Jorj Car'das knew, that time has come to flee. At least it should appear like this. Admiral Ar'alani had commanded him to leave and he followed her order only too eagerly, though he didn't let it show. Now the small Chiss shuttle he'd chosen for his lone mission stood before him, unguarded as if it had been waiting for him. It took just five minutes, in which he booted the systems up and unlocked the docking-clamps. Cautiously he maneuvered along the tunnel of the starting trail, then he left the vessel of the Expansionary Defense Fleet of the Chiss, which was his home for so long.
With contention he registered that nobody was following him. Relaxed he pushed the handle to initiate the jump into hyperspace. When he was lucky, on the place where he wanted to fall out, the war raging there for five weeks, would be over already.
Six hours later the lines of hyperspace withdrew in favor of normal stars. Before the cockpit window a brown planet was lying, still surrounded by the ships of the Vagaari. But the war had ended indeed. Instead, Car'das could spot many small transporters, who seeped out from the chunky ships of the pirates, to stream towards the planet. Against this stream, another stream passed by, bringing the alleged bounty to the treasure vaults of the plunderers.
Sometimes he had to maneuver to escape some floating by debris, remains of the space battle, which the Chiss had with the Vagaari five weeks ago – without any benefit for the hapless inhabitants of the planet below. Like a swarm of kundrils the fleet of the Vagaari hung over its prey, to blood it out more and more.
A hard „Plong" was heard, when the frozen carcass of a Geroon crashed against the cockpit window. Just one second later he saw the six interceptors, which were the escort, the Vagaari had sent to him.
His com crackled and he opened it. A melodious, but still vicious hissing language splashed against his ears.
"I don't understand your language", Car'das replied on Sy Bisti. "Do you speak Sy Bisti?"
Again, the answer came in this alien idiom.
"How about Minnisiat?", he tried again.
Silence replaced the com-talk. Car'das mused, that his sentence was formulated an odd way perhaps.
"Do you speak Minnisiat?", he corrected himself.
The Vagaari stayed silent again, then the comlink bristled in the anticipation of some more words.
"Give us your name, your species and your intentions!", the voice from before answered in Minnisiat, but with a heavy accent.
"My name is Jorj Car'das. I am a Human from the planet of Corellia." He took a deep breath. "I'm here to offer you a bargain."
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Two hours before
„… and thus our people conquered the planet Maridun, to spread the light of our presence there too", the elderly man narrated. "The local species, the Lurmen, were masters of creating healing devices, ointments from herbs, which helped us, to regenerate our forces quickly. And because the Lurmen were prudent and apt, they were allowed to participate in the glory of the Vagaari Empire, until our fleet went on, to increase the glory of our Empire even more!"
A bell rang in a harmonious triad. The ten year old children sprang from their seats to leave the class room immediately. At first a girl reached the door already to be awaited on the floor.
"Marasha, do you come with me walking Kushi?", the half a head bigger boy asked her.
"Uhm", the spoken to girl made. "At first I have to bring Porsha to the speech therapist. You can come with me."
"Your little sister takes her time with speaking properly", the boy said in a mild reproach.
"She is only six, she still has time", the girl defended her little sister. "But I'm sure, even Porsha will be able someday to speak with both her mouths independently."
"So how was it with Qarsh?"
Marasha's big lilac eyes went wider. "I could listen to our history teacher for hours", she said enthusiastically. "But now let's go. Who knows what Porsha is doing right now."
The two Vagaari children walked down the stairway, to enter another school floor. The four year younger children were about to leave the floor, as Marasha seized the door to the class room.
"What do you have in your hand?", she asked her little sister.
Porsha, aware of her guilt, looked down into the yellowish-white item in her hand. "That is a Geroon's tooth", she explained. "Piersh had traded it against my two marbles."
"So so, a Geroon tooth?", Marasha's company said sarcastically. "It looks just like an ordinary cow bone, grinded into some form. Piersh had betrayed you!"
"And mother did pay so many zaster for these marbles, because you just wanted to have it!", Marasha ranted at her little sister.
"Where is this Piersh? Show him to me!", demanded her company.
Porsha looked indecisively over the floor. "Gone already", she said and let her shoulders hang.
"O.k. so let's rush lest to miss your appointment", Marasha admonished her.
"I don't like to go", Porsha pouted.
"When you say this with one mouth and with the other sing to it in the second voice, you don't have to go the speech therapist anymore", Marasha taunted her little sister.
"But I … simply don't want", Porsha said strained, but from her second mouth came nothing but an unarticulated piping.
"It will become alright", Marasha consoled her and her hand stroke caring about the short, black curly islands, which dotted her head like most of the Vagaari.
They hurried towards the shuttle, whose pilot looked around bored. "Hello, we have to go to medi-ship no. Five", Marasha demanded.
"I know", the driver grumbled, who didn't went this route for the first time.
The school-ship no. Five behind them went smaller and smaller. In front of them the medi-ship no. 5 popped up. The pilot was so nice to bring them to the office of the speech therapist directly, because there were no other passengers on board.
„Thank you very much", Marasha said and the three children went out.
"Porsha, you will wait here in the anteroom of the office, til I'm back, did you get this?", Marasha told her little sister.
"I head and understood", Porsha said nodding.
It took two minutes, then the speech therapist, an elderly Vagaari, came out of her office to greet Porsha and the others.
"Hello, Madame Tamasha", Marasha said politely. "I'll take Porsha a bit later. Can she stay in the anteroom and play a bit?"
The two mouths of the speech therapist smiled in unison. "I guess, she will occupy herself there very well. But how much later?
"Half an hour?"
Madame Tamasha raised her long middle finger. "But not one minute longer!"
"Thank you very much!"
As soon as Marasha and the two years older boy had left the office, they went to a shuttle, which stood before the office like ownerless.
"You have a shuttle?" Marasha wondered. „With twelve?"
„Actually not. But there is that short time rental system, with which you can rent a shuttle and abandon it, when you don't need it anymore. My big brother is already eighteen and he got me a card too. As long as I do pay a part of my pocket money to him, I can get anywhere anytime."
"And when all these shuttles do land at one place?", she asked.
"There are people, who distribute the shuttles throughout the whole fleet on a regular base, that there is one vehicle nearby, when you need one. For that I have a bearing transmitter in the card to find the next one."
"Cool. Do you let me drive too one day?"
He laughed. "Isn't it enough I let you train with the blaster of my father clandestinely?"
Marasha shook her head. "Nnnnooo."
He started the glider and they left the medi-ship behind. In front of them appeared a vessel, whose greening deck signaled to come to one of the agriculture ships of the Vagaari.
"I can see them already!" Marasha rejoiced.
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Porsha sat in the anteroom and was tired of looking at the books there. Much more she was fascinated by the pictures on the wall. At one she could see a ship, on which several planets were transported. The little Vagaari wanted to touch them, take them down. What or who was stopping her? She stretched out her hands and the picture lay in her hands. But the planets – their order could be better. Thus she tore one planet after the other out of the picture and arranged the flat disks anew. Now she would need some glue to fix this new planet order aboard of the painted ship. But why? Wouldn't it be better, to arrange the planets anew then and then, just as it would come across one's mind, just as the Vagaari fleet changed its position always?
The answer to this question little Porsha received, as twenty minutes later the door to the speech therapist's office opened anew.
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The roughly Dozen of canides with the slim, with sharp fang teeth equipped muzzles were frolicking over the fenced meadow. Their claws dug into the ground, that the brown earth was stirred up decimeters high. Tightly to the fence, there was a puppet, who hung on an iron pole, which was rammed into the meadow's ground. That puppet resembled the denizens of the planet just below them. Amidst the canides stood an elderly Vagaari and gave commands.
„Tolotsier!"
Marasha and her company watched how the animals took the puppet from the pole and quarreled about it, until they ripped it into pieces finally.
„Amacrisier!"
At once the animals retreated from the destroyed puppet and went back to their trainer.
"Hello Monsieur Taesh!", the boy greeted the trainer. "Could we walk Kushi? We bring him back in half an hour."
"Ah, look", Taesh replied the greeting. "And today with company?"
"My cousin Marasha."
The trainer went to one of the Wolvkils and led it to his teenage visitors. "With you I know, that you take care of him."
„Thank you!"
They left the wolvkil training ground and went with the animal over the deck. Marasha scratched his brown fur and her cinnamon brown hand went along his long ear.
"Kushi is my favorite wolvkil", her cousin explained. "Someday I will have one wolvkil too. And when we have a gala, then I'll take him with me and I'll frighten all the guests there."
„You are mean!"
They walked with the wolvkil to a deck, where they had a good sight down the planet underneath the fleet.
"And you? Have you been down there already?", he asked jokingly the wolvkil, who barked instead of an answer.
They promenaded along the deck further, bathed in the looks of the passing by Vagaari and gave them pleasant and happy glances. Then they took a turn and went their way back.
A glider stopped behind them. No doubt somebody wanted something from them.
„Marasha?"
She turned around to look straight in the eyes of her mother, surrounded by two other children aged two and four, whom the mother did take from the kindergarten right now … and Porsha, who made a pitiful appearance.
"Mother, I just wanted …"
„You don't have to explain anything, daughter! And of course your cousin Bearsh did have his hands in it – I could anticipate that!"
"But nothing happened, or …?", Marasha tried a defense.
"Porsha did deconstruct the whole anteroom of the office, while Madame Tamasha did treat another child! And now your father must replace all the hand drawn pictures in the office now!"
"I can draw very well and I will replace it", Marasha offered.
"How long is this going on?", the mother asked without waiting for an answer. "You can't leave Porsha alone to get away with Bearsh! And how did you get here at all? Which careless shuttle-pilot did bring you from the medi-ship until here? That will bear consequences, young lady!"
"Adieu", Marasha told her Cousin and stepped to her mother into the glider.
"Bearsh, you will come with us too!", the mother decided. "We fly to the command ship, where I will meet my husband. And his brother, your father will be there too and thus can take you from there.
Bearsh let out of his two mouths a two-toned whistle. "To the command ship?"
"The Miskara summoned an extraordinary session. We'll learn more there. And we will wear masks."
„Ah", made Bearsh. „Then we have visitors from beyond."
„It looks like that", Marasha's mother said.
"But we have to bring back Kushi", Bearsh objected.
"You will take him on your lap", Marasha's mother decided.
They reached the command ship and the mother let escort her and the children by two guards through the floor.
"Quick, put on the masks!", the mother commanded and distributed five smaller masks, whereas she put on a bigger one.
A small door opened with a hydraulic hiss. They went through and came to the back entrance of the throne room, where the ruler of the Vagaari people held court.
"Shhhh", the mother told her children. "Now you can see, how father is at work."
Marasha knew the throne room of her father, but it had been rarely that crowded as it was now. So their arrival didn't draw much attention. All the other people in the room did wear masks according to their rank or preference. The masks did just conceal the upper part of the face, but mouth and chin could be seen clearly. Some servants merely had painted their faces. The biggest and most adorned mask however was worn by the Miskara himself.
Before the golden throne, on which the Miskara of the Vagaari people sat, stood a Human. He was slim and of a skin color which was lighter than that of the Vagaari. He had brown eyes and on the head he had short jet-black hair, which gloomed in the light of the ship in a bluish tone.
„I greet the big and mighty Vagaari!", the Human started in the trade language Minnisiat, to get a blow on his shoulder for this insolence by one guard. Immediately he went on his knees.
"With this accent I would have hit him too", Bearsh said grinning to his cousin.
"You won't speak in the presence of the Miskara unless you are told to!", the guard yelled at the guest.
Marasha and Bearsh looked at each other. Bearsh wanted to open his mouths again, but with an energetic movement of her hand the mother made him stay silent.
The mouth of the kneeing Human twitched likewise, surely to utter an apology. Then he seemed to have a second thought and stayed mute on his knees.
„Very good", the Miskara said. "You may rise."
The Human stood up.
„I am the Miskara of the Vagaari people", the Miskara introduced himself on his throne. "I was told you were so insolent to make a bargain with us?"
"I didn't raise demands of any kind", the Human defended himself. "Actually I'm in a heap of trouble and I hope that the mighty people of the Vagaari can help me. I hope furtherly that I can offer you for your help something in the same kind in return."
"What kind of trouble?"
"My friends and I are merchants from a faraway system. Since nearly three months we went astray and became captives of the Chiss people."
A soft murmuring rose in the throne room. "I did meet Humans too", Bearsh bragged before Marasha. "They are like vermin. They spread everywhere and they have heavy, fast weapons."
"Sounds dangerously", his cousin replied.
The lower part of the Miskara, which was not covered by the big mask the leader wore, hardened.
"Captive? I don't see any shackles around your neck."
„My apparently freedom is an illusion", the Human spoke. "I could flee, while my friends are still in the fangs of the Chiss. The Chiss did make much bounty but they refuse to give us the part which is ours. But we need these treasures to pay the conventional penalty to our customers. A penalty because of the delay in delivery while the Chiss are holding us prisoner. Without the treasures we'll be simply killed."
The Miskara pondered for a moment.
"Where they are held captive?"
"At a base, which is within an asteroid, your Eminence", the Human answered. "The navigation data are on the ship which I was fleeing with."
"And where did you know where to find us?"
"The data were saved in a Chiss cruiser, on which I was held captive. That vessel did participate in the battle which happened here five weeks ago."
"That time one of our ship nets had been stolen!", the Miskara growled.
"I didn't had anything to do with it", the Human protested. "That was all the fault of Commander Thrawn from the Chiss!"
"Where is this Commander Thrawn now?", the Miskara searched.
"On the very same asteroid, where my friends are held captive. At least he will always come back there because this is his base."
The Miskara contorted both of his mouths. "So you are offering us access to this Thrawn to get your revenge and beside this you demand a part of our own treasures stolen by the Chiss? And not enough we should also free your friends?"
"I don't have anything else. Please, I beg you …!"
„No begging! Begging is something for larvaes and weaklings!", the Miskara boomed from the throne. „Nothing for people who speak with the Vagaari and want to make a bargain with them. You must offer me more!"
Marasha saw, how several Vagaari entered the throne room. Without a noise they brought some crates with them, which were as double as big as their carriers. And there were smaller crates, which went until the neck of the men.
"The Chiss did amass even more treasures", tried the Human to negotiate further. "Treasures which could be yours."
The Miskara touched his divided chin thoughtfully. "What is with this?" He gestured over the shoulder of the man behind to the crates.
The Human turned around. He seemed puzzled. „I don't understand. What is it?"
The Miskara leaned forward to the supplicant. "You pretend not to know, what's in the crates?"
"Yes, your Eminence. I stole the ship and I had no time to investigate the cargo else."
"Then you do it now!", demanded the Miskara.
The Human walked to the crates, which were opened by the guarding Vagaari for him. He looked inside and perception could be read in his features.
"That are battle droids", he explained. "Commander Thrawn had taken them during a raid against a ship from the Trade Federation.
"What are droids?", the Miskara asked his guest.
"Mechanical helpers", the Human answered. "The Trade Federation is building such also with soldier function like these here. Underdeveloped systems, who can't afford armies, to take resort to such sometimes."
The Miskara looked into the surrounding masses complacently. Of course the Vagaari people was sophisticated enough to renounce to such kind of helpers. But Marasha read curiosity in the masked face of her father.
"Show me how they work!", the Miskara demanded.
The man went from one crate to the other in order to look for something seemingly in vain. "Excuse me, but without the remote control I can't even switch them on."
"Perhaps this could be of some use", the Miskara suggested and waved to one of the uniformed Vagaari, which draw a data bloc out of his gown.
The man looked seemingly relieved. "Yes, Eminence. That should work. Shall I try now to activate them?"
„Try?", the Miskara asked in a lurking way.
"Yes!"
The Human pressed several buttons on the data bloc. The droids rose and left the crates, unfolding themselves to their full height. The yellowish droids looked like Humanoids, which raised their blasters … and aimed on the Miskara. They got company from two brown, three-legged machines, who erected a ball-like shield around themselves.
"Impressive", the Miskara stated. „Who is commanding them?"
„At the moment that one, who holds the remote control in his hands."
"You will teach them to obey me!"
"For that reason, they must approach you to get to know your features and your voice in order to recognize both later."
The Miskara rose and stepped down from the throne to the droids. The Human programmed something. After he finished this, he gave the Miskara the remote control of the killing machines. At once the droids got room between the ruler and themselves and saluted him with their weapons.
"Very good", the Miskara praised him. "And now you will teach me exactly two commands: At first Aim! and Fire!"
„It's a pleasure", the Human replied. "But these battle droids don't take orders in Minnisiat but solely in Basic, the main language in wide parts of the galaxy."
"In Basic then."
The Human spoke the two words and the Miskara strode with the remote control in his hand back to his throne. He gestured at the Human and said: "Aim!"
At once the droids aimed their blaster towards their new victim.
"And now", the Miskara said with silk-soft voice, "you will speak the second command."
Everything in the room saw, how pearls of sweat appeared on the rose-colored forehead of the Human. "Fire!", he said with nearly unmoving lips.
Nothing happened.
A smirk surrounded one mouth of the Miskara. "You are really wise enough not to betray us."
The Human breathed out in visible relief.
The features of the Miskara were filled with grimly anticipation. He waved with the hand to two guards. "Bring me three Geroons!"
Some minutes later three slaves were brought into the throne room, who were even smaller than the Vagaari with their average height of one meter forty.
"They are quite malnourished, that slaves", Bearsh told his cousin.
„My father is really merciful to grant them such a quick death", she replied in a low voice.
„You will see how merciful your father is with you!", the mother hissed at her daughter.
So look at this your pathetic planet, rotating underneath us, slaves!", the Miskara sneered at the doomed to die, then he turned to the droids.
„Aim!"
The droids aimed their rifles at the three Geroons.
„Fire!"
The blaster rattled in a never ending staccato their song. The three slaves were mashed in the air, when they still stood at their feet. Soon they turned into three unrecognizable masses of blood-stained flesh, bones and clothing, falling to the ground of the throne room like thrown away carelessly.
In shock the brown eyes of the Human looked at the thoroughly mashed carcasses at his feet, while a murmuring went through the Vagaari crowd like a big wave in the wake of the amassed fire force, whose witness they had become just now.
„Splendid!", the Miskara praised the guest. "Does this Thrawn harbor even more of these … droids?"
"Many of them! The commander stores them at his base at Crustai."
"Then we'll take them from him!", the strong voice of the Miskara filled the throne room.
He turned to one of his aides who flanked the throne. "Activate an army!"
"Yes, Eminence", the man replied and left the throne room.
The Miskara turned to the Human. "And while we are waiting, you will teach me the rest of the words to control the droids."
"Yes, your Eminence!"
Note of the author: Jorj Car'das' appearance in this story and the throne room scene with the Miskara is from the novel „Outbound Flight" by Timothy Zahn (2006). Marasha and her mother, siblings and others meanwhile are OCs of mine.
Bearsh and the wolvkils do appear in the novel „Survivor's Quest" in 2004 by the same author.