Entry 38

My father and the Indupar envoys are still negotiating with the Chief-of-State. Dad said Streke is trying to gain control of the crystals for next to nothing by offering Indupar protection from foreign invaders such as the Nagi. My father said he pointed out that they had no difficulty destroying the Nagi fleet and the boy King himself killed the enemy's general.

"I told him he could think about the deal we proposed and I would get back to him after my travels to Hapes and then Bastille." My father chuckled. "You should have seen him. His face turned bright red and he said, 'Are you threatening to sell the crystals to the Hapan government or the Empire!'" My father grinned widely as he told his tale. "I told him I was planning to do no such thing. I simply want to visit my family. I reminded him my nephew is the Hapan Queen's Consort and my niece is the Empress of the Imperial Remnant."

"I'm sure that really eased his concerns," I said sarcastically as my dad and I walked.

I met my dad for lunch and afterwards we decided to stroll through 'Heroes Park' a newly established outdoor shrine to honor the heroes of the Rebellion and subsequent conflicts. Dad wanted to see the Luke Skywalker statue that was erected. We've seen holos of the sculpture, but were told it is more impressive in person. My dad pointed to the towering granite statue at the center of the park. "There it is."

I have to admit, it looks impressive. It had Uncle Luke in his Rebel flight uniform and holding an activated lightsaber. It was supposedly represented his actions on Hoth after his T-47 Airspeeder was shot down by Imperials and he attacked an Imperial Walker armed only with his lightsaber and blaster. The statue symbolized not only a Jedi, but a pilot and soldier.

My father gazed at the statue for a long moment before smiling widely. "Luke must hate this thing."

"Why?" I asked. "It looks good."

My dad gave me a knowing look. "Because he's modest…and you know Mara has to tease him about the accompanying plaque."

I glanced over to the plaque and grinned at the flowery praise. "Wow, that is an impressive write up." I looked back to the statue. "Why did Streke approve such a Jedi-loving monument to be erected?"

My dad shrugged. "You really can't have a Heroes Park honoring those who served in the Rebellion and omit Luke Skywalker, the man who blew up the Death Star."

"That's true." We followed the walkway to a long granite wall engraved with the names of military units that served in the conflict and the men and women who exhibited exemplary service. We saw a lot of familiar names: Dodonna, Madine, Antilles, and Darklighter, to name a few.

When we got to The Battle of Byss I fully expected to see my father's name there or at least Talon Karrde's, after all, they killed the Emperor Reborn, but only Luke and Uncle Han were credited in the infiltration of Byss' capital city and the Emperor's Citadel. "You name should be on this plaque, dad."

He shook his head. "When it happened Karrde asked that his entire crew remain anonymous. He didn't want to irritate the Imperials just in case he needed to do cargo runs in their territory. It's better this way." He gave me a smile. "I wouldn't want Luke's life of celebrity."

I sighed deeply. "You're probably right. I just don't think it is right that people in the future will never know what really happened."

My father reached over and put a hand on my shoulder. "You are still journaling, right? If you make sure my grandchildren know the truth that would make me a happy man. I can care less if the galaxy forgot I existed…as long as I am remembered by my family."

I nodded with a smile. "I'll make sure they'll remember."

We continued along the 'Tour of heroes'. Along the way my father would point out what secret conflicts were omitted. "They didn't mention the battle against the Vong." He chuckled. "I guess secretly destroying most of an entire invading species wouldn't be good publicity."

"Most? I remember you mentioning the invading Vong years ago, but I thought they were all destroyed by the Galaxy gun."

"I did mistakenly tell you that." He moved down to the next plague honoring the heroes that suppressed the Korfian Revolt. From what I remember from my history studies, it was an anti-New Republic uprising on the Planet Ithor that was thoroughly squashed by a regiment of NR military.

"I thought all the Vong were dead," my father continued. "But when I was on my secret little jaunt with Deke I discovered there were prisoners taken and they were given a place to live in the Maw."

"I guess they are in the Maw so the galaxy never discovers their existence?"

My dad nodded. "I don't see Mara anywhere in this park. She worked for the New Republic and fought against Joruus C'boath." He turned toward the imposing Skywalker statue at the center of the park. "Mara should have a statue there, next to Luke's. It should say, 'Mara Jade Skywalker—the woman who saved Luke Skywalker's butt multiple times." He turned back to the various statues and plagues. "I think its sexism."

I rolled my eyes. I really didn't want to get into this argument with my father again. He never liked the fact that the Imperial military and many military organizations within the New Republic and Galactic Alliance bar women from serving in frontline combat positions. It is much better now, but to date females are not allowed into Void Jumper units. My dad thinks it is an archaic belief and government approved sexism. I agree with him, but he can go on and on about what should be done. I decided to change the subject. "Dad, I have a question about our trip to Hapes and Bastion."

"What?"

"Are we really going there to visit family? Or are you actually trying to convince Streke that you are looking for different buyers?" I stopped and thought about what I just said. "Dad, is Marcus considering selling to somebody other than the Galactic Alliance?"

My dad's gave me a disarming grin. "No. We are going to sell the crystals to the Alliance, but we just want the best deal possible. I do have to admit visiting the family at this time does have the added bonus of putting a sense of urgency into Streke and some worry about my intentions. It's just a big political game of sabbac." He looked at his wristchrono. "I have to get back to the negotiations and don't you have some Vornskr feeding to do?"

I slipped my injured hand into my pocket, hoping my dad didn't see the bacta patch on it. I told dad we were trying to feed the runt, but I made sure not to tell him about my injury. Dad may be able to keep secrets, but he doesn't seem to be so inclined when divulging a secret could embarrass me.

"Yeah, I better get back." I gave my father a hug. "Give Streke hell, dad."

"You know I will."

Entry 39

This is day two of trying to bottle feed the runt and I am failing miserably. Half the time he is nipping at my fingertips. I am beginning to think that my blood is the only nourishment the pup is getting. Zylie put him with his mother but as soon as he finds a teat he is pushed away by his siblings. Zylie then tried to take the other pups away from their mother so the runt could nurse in peace, but Princess would have none of that. She got up and just paced around the cargo area looking for her other pups, leaving the runt shivering.

I picked up the pup and turned to Zylie. "Why is the pup shaking so much? Is he scared?"

She looked up to me sadly as we left the cargo area and entered our cabin. "Pups get most of their body heat from their mother. He's not old enough to self-regulate his body temperature. "

I looked at the tiny shivering pup and frowned. "Do we have a heating pad or something to warm him?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so. Maybe I can put some towels in the drier to warm them up. It probably won't be enough though." She put her hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry Talon. I know you want to save him."

"Thanks." I sighed heavily. "I don't want to give up on him."

She grinned impishly. "You're taken by this little guy, aren't you?"

I didn't want to admit I had any affection for the species, but his pup was different. "Zylie, look at him. He fits in my palm, he has a slight stripped pattern and look at those pretty pink eyes…unlike those evil red demon eyes Princess has."

Zylie gave a chuckle. "All pups have pinkish or blue eyes when they are born because they are still developing eye pigment. In a few months this pup will have blood red eyes."

"Oh." I held the little guy against my tunic to warm him up. "Can you get those towels? He is really trembling."

"Sure."

When Zylie left the room I got an idea. I put the pup on my bed and stripped out of my tunic. I then laid down in the bed and placed him on my bare chest as I brought my hands up to pet him. To my surprise the little guy stopped shaking so much and actually seemed less stressed. He moved around on my chest until he got to the small patch of chest hair growing between my pectoral muscles.

The baby vornskr was rubbing his head on the patch of hair and then started what I would call 'pittin pushups'. That is where a pittin will push his paws against your skin in a rhythmic motion. Seeing him so relaxed was encouraging. I stretched out with the Force and sent him soothing thoughts as I brought the bottle up to his mouth. I suppressed a shout of triumph when he finally took the bottle and sucked on it greedily. He kept drinking until Zylie came into the room and startled him. He pulled away from the bottle as his fur raised up on the back of his neck. "It's okay little guy," I said as I pet him on the head and turned to Zylie with a big scat-eating grin on my face. "Look who got a vornskr to bottle feed." I held up the bottle to prove to her he drank half the milk. "I told you I could do it."

I relished in my victory for about five more seconds before that little kriff'n vornskr decided to feed again and since the bottle was out of his reach he latched onto the only other thing that looked like it would provide nourishment. I screamed as the pup's razor-sharp teeth bit into the most sensitive area of my chest.

"Oh frak'n kriff!" I sat up only to realize that runt was still firmly attached to my chest.

Zylie ran up to me and grasped the little beast. "Lay down, Talon," she said in a tone of voice that I would best describe as amused panic. "I'll try to get him off you."

She grabbed the top of his skull and his lower jaw and tried to gently pry his jaws off. "Be careful! You're going to pull off part of my chest."

Zylie blew out a frustrated breath. "I don't want to break his jaw."

"Well I don't want him to bite off my man nipple." I yelled again as the pain increased. "Kriff! I think it's trying to chew it off!"

"Talon do that Force trick you used on Princess when she attacked you."

I nodded my head. "Good thinking." I placed my hand on the small pup and tried to project smoothing thoughts. "Go to sleep little guy. Please, please for the love of the Force, please go to sleep." I was relieved when his eyes closed and his jaw relaxed.

Zylie pulled the little guy off me and grimaced at the sight of blood. She turned away not wanting to look. "You better get 2-1B to patch you up."

I sat up and pressing my hand against my bleeding chest. "How bad is it? I don't want to look. You know I hate seeing my own blood."

"Go to the medical droid," Zylie insisted. The fact that she avoided answering the question made me really nervous.

"Just tell me if everything is there."

I saw her nod her head. "Everything is there, but just not where it should be."

I got out of bed and quickly moved to the infirmary. I know I am not a fan of droids, but I'm now really glad we have 2-1B.

Before I left the cabin I turned and grinned at Zylie. "I did get him to eat. So, it's not impossible."

She gave me a teasing smile. "Good for you, but the next time you decide to nurse a Vornskr maybe you should wear my bra."

Entry 40

Ha! I figured out how to hand feed that little kriffer! It involves, body heat, hair, a bottle and protective bacta patches over my nipples! I discovered if he was lying in my chest hair and I put the bottle in his mouth he would actually eat. All I have to do is prevent him from biting me in such a sensitive location. Bacta patches work. I tried high adhesive tape at first for my non-injured side of my chest but then discovered pulling it off hurt almost as bad as being bit. So bacta patches are on both sides now.

I did realize that I should lock the door when feeding my runt vornskr. Zylie walked in on me feeding him in this manner and just about died laughing. She nicked named me Mama Vornskr.

I gave her a forced smile. "You are just jealous that I am the first person who discovered how to hand feed these little monsters."

She sat down at the edge of the bed and gazed down at me lovingly. "You are so cute." She jumped up and rummaged though the bed nightstand before pulling out an imager. "I need to take a vid of this."

I put up my hand in an attempt to block the lens. "No Zylie. If Ben ever finds out about this or my little mishap earlier he'll never let me live it down."

She pouted a bit, but when I didn't cave, she put away the imager. "You're no fun."

"Just don't tell your sister or Ben what happened." I gazed at her beseechingly. "Please."

She leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "I promise. I won't tell anybody."

She moved across the room to the closet and started browsing through her outfits. "Ben called and said we're invited to dinner with the Skywalker's tonight. You may want to finish up your feeding with the runt because Ben is coming to the ship to pick up some clothing before returning to his parents' quarters. You don't want him to catch you in such a compromising position."

"Thanks for the warning." When Zylie left to shower I looked at the teeny vornskr on my chest eagerly sucking away on a milk bottle. He was making some strange rumbling sound interspersed with tiny mews. "You are a hungry little boy," I whispered to him. "Yes you are." I stopped and realized to my horror that I just talked to the vornskr in that insipid singsong voice people use when talking to their pet pittins. "Ack! I can't believe I just talked baby talk to a vornskr."

I guess Zylie is right. I am getting a soft spot for the little guy.