Hey. I messed up the upload the date from last chapter. I meant the 22nd. The updates are always 2 weeks.
Thanks again for STARWARZMYLIFE, dieFabuliererin, KatieBirdy and QueenieJocelyn for being my betas.
Chapter 9: The First of Many: Part Two
Though young in the eyes of her species, Amieto had achieved much in her time as chieftain of the Elomin. She had stopped the warring between clans and united them under a single banner. Brokered peace with their sub-surface dwelling neighbors, the Elom. Even elected an ambitious senator to represent them in the Galactic Senate, expanding their trade of goods and boosting the economy.
Despite her success and growing popularity, all those accomplishments would be forgotten if she made a single mistake. Failures were much easier to remember than any achievement. People would criticize her blunder long after she became one with nature. That was why she prided herself in her due diligence and forward thinking. It had helped on her journey to become leader of the Elomin so far, but she doubted it could overcome the obstacle before her now.
Amieto glared at the young boy that sat across the wooden table from her. The human was named Coquer. Though clanless and young—practically an infant in her eyes—he was the one in charge of the fleet of ships that surrounded her home. She had read on the HoloNet that planets were beginning to secede from the Republic, but she didn't think they would be so bold to raise an army to fight against the government.
Coquer could have easily swarmed her planet with the unnerving amount of droids she knew he had under his command. With the time it took for the boy to travel and converse with her, he could have finished with his goal and moved on to his next victory. Instead, he came with only two droids, offering a chance of compromise. The act itself spoke volumes of his character. She knew if the roles were reversed, he would be on his knees kissing her feet, or his head placed on a spike to show her next victims what would become of them.
She talked and her droid translated. "Chieftain Amieto wants clarification of your proposal. All you want is us to trade our sources of lommite and other goods exclusively to your government?"
"Yes," Coquer confirmed with a nod. "As well as establishing a base here to protect our assets, and you as well."
She really had no choice but to accept his generous offer. Though her prideful warrior-like people would be ashamed of her ruling, it was the correct decision to commit to. There was no feasible way she could muster up a defense quick enough to push back against his forces. And even if she did, they would be completely slaughtered like an inexperienced hunter to a cherfer.
Their favor of simplistic weapons of steel over the technology advanced weapon of blasters was their downfall. She had tried to recycle blasters back into her culture, using a personalized staff blaster herself to inspire the masses, but there was still pushback against it. And it was unlikely she could contact the Republic for assistance either. Not only do they not have a true military force, it would probably be bogged down in the Senate.
"She wants to know what will become of her people? Will they be slaves to the Confederacy?"
"No!" he declared with fierce eyes.
Amieto arched an eyebrow. She didn't expect such a strong reaction.
He took a breath before continuing. "You and your people will continue to carry the freedom they deserve, but as citizens of the Confederacy, not the Republic."
Amieto picked up the glass of wine and took a sip. At least she could take solace in the fact her people would be seen as living beings, not slaves, once the change of allegiances were cemente. That being said, she couldn't speak for the entire planet.
"Chieftain Amieto agrees to your terms and pledges her allegiance to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Though, the chieftain cannot speak for the sub-dwellers of the planet—the Elom."
"The Elom?"
It seemed her invader had not done his homework about her planet. "Oh yes Commander Coquer. They are the other species native to the planet. Their leader, Skona of the Spijek Clan, is the one you need to speak to for a planetary wide allegiance to your government. I must advise caution, Commander. The leader Skona has not taken kindly to offworlders since the arrival of pirates a few rotations ago."
"I see." Coquer took the first sip of his wine since they started her terms of surrender. "Do you think you can set up a meeting between Skona and I in four rotations time?"
An inquisitive expression crossed Amieto's face. "Chieftain Amieto can arrange the meeting with leader Skona in the desired time frame with no issue, but she is curious as to why so soon?"
He grinned at the question. "I should be done with the hunt by then."
The meeting with Coquer ended as quickly as it began. Amieto had thought there would be more talks about laws and regulations that would be placed upon her home. She was glad that there wasn't. She could only withstand so much bitterness before her self-control lost itself to the roaring calls of her fiery temper.
She was a warrior, bred to be one since birth. A warrior fought to the ugly end to win a battle, and sacrificed everything to become victorious in a war.
But she was no longer just a warrior. She was chieftain, the first in hopefully a long line of leaders for the Elomin. The responsibilities that came with it meant she could no longer think with a blade but instead, a pen.
Her people would've wanted to fight, always forgoing peaceful options since the fall of the old civilization. If she had convened the assembly of clan representatives, they would have voted for war and doomed, not only their species, but their sub-dwelling brethren as well to a world of chain and shackles.
Amieto despised her own decision. Loathed the fact that she was forced to bow her head to a mere child, but it was the only option she had.
She had a duty to her people, not her pride.
"What have you done, Amieto? You sold out your own people!"
And speaking of pride.
Amieto released a huff of annoyance. She knew such an encounter was inevitable, but she had hoped it would be after she contacted Skona.
She turned around to see one of the members of the assembly, standing with clear hatred on his face. He marched towards her, black shawl on his right shoulder flapped with each heavy stomp. Her guards intercepted him before he could get in an arms length of her.
"Ra'Effan," she greeted with clear disinterest in her tone. "I see the word of my decree has graced the ears of the assembly."
"Decree?" he growled. "Is that what you call it when you doom our people?"
Doom her people? Such ridiculous claims. Though she shouldn't be surprised. Those of the Corso clan were known for their theatrics.
"It seems you've forgotten what my role as Chieftain means, Ra'Effan." She motioned for her guards to stand down. "All I do—all I will ever do—is for our people. I had to make a decision, and I will stand by it until I become one with nature."
He scoffed. "Excuses. Only the weak tell such tales."
Weak? Her?
Amieto snatched a double-bladed staff from one of her guards. Ra'Effan red-eyes went wide as she swung the staff at him, drawing a faint diagonally line of scarlet upon his chest. She twirled the weapon, placing one end under his chin. Tapping his chin with the staff, he was forced to raise his head, stare straight into her eyes. The scowl present contrasted the worry in his eyes.
Pathetic.
This was a long time coming. She had wanted to do this to each member of the assembly.
"You are the weak one, Ra'Effan." She pressed the blade against his throat, forcing him to take a step back. "You and the rest of your generation are just like cherfers—stupid and aggressive. Too busy fighting one another to even bother coming together and rebuilding our civilization into what it once was before the Cold War during the Republic of old."
She redrew her weapon, causing him to relax. As soon the tension left his body, she sent him flying to the ground, slamming the flat part of the blade across his face. A snarl came from his pitiful form. She hovered the blade an inch from his face, halting his attempt to stand and retaliate.
"I united our people. I made us a reputed species in the Senate after our removal. I saved us from a war we could not win." She jabbed the blade forward, cutting his cheek. "I'm the strongest of our people—the kzenka of our entire species. I have done more for the Elomin than all of our ancestors combined."
She retracted the weapon, wielding it upright. "Never question my strength or my loyalty to our people again, Ra'Effan. I could kill you right now and your clan would celebrate with joy, but I won't. I'm better than you, and always will be."
Amieto held out her staff and a guard took it from her. "Now, I'll need to contact Leader Skona to set up a meeting with Coquer."
She placed her hands in her golden-striped poncho. "Have a good day, Ra'Effan."
A man removed the binoculars from his eyes. Muttering a curse under his breath, he passed the optical instrument to his partner.
"Ain't nothing I've ever seen before. You?"
His partner shook his head, putting the binoculars down. "No. They are packing some serious equipment though. Cannons all around. Heavy deflector shields too. It must be warships or something."
"Republic?"
His smaller partner let out a short laugh. "The day the Republic builds warships, is the day I'll be King of Alderaan."
The man chuckled. "I guess you're right, Gat." He accepted the binoculars that were given to him, storing it in his rucksack. "Should we tell Yagonn?"
"There's a bloody fleet floating in cloudless skies." Gat started walking away from the hill they were perched on. "I'm pretty sure he already knows. Come on, we might as well return to camp. I doubt we are going to find a bloke stupid enough to come out here while those ships are out and about."
"Ni dan't mirdir nah bazor vacosehn leav ch'at isb"
The two froze where they stood. That sounded like an Elom.
"Vi'll shi cuyir a moaur. Gar copaanir haa'taylir ships veah ch'otco veah ch'ah k'ir anch'ah"
And that sounded like two Elom. The man turned his head to Gat, mirroring his partner's giddy grin with his own. It seemed good fortune was smiling upon them today. They just might make today's quota after all.
The man removed a rifle from his shoulders and crouched down low. The rifle was long and bulky, with four prongs instead of a singular barrel at the end. He squinted his left eye, taking aim at the two Eloms. They seemed close, probably a couple or siblings based on how they were conversing with one another. It seemed they hadn't noticed him or his partner yet.
"I don't see anyone," Gat whispered softly, gazing through the scope of his rifle at the hole in the ground where the two furballs came from. "You're good, Mous. Remember what I taught ya."
Mous inhaled then exhaled. On his next exhale, he squeezed the trigger.
Thump!
His body jerked backwards, his shoulder absorbing the recoil from the shot. A large net, big enough for a bantha, launched from the rifle and flew through the air with great speed. The next thing the two heard was shrill cries of pain and the nasty crackle of an electro-net. The screams ended quicker than normal. Must be some youngsters they captured. The young always get knocked unconscious quickly.
Gat patted him on the shoulder, laughing. "Good shot mate."
"Thanks." He used the butt of his launcher to help himself stand. "Let's hurry before they wake up. We got a long ride ahead of us."
Author's Note: How do you guys like Amieto? I had a lot of fun writing her and her about her people's culture. I pretty much based it on the 100 series.
We official hit over 100 followers for this story! I can't believe we did it so early in the series.
I'm also looking for a new beta. If you're interested, send me a PM.
Star Wars Notes/Translation
Kzenka is the name of the alpha male Ranphyx (a animal native to Elom in Legends) who is the leader of the pack.
Ni dan't mirdir nah bazor vacosehn leav ch'at isb: I don't know if we should be leaving home.
Vi'll shi cuyir a moaur. Gar copaanir haa'taylir ships veah ch'otco veah ch'ah k'ir anch'ah: It'll only be a moment. You want to see the ships and we're close to home anyways.
Next update is October 6.
Till Next Time