CHAPTER 4
Shedding THY ignorance
The reptiles still continued to surround him, with their bows up and an arrow in each quiver. Dykon thought that he could try to fight them with his blaster, but there were so many of them that if he shot one the others would launch a volley at him, which would not be easy to dodge. He could possibly negotiate himself out of this, but the Rattakeen weren't too fond of the Imperials. However, it was better than fighting.
"I am Lieutenant Dykon Therron, fighter pilot of the Imperial Star Destroyer Raptor", said Dykon. "May you please state your purpose for these hostile actions?"
"May you please state your purpose for your hostile actions", said a voice from above. Suddenly, one of the Rattakeen sprouted a pair of wings and flew down from the trees and drew out a sword. The Rattakeen got close to Dykon, so close that no light passed between their bodies. Dykon realized the Rattakeen was a female, and for a second he found her attractive. But that wasn't possible. A human and a lizard? If his family found out..."
"I am Vienta Jakuuldaughter", said the female Rattakeen. "Why are you so far away from your little base? I thought you Imps hated being close to anything that wasn't luxurious and clean."
"There was an aerial battle", said Dykon, "between an Imperial Star Destroy and a Rebel Blockade Runner. I was chasing this pilot when our two ships collided and plummeted towards the surface. Since my supplies burnt up in the atmosphere, this Rebel took me hostage."
"Is that true?" asked Vienta.
"He speaks the truth", said Cino, who was putting away his gear.
"Good", said Vienta. "He shall come with us to our village."
"And what will you do to me in your village?" asked Dykon. "Boil me, mash me, stick me in a stew?"
"No", laughed Vienta. "You'll see. Shall we call it a surprise?"
"That's just what I need", sighed Dykon.
"Blindfold the two newcomers", said Vienta. "We shall take them to Haja'curra!" The other Rattakeen leaped out of the trees (without wings, which confused Dykon) and ripped out a couple took off their shirts. They then walked over, tied their clothing around their eyes, and made them lead the way. The smell of the sweat on the shirt sickened Dykon, but he would have to deal with it for many more minutes. He couldn't see where he was going at all, but all that plagued his mind was Vienta. None of his friends had any attraction towards a member from another species, and neither did everyone he knew. Not even the Holodramas had people in love with an alien. The aliens always played the serial killers in the horror films. But somehow, this one seemed different. Mabey it was because she was just so alien. Her scaly skin, triangular head, and wings that popped out all mystified him. It was also something that no other man could brag about. However, most men he knew wouldn't brag about having an alien as a mate. Was it even possible to mate with an alien?
"We're here", said a deep, male voice. Within seconds the shirts were taken off their eyes, and Dykon breathed fresh air, air without the scent of Rattakeen sweat.
"Look forward", said Cino to him.
"Why?" asked Dykon.
"Because you are part of a large, elaborate ceremony", said Cino. Dykon whipped his body around and he saw that Cino was telling the truth. A large Rattakeen was in the middle, dressed with a large robe and dozens of bead necklaces, while several guards surrounded him. Two Rattakeen, on the large man's signal, banged two gongs, and there was no noise.
"I am Jakuul Hakason", said the large Rattakeen. "You two are newcomers to our tribe- the Jha'karis, the Land of the Rebels. You two have entered our grounds without permission while altering the land, and I am not pleased. However, it was done by pure accident, so you two shall become members of our tribe." The guards then ran up to them and put beads around their necks and ran away while Jakuul lifted up his arms. "Please welcome Dykon Therronson and Cino Cinohwamson!" Dykon heard several cheers behind him and turned around to see hundred of Rattakeen, all standing in front of the large, white tents they lived in.
"Please go and find peace", said Jakuul. "A ceremony is approaching!" Several of the Rattakeen then hollered while Vienta ran up to him.
"Forgive him", said Vienta. "He insisted on becoming Ja of our rebellion for 'religious support".
"It's okay", Dykon told her. "Do you have a change of clothes I could get into? I've been wearing this wet TIE suit for hours".
"Sure", said Vienta. "Follow me". Vienta then trotted off to a rather large, white tent while Dykon followed close behind. Inside the tent there was not only a cot, but several personal items which ranged from an amulet to a vibro dagger.
"This is my tent", said Vienta while throwing him a pair of clothes.
"Excuse my ignorance", said Dykon, "but you're a female and I'm a male. Won't these clothes be a little to tight for me?"
"The females of my species are more, let's say, physically strong than the males", said Vienta. "Our shape is almost the same in terms of muscles, except some extra packaging on my chest. Just put it on." Dykon then stared at her but she wouldn't move a muscle.
"I don't know if it is rude in your culture to stare at someone while they're dressing, but it is for mine."
"Excuse me for my ignorance. I'll just cover my eyes". She flapped her wings and put them over her eyes, but Dykon knew that they were made out of a thin, transparent film. Dykon didn't care anyway. He didn't often have girls judge his body, especially in military service.
"So, can you tell me a little about your culture?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Well for one thing, why do you have wings? Only insectoid species have wings".
"That's what our species evolved from. Rattak used to be a world full of Geonosian-like creatures, fluttering around and making hives. But our neighbors, the Trandoshians, loved to battle and conquer, so when they first developed space travel they found our world and sought an opportunity for more skulls to hang upon their mantles. They took over our species and destroyed our hives, making our world their own. However, they soon began to breed with us, and it miraculously produced the first of the Rattakeen you are familiar with today. Wings are a rare trait that date back to our ancestors. Soon all Rattakeen will be like this and never have a trace of our old biology again."
"What about the men? If the women fight what do you do?"
"Most males like to see things grow, to create new life and new opportunities. Some men fight, but it is mostly women who fight in our rebellion."
"Rebellion?"
"A rebellion against the Imperial establishment on Rattak. We were a free world long after the Clone Wars, but just recently the Empire has come here and taken that away from us."
"Well, you are in Imperial space."
"Says who?"
"The Emperor himself."
"You are an Imperial, are you?"
"Yes." Dykon never doubted the fact that he was an Imperial and he was proud of it, but somehow this woman had used some sort of seduction power to start dematerializing that pride. Damn reptilian women. "I had served aboard the Raptor. It was recently in battle with the Tantive III, a Rebel ship. Do you know what happened?" Suddenly, Vienta had a sad look upon her eyes and she began to rub Dykon's leg.
"I'm sorry. According to our spies, in a last ditch attempt to destroy her enemy, the Tantive III rammed into the Raptor. Both ships were destroyed, and the X-Wings and TIEs killed each other in rage. I am sorry". Dykon put his hands over his eyes and breathed heavily. He had been a part of that ship for three great years. He loved that ship, and her crew, but most importantly, his friend G'Harra....
"Could you please leave for a minute?" yelled Dykon. "Even if it is your house".
"I could spare a few moments away from my tent for a while", said Vienta while she walked away. Suddenly, emotion blasted into him like a proton torpedo into a starship. For the first time in several years, he wept.
Shedding THY ignorance
The reptiles still continued to surround him, with their bows up and an arrow in each quiver. Dykon thought that he could try to fight them with his blaster, but there were so many of them that if he shot one the others would launch a volley at him, which would not be easy to dodge. He could possibly negotiate himself out of this, but the Rattakeen weren't too fond of the Imperials. However, it was better than fighting.
"I am Lieutenant Dykon Therron, fighter pilot of the Imperial Star Destroyer Raptor", said Dykon. "May you please state your purpose for these hostile actions?"
"May you please state your purpose for your hostile actions", said a voice from above. Suddenly, one of the Rattakeen sprouted a pair of wings and flew down from the trees and drew out a sword. The Rattakeen got close to Dykon, so close that no light passed between their bodies. Dykon realized the Rattakeen was a female, and for a second he found her attractive. But that wasn't possible. A human and a lizard? If his family found out..."
"I am Vienta Jakuuldaughter", said the female Rattakeen. "Why are you so far away from your little base? I thought you Imps hated being close to anything that wasn't luxurious and clean."
"There was an aerial battle", said Dykon, "between an Imperial Star Destroy and a Rebel Blockade Runner. I was chasing this pilot when our two ships collided and plummeted towards the surface. Since my supplies burnt up in the atmosphere, this Rebel took me hostage."
"Is that true?" asked Vienta.
"He speaks the truth", said Cino, who was putting away his gear.
"Good", said Vienta. "He shall come with us to our village."
"And what will you do to me in your village?" asked Dykon. "Boil me, mash me, stick me in a stew?"
"No", laughed Vienta. "You'll see. Shall we call it a surprise?"
"That's just what I need", sighed Dykon.
"Blindfold the two newcomers", said Vienta. "We shall take them to Haja'curra!" The other Rattakeen leaped out of the trees (without wings, which confused Dykon) and ripped out a couple took off their shirts. They then walked over, tied their clothing around their eyes, and made them lead the way. The smell of the sweat on the shirt sickened Dykon, but he would have to deal with it for many more minutes. He couldn't see where he was going at all, but all that plagued his mind was Vienta. None of his friends had any attraction towards a member from another species, and neither did everyone he knew. Not even the Holodramas had people in love with an alien. The aliens always played the serial killers in the horror films. But somehow, this one seemed different. Mabey it was because she was just so alien. Her scaly skin, triangular head, and wings that popped out all mystified him. It was also something that no other man could brag about. However, most men he knew wouldn't brag about having an alien as a mate. Was it even possible to mate with an alien?
"We're here", said a deep, male voice. Within seconds the shirts were taken off their eyes, and Dykon breathed fresh air, air without the scent of Rattakeen sweat.
"Look forward", said Cino to him.
"Why?" asked Dykon.
"Because you are part of a large, elaborate ceremony", said Cino. Dykon whipped his body around and he saw that Cino was telling the truth. A large Rattakeen was in the middle, dressed with a large robe and dozens of bead necklaces, while several guards surrounded him. Two Rattakeen, on the large man's signal, banged two gongs, and there was no noise.
"I am Jakuul Hakason", said the large Rattakeen. "You two are newcomers to our tribe- the Jha'karis, the Land of the Rebels. You two have entered our grounds without permission while altering the land, and I am not pleased. However, it was done by pure accident, so you two shall become members of our tribe." The guards then ran up to them and put beads around their necks and ran away while Jakuul lifted up his arms. "Please welcome Dykon Therronson and Cino Cinohwamson!" Dykon heard several cheers behind him and turned around to see hundred of Rattakeen, all standing in front of the large, white tents they lived in.
"Please go and find peace", said Jakuul. "A ceremony is approaching!" Several of the Rattakeen then hollered while Vienta ran up to him.
"Forgive him", said Vienta. "He insisted on becoming Ja of our rebellion for 'religious support".
"It's okay", Dykon told her. "Do you have a change of clothes I could get into? I've been wearing this wet TIE suit for hours".
"Sure", said Vienta. "Follow me". Vienta then trotted off to a rather large, white tent while Dykon followed close behind. Inside the tent there was not only a cot, but several personal items which ranged from an amulet to a vibro dagger.
"This is my tent", said Vienta while throwing him a pair of clothes.
"Excuse my ignorance", said Dykon, "but you're a female and I'm a male. Won't these clothes be a little to tight for me?"
"The females of my species are more, let's say, physically strong than the males", said Vienta. "Our shape is almost the same in terms of muscles, except some extra packaging on my chest. Just put it on." Dykon then stared at her but she wouldn't move a muscle.
"I don't know if it is rude in your culture to stare at someone while they're dressing, but it is for mine."
"Excuse me for my ignorance. I'll just cover my eyes". She flapped her wings and put them over her eyes, but Dykon knew that they were made out of a thin, transparent film. Dykon didn't care anyway. He didn't often have girls judge his body, especially in military service.
"So, can you tell me a little about your culture?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Well for one thing, why do you have wings? Only insectoid species have wings".
"That's what our species evolved from. Rattak used to be a world full of Geonosian-like creatures, fluttering around and making hives. But our neighbors, the Trandoshians, loved to battle and conquer, so when they first developed space travel they found our world and sought an opportunity for more skulls to hang upon their mantles. They took over our species and destroyed our hives, making our world their own. However, they soon began to breed with us, and it miraculously produced the first of the Rattakeen you are familiar with today. Wings are a rare trait that date back to our ancestors. Soon all Rattakeen will be like this and never have a trace of our old biology again."
"What about the men? If the women fight what do you do?"
"Most males like to see things grow, to create new life and new opportunities. Some men fight, but it is mostly women who fight in our rebellion."
"Rebellion?"
"A rebellion against the Imperial establishment on Rattak. We were a free world long after the Clone Wars, but just recently the Empire has come here and taken that away from us."
"Well, you are in Imperial space."
"Says who?"
"The Emperor himself."
"You are an Imperial, are you?"
"Yes." Dykon never doubted the fact that he was an Imperial and he was proud of it, but somehow this woman had used some sort of seduction power to start dematerializing that pride. Damn reptilian women. "I had served aboard the Raptor. It was recently in battle with the Tantive III, a Rebel ship. Do you know what happened?" Suddenly, Vienta had a sad look upon her eyes and she began to rub Dykon's leg.
"I'm sorry. According to our spies, in a last ditch attempt to destroy her enemy, the Tantive III rammed into the Raptor. Both ships were destroyed, and the X-Wings and TIEs killed each other in rage. I am sorry". Dykon put his hands over his eyes and breathed heavily. He had been a part of that ship for three great years. He loved that ship, and her crew, but most importantly, his friend G'Harra....
"Could you please leave for a minute?" yelled Dykon. "Even if it is your house".
"I could spare a few moments away from my tent for a while", said Vienta while she walked away. Suddenly, emotion blasted into him like a proton torpedo into a starship. For the first time in several years, he wept.