not interfere with the course.
The Nosaurians did not believe in regular patrols of the system with the gunships, to thwart pirate attacks. What they did do, was purchase some older starfighters with their own credits. They removed all guns, but reinforced the area around the cockpit. They had oversized in-system drives on these ships, so they could really move, yet remained quite manoeuvrable. There was also special communication equipment aboard, so that they could communicate with the base, and with the gunships, undetected by pirates. They would go out on single patrol with their modified starfighters. When pirates would jump into the system. They would usually start chasing these ships, hoping to destroy them before they can make it back to their base, to warn them of their presence. The pirates thought it was only natural, that they would hightail it to an asteroid belt, to try and shake them. They did not know that the Nosaurians were flying through the asteroid belt, because they enjoyed it, and also to lead them to the gunships that were waiting in ambush. The Selkath did not care how the Nosaurians handled the pirates, as long as they did it. If they had fun in the process, they were happy for them.
