Typho, supervising the loading of supplies into a trio of speeders, turned to face the Gungans approaching him. He had yet to learn the names of the rest of Tarpals's command, but he recognized the adult Gungans as belonging to some sort of family unit. He nodded politely to them.

"The little-un, Zanté," said the closest Gungan in a female voice. "Yousa knowin' any'ting 'bout hersa fam'ly?" She indicated the girl, who sat in the grass with Arlan and the two Gungan children, the older of whom still bore a bruise on the side of his face. The youngsters had been given several toys and other items salvaged from some of the houses, with the instructions to keep busy and out of the way as the adults and older children packed supplies.

The human lieutenant shook his head. "I'm sorry. All we know is that they're not here. If she was being transported somewhere by droids, her parents are probably prisoners in one of the internment camps. Right now, we have no way of finding out."

"Wesa talked it over," the female continued, glancing to either side of her at the other two Gungans. "Wesa want to tekk hersa wit' ussan."

Typho stared at her. "You can't be serious. She's not a Gungan," he pointed out. "She belongs here, with her people. We'll do our best to find her parents if we can."

"Shesa belongin' where shesa wanted," the female argued. "Wesa willin' to tekk care'n hersa, give hersa fam'ly." She pointed to Typho. "Yousan all goin' to find place to hide, mebbe attack the maccaneeks again. Wesan –" here she indicated the other two adults with her "—goin' to Sacred Place – diss'n safest place anywhere. Wesan tekk Zanté 'way from danger."

Typho hesitated. One of the other Gungans cocked its head, then turned toward the group of children and suddenly whistled through its teeth. The children all looked up (as did the other humans in the area); the Gungan pointed at Zanté, and then made a couple of gestures. The girl rose and walked over to him; Plirri toddled over after her, Temmis trailing behind. The Gungan crouched down to her eye level, and then made a series of gestures with its hand. The girl watched solemnly, then nodded. As the Gungan straightened, the human reached up to take its hand and stood blinking at Typho.

"What was that all about?" the lieutenant asked.

The female replied, "Hesa h'asked her iff'n she wanted to come with ussan. Shesa 'greed."

"She's not old enough to make that decision," Typho said.

"Den mebbe wesa h'ask Rep Brand-ess, yiss?" the female suggested.


~*~*~*~


"Are you coming with us?" asked Arlan. He was lying on his stomach in the grass, looking up at Peskis, who was bending over him.

"Yiss, the kippton said my'm allowed to stay wit' yousan," Peksis told him. He tilted his head to study the boy's actions. "What do yousa hev dere?"

"They're coloring sticks. I found them in one of the houses," Arlan replied. "You draw pictures with them. See?" He held up a thin, flat material; the picture showed three figures that had ovals for ears and long faces – Gungans. The three seemed to be standing on the top of a mountain. One of the figures held a cup and was pouring a blue liquid out of it. "The Captain told us the story about how A'Pensik made the water spill so it would fill up most of Naboo!" Arlan explained.

Peskis laughed. "Yiss, yiss, A'Pensik, hesa allus meddling. Inna ever't'ing. Kipps ever'one's life interestin', even the Naaboo. When the fust Naaboo kemm to diss world, A'Pensik went to meet dem. Wanted to see what deysa wuss. But da Naaboo, deysa frighted of hissan, didn' know what hesa wuss. An' deysa hedd weapons, so deysa shot at himsa. Berry bad. T'ought all'n the Guungans wuss dang'rous, an' fought wit' dem. O'mas, shesa berry unhappy wit' dat. Shesa banished A'Pensik to diss'n world. Here hesa to stay, 'till hesa medd up for what hesa done."

"That's sad," Arlan said.

"Mebbe iss'n not so bad, eh?" Peskis said. "Diss'n nice world, lott'n t'ings to see an' do. Kipp even a god busy. But da legend sess A'Pensik, hesa be 'llowed to go home when da Naaboo an' Guungans finally stop fightin' an' work together. Mebbe bein' soon, mesa t'inks."


~*~*~*~


"Orrin," said Saché in a low voice. "There's someone here to see you."

The Gungan's eyes opened halfway. "Captain," she croaked, head and shoulders rolling against the bed as she attempted to sit up.

"Lie down, Lieutenant. That's an order," Tarpals tapped her shoulder with a forefinger. Orrin sank back against the pillow. The humans had placed her in the same building as the rest of the wounded.

Saché stood up. "Excuse me." She walked to the other side of the room, giving the Gungans their privacy.

"Sir, I'm sorry."

"Why? You were injured in battle, defending a colleague. There's nothing to be sorry for," Tarpals told her. "I didn't think the Naaboo had it in them. Even Rep Brand-ess fought."

Orrin goggled at him. "She did? And I missed it?"

Tarpals snorted in amusement. "She did, and you did. You can ask her about it when you're stronger."

"But –"

"You're staying here, Lieutenant. You're in no condition to travel."

Orrin closed her eyes and turned her head away. "Yes, sir," she whispered.

"I'm assigning you the job of military advisor to the Naaboo," Tarpals continued. "The gods know they need one...."

Orrin opened her eyes and stared at him. Tarpals continued. "Lieutenant Peskis will remain with you, both to tend your injuries and to assist you with training the Naaboo." The captain tilted his head back and squinted at her thoughtfully. "Of course, to acknowledge your increased responsibility, and your exemplary actions in battle, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Senior Grade. The next time naamana-rissah Artil gives you grief, you now have sufficient rank to box his ears for him."

Orrin's mouth opened and closed twice before she managed, "I – thank you, Captain!"

"The Naaboo have suggested the idea of working together with us," Tarpals continued. "Although from what I've seen, they're not going to do us much good. I don't envy you your job, Lieutenant – most of them seem to be at the same level of Rep Brand-ess and the sprattlings were when we first met them. You've got a lot of work to do, once you've recovered."

"Do you think the Generals and the Governors' Council will agree to working with the Naaboo?"

Tarpals grimaced. "As a group, no. Individually.... perhaps. I've promised to pass the Naaboos' idea on to our leaders. I can't say I see much point to it, all things considered. However, I suppose that many of Naaboo can eventually learn to fight. Whether they will do so in time to do us any good or not remains to be seen."


~*~*~*~



When Tarpals emerged from the temporary infirmary, he found most of his command assembled, facing off against a group of the Naaboo. Kimma Nril and her family, including Zanté, were clustered together in the middle of the knot of Gungans. Berendar, Typho, and nearly a dozen other humans stood opposite them. Berendar was arguing with Kimma.

As Tarpals approached, the female's haillu suddenly rose and spread slightly; the humans tensed, although none of them seemed inclined to raise their weapons.

"Maybe you can help us straighten this out, Captain," Berendar suggested.

"Captain, they want to take Zanté away from us!" Kimma protested in High Gungan as Tarpals walked up to her.

"This, ah, lady is demanding to take one of the children with her when your people leave," Berendar continued.

"She said she wants to stay with us," Kimma insisted. Tarpals glanced at the girl, who was holding Hanar's hand with both of hers.

"P'raps wesan could settle diss'n once an' for all," came Peskis's voice. The Ankuran eased his way through the crowd and crouched down in front of Zanté. "A'fore yousa kemm to travel wit' ussan, yousa saw what happened to yoursa fam'ly, yiss?"

Zanté huddled against Hanar's leg, and Sen Tal knelt beside her to put both hands on her shoulders. Finally the girl nodded. "Da maccaneeks, deysa took yousa and yoursa parents 'way, didn't dey?" Another nod. Then she let go of Hanar and made two signs. "Yoursa maatra and paatra," Peskis translated. Zanté doubled up her fists, punching at the air wildly.

"I'm guessing that's the sign for fighting?" Typho suggested.

"Yiss. Deysa fought da maccaneeks?" Peskis continued.

Zanté nodded. Tears welled up in her eyes. She curled up her fist and extended the index finger forward and her thumb upward in an obvious sign of a gun. Her hand jerked twice, imitating a weapon firing.

"My God," Brandes whispered. "They must have been killed resisting capture."

"An' da maccaneeks made yousa go wit' Rep Brand-ess, yiss?" Peskis said. Zanté nodded, wiping the heel of her hand over her face.

"And left the bodies of her parents...." Berendar's voice trailed off.

"No wonder she's been silent," Brandes murmured.

Kimma Nril hissed at Berendar, then knelt beside her essoans and gathered Zanté up in her arms. The girl clung to the Gungan and buried her face in Kimma's neck. Brandes reached over and placed both hands on Zanté's shoulders in a comforting gesture. Both humans and Gungans stood in silence.

"I think, Sergeant, that it would be best to allow Kimma and her family to take Zanté with them," Brandes said heavily. "They're the closest thing she's going to have to a family, and from what I've heard, I think that the Sacred Place will be safer than anywhere we're going. If I thought they'd be allowed, I'd send the rest of the children with them as well."

Berendar turned to Tarpals. "Your people wouldn't consider giving our children sanctuary?"

"My ken't say," Tarpals replied. "Many of oursan folk iss berry angry wit' yousan right now. Wesan tekk Zanté with ussan, an' my will ask 'bout thiss'n 'long with the idee of fighting togeth-ah. Thass the best my kenn promise."

Berendar nodded. "All right. We're leaving Tendesay and pulling back to Segglissan – that's a couple of towns east." He pointed the direction out to the Gungan; Tarpals noted that it was the direction from which the sun rose in the morning. "We'll be gathering as many of our people together as we can. If your leaders agree to working with us, you'll be able to find us there."

"Berry good, Sah-gent."

"Good luck to you, Captain." Berendar drew himself up and saluted.

"An' yousa, Sah-gent." Tarpals returned the gesture, nodded to Typho, and turned to Brandes as the two men strode away toward the convoy of humans that had assembled.

"Captain, I can't thank you and your people enough," Brandes began. The rest of the children clustered around them.

"Line h'up," Tarpals instructed them. The children formed a line. The Gungan clasped both hands behind his back and stared at them down his nose, looking for all the world as though he were reviewing troops instead of a handful of Naaboo youngsters.

"When wesa train oursan children, theys learn the same things yousan did," he began. "At the end of theirsan training, each one iss given a liddle circle with a string so theysan kenn wear them." Over his shoulder he told Rell Iss in High Gungan, "Call the order to form ranks, at attention." Rell Iss blew the notes, and the Gungans assembled into four rows.

Tarpals turned back to the line of humans. "Mesa 'fraid wesa don' hev any of them here with ussan," he continued. "However, yousan now all part of the Third Mounted Pah-trol's h'expanded command. Yoursan job iss to continue yoursan training with Sah-gent Berendar an' hissan troops, an' to mekk sure naamanas Orrin and Peskis stay out'n trouble." All of the children grinned at that. "Yousan gonna be busy with that, mesa thinks." Tarpals remarked, deadpan. Then he raised his voice. "Yousan hev all completed yoursan fust training with honors. Yousan he-ah by diss'missed." He turned his head and switched to High Gungan. "Riders, honor salute."

The Patrol members and militiagungs with cestas and electropoles drew their weapons, then whipped the poles up, tips a fingers-width from their eyes, and whipped them down again.

Arlan saluted, and Melni, Irric, Nalla, Yané and Saché copied the gesture. For a few moments, both groups stared at each other, unwilling to break the camaraderie they had finally achieved. Then Tarpals squared his shoulders. "Diss'missed," he repeated.

Arlan darted forward to hug him around the waist.

Several Gungans snickered. Tarpals sighed, then instructed over his shoulder, "Break ranks," and both Gungans and humans mingled freely for a few moments. Tarpals patted Arlan on the back and the boy let go, scampering to Rell Iss.

"So much for a dignified exit," Brandes remarked dryly.

Tarpals tilted his head in a shrug. "Theysa sprattlings."

"And I hope they return to being 'sprattlings' again soon, with this invasion over." She glanced over her shoulder at the convoy of humans, most of whom had already climbed aboard their vehicles. Then she turned back to Tarpals. "Be safe, Captain," she whispered. Tarpals inclined his head in a bow; impulsively, Brandes reached up and put both arms around his shoulders. The Gungan hesitated, and then carefully copied her gesture, arms around her ribs and his long face resting on her opposite shoulder. A few moments later he let go.

Brandes found Temmis at her elbow. "Yousa gonna be all right?" Temmis asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.

"We'll do our best, Temmis, thank you." Brandes reached down and squeezed his shoulder. "Take good care of Zanté now."

"Wesan all be watchin' out for hersa," Temmis assured her solemnly. Brandes leaned over and hugged him briefly.

"I'm glad we became friend, Temmis," she said. "When this is over, I hope we can see you again."

"Wesa bring Zanté to visit," Temmis replied. He trotted over to his family, pausing once to wave at her.

"All right, everyone, over to the convoy," Brandes called. The children reluctantly separated from the Gungans, who began mounting their kaadu. Brandes paused at the entrance to the transport; her gaze found Zanté, sitting behind Kimma with both arms around the Gungan's waist. The girl let go long enough to wave, a gesture Brandes returned.

Tarpals, astride his own mount, peered at the Naaboo vehicles, finally locating Peskis's form perched on the rail of an open transport. The Ankuran reached over to tap the side of the vehicle next to him, and a moment later Orrin's face appeared at the window. She managed a salute; Tarpals sat at attention and touched the tip of his electropole to the spot between his eyes. Gods go with you both, he thought. May they ride with us all, until this war ends.

A few minutes later both groups departed from Tendesay, the humans to the east and the Gungans to the south.


~*~*~*~


It had, Tarpals reflected wearily, been a long and strange journey.

Two days after leaving Tendesay, the remnants of the Third Mounted Patrol, supplemented by militiagungs and escorting a family of civilians, reached the low, spongy moor leading to the Sacred Place that served Otoh Gunga. They had been met by a scouting party and escorted into the sanctuary. Tarpals had kept them all together, ordering everyone to make camp until he could speak with General Ceel, his immediate superior, and Governor Rugor Nass.

Tobler Ceel, several years older than Tarpals and also career military, came striding out of the mists, led by one of the scouts. General Yoss walked a step behind him with several aides in tow, and following them at a trot came Ven Artil and two other members of the Third Mounted Patrol. Tarpals drew himself up and saluted, a gesture both Ceel and Yoss returned.

Ceel's grey-blue skin was dark against the mist; like Tarpals, he sported a set of whiskery growths on his upper lip, a sign of later maturity among Gungan males. "Captain Tarpals! You have no idea how pleased we are to see you and the rest of your command!" He gestured around at the Gungans assembled behind the Captain. "Welcome, all of you! I'm sure that you all wish to rejoin your respective units or families. We'll see that you do so at the soonest opportunity." He spoke over his shoulder to the aides, who moved among Tarpals's command to gather names and other information. Ceel turned back to Tarpals. "Captain, I'm sure you and your people will want to rest, but you understand that I'll want your report as soon as possible. To be honest, we'd almost given you up for lost."

"We were forced to circle rather widely to avoid the droid army, and to.... take care of some other business," Tarpals said. "As soon as I see to my mount and command, General, I'll be ready to report."

Ceel and Yoss glanced at each other. "Very good, Captain," Ceel said. "Senior Lieutenant Artil knows where the command center is located. We'll await your arrival."

Ven Artil waited until both officers had disappeared into the mists; then he straightened his back and saluted. Tarpals imitated the gesture, and then aimed a slap at his second-in-command's face, which Artil blocked, grinning. The lieutenant seized both of Tarpals's upper arms and shook him, and for a moment the two indulged in a pushing and wrestling contest that served as both a welcome and test of physical fitness.

At last Tarpals stepped back. "The rest of the Third?"

"Fighting fit," Artil replied briskly. "Ceel's been keeping us busy with guard duty and some scouting forays. I'm sure he'll fill you in. He and General Yoss have been sending patrols to see how much damage the maccaneeks have done. Our people are still straggling in from various settlements. Some have brought messages from other shrines – many of them are full of refugees. The smaller villages and homesteads seem to have suffered the least. I would guess that the maccaneeks attacked mostly the large cities, expecting to disorganize us."

"And they've succeeded, at least temporarily," Tarpals remarked. "Any word from the Matawba settlement?"

Artil shook his head. "No. I'm sorry, but nothing. They could arrive tomorrow, they could arrive in an eight-day. We're sending word to the other Sacred Places that any of the groups who can travel under cover should prepare to journey here, at least temporarily."

"And your family?"

Artil clenched his teeth and turned his head aside. "Yr and the sprattlings are here, but Quin – Quin didn't make it out of Otoh Gunga." Tarpals reach forward and gripped Artil's shoulder in silent sympathy. Quin Artil had been Ven's second essoin, a practical female with a dry sense of humor. As one of the city's emergency response personnel, she would have been assisting in the final evacuation.

Artil opened his eyes and peered beseechingly at Tarpals. "Tell me you've discovered some weakness of the maccaneeks, something we can use to stop them. They've shattered so many families....."

"I think we may have discovered several things that will allow us a fighting chance against these invaders," Tarpals said. He gripped both of Artil's shoulders. "We'll stop them, Ven. Somehow."

One of Ceel's aides materialized at Tarpals's side. "We're done here, Captain. You may dismiss them."

Tarpals nodded in acknowledgement and stepped past the aide to face the Gungans who had followed him from Otoh Gunga to Tendesay, and finally here to the Sacred Place. A ragged circle of faces returned his gaze.

"An eight-day ago, we assembled as a group of refugees, cut off from our people and our homes. In the time we have traveled together, we have set aside our differences and learned to work together and support one another. We have all grown and changed. We have all survived because of each other. And we have proven that even in times of danger, struggle and grief, our people retain our ability to draw together, even setting aside our differences with the Naaboo in order to defeat a common enemy." He could almost hear Ven Artil's mouth fall open in astonishment at the last sentence.

"In a moment, you will all be released to rejoin your families. I wanted to tell you that you have all acquitted yourselves with honor and courage, and my report to the Generals and the Governors will reflect that. You have earned a place in the grand stories of our people, which will be told for generations to come." He paused to gaze once more around the circle, making a point of meeting each pair of eyes. "You are hereby dismissed to your families and commands. Go with honor and pride."

For a moment Tarpals braced himself, wondering if this group would dissolve into a round of hugging and backslapping as they had in Tendesay when he had dismissed the Naaboo members.

"All command members," came Rell Iss's voice from the back of the group, "present formal salute!" He drew himself up, grinning.

The Gungans before Tarpals snapped to attention, including the two youngest members of the Nril family, and saluted almost as one.

"Captain," said Kimma Nril, where she stood holding the reins of one of the kaadu, "it's been an honor serving with you." A murmur of assent ran through the group.

Tarpals squared his shoulders. "Likewise, all." He bowed. "May the gods go with you."