Outcomes: Know the Sun

"Of course we stood behind Xim. You heard grumblings, of course, because soldiers love to complain. But we knew the stakes. It was us or them, mankind against the worms. In a battle to survive, there was no man we'd rather see in charge."

Jinxum Kells, 2nd Lieutenant, 115th Armored Division
From Empire of Men: Oral History of a Generation, ed. Taith Onderas 564 LE

568 LE

For all his learning, Taith Onderas had a hard time reckoning the ages of aliens. Some passed slower than humans, some quicker, and time wore differently on their features. The one sitting before him was a Nikto with green scales and gray studded horns ringing his stiff face. His eyes were dark beneath heavy brows and his lips were thin. Taith knew his race had lifespans roughly matching humans', but this one could have been anywhere between thirty and eighty.

There were more important topics to discuss than age. Taith tried to stick with them. He said, "Thank you for meeting me, Mister Vaatus. I appreciate your taking the time."

"I was told you're a scholar," the Nikto said. His Tionese was impeccable, without any accent.

"I have several publications. Xim and His Legacy is the most well-known. Empire of Men is my most recent." He paused. Vaatus said nothing. Alien expressions were hard to discern too, especially these Nikto. He'd read they lacked the facial muscles that made humans so emotive.

"In any case," Taith continued, "I'm collecting interviews for a new work. I'm hoping to make a more comprehensive picture of the war with the Hutts, and if possible document facts that haven't been recorded yet."

Vaatus asked, "Why?"

Taith had gotten that question before, but never so bluntly put. "These were events that affected trillions of people," he said. "Humans, Niktos, and many more. Now they're starting to fade from people's memories. I want to record them so future generations can have the best understanding of what you went through.

"I see," the Nikto said, and nothing more.

Taith cleared his throat. "I have a few questions for you."

"Go ahead."

"Well, for a start, I'm curious how you ended up here on Dravionne. King Jaminere said you have about four hundred thousand Niktos on this world. That's quite an exodus."

"It didn't happen all at once. After the nav beacon over Kintan was rebuilt, I went back. I laid low, saw what the Huts were doing, and collected people who wanted to get away from them. I sneaked in and out several times and set up a network to get others out of the Supremacy." He added, "Basically, I was a people-smuggler."

"But these people wanted to come, correct?"

"They didn't want to live under the Hutts. We didn't have a place to bring them at first, until Jaminere let us settle here."

"And why did he do that?"

"He needed workers to rehabilitate Dravionne. This dirty, dangerous work and the humans who used to live here didn't want to do it. So we did it instead."

"And you've been working for how long?"

"Twenty-four years."

They still had a long way to go. He'd been given a brief tour of the main settlement before being taken to see Vaatus. The Nikto were still working at everything from soil reclamation to de-mining. Dravionne, like so many worlds, had been poisoned by Xim's endless wars and would take generations to heal, if it ever did.

"You went back to Kintan after the Hutts rebuilt the beacon network. Where were you before that?"

"I've spent most of my life in what you call 'known space.'"

That explained the lack of accent. "How old were you when you left your homeworld?"

"Young. I fled Kintan twice. I returned twice." He paused. "I came back twice. I could never return home."

Taith nodded. "What was your experience in the war?"

"I was one of the Morgukai."

That caught his interest. He'd heard of the rebel band but never met one of their members. "Did you know Morguk himself?"

"I did."

"How would you describe him?"

Vaatus thought a moment. "Fierce. Devoted. Tireless." He added, "Spiteful."

"I imagine you'd have to be, to take up arms against your gods."

"Yes," Vaatus said, and in that dull voice Taith thought he heard regret.

"I've heard some view Morguk as a bit of a god himself."

"A saint, maybe. A martyr."

"Are there still Morgukai on Kintan, fighting the Hutts?"

"I have not associated with them for decades."

"Of course. Though I must note, that wasn't an answer."

Vaatus's lips parted, showing pointed teeth. Was he aping a human smile? "You have probably heard more legend than truth. The real Morgukai were always few… and after the war, they were fewer still. But there are still some who live in seclusion and pass on Morguk's teachings."

"But they're no longer in rebellion against the Hutts?"

"Not openly. They learned their lesson." Vaatus added, "So did I. Besides… it was not the Hutts who killed Morguk,"

"Really?" Taith leaned forward. "Who did? I've never heard specifics, even dubious ones. Only that he died at the end of the war."

"It doesn't matter," said Vaatus firmly. "Morguk is long gone. His rebellion failed. What I've made here on Dravionne is..." He searched for the world, then decided, "Penance."

"Penance for what?"

"Many things," he replied, and nothing more.

Taith tried to soften Vaatus's walls with a compliment. "You've done admirable work here. I'm sure the other Nikto appreciate you very much."

"I think so. But we all get… homesick."

Taith hadn't been to Bynas in twenty years, but that was because he had no reason to return to that nothing-world. He knew it couldn't compare to these Niktos' exile.

"I realize this is a long-shot question," he said, "but were you present at Vontor for the Third Battle?"

"I was not."

Taith smiled tiredly. "I just thought I'd ask. There's still so many questions about that fight."

"I'm sure."

"Did you have any experience with the Iduxians?"

Vaatus blinked; his dark eyes stared through Taith and the scholar shifted uncomfortably. Finally he said, "I knew some."

"Really?" Taith tried to stifle excitement. "Then you spent time on Idux?"

"Just a little. But I knew several Jedi."

"Jedi. I've heard that word. It seems to be used for their alien magicians." The last word felt a little ludicrous, but everyone used it.

"Some were human. But they didn't come from the Tion."

"I've heard it said they came from far across the galaxy."

"That's right."

He leaned forward. "Mister Vaatus, how did you know these people? Were you one of their followers."

"Nothing like that." The Nikto stared through him again, and slowly said, "They gave us a ride once."

"A ride?" Taith frowned.

"My sister and me. We were in a bit of trouble… and they helped us."

"Can you describe them in detail? Male, female? Human, or something else? What kind of powers did they have?" The scholar added, "I'm sorry, but I've found very few people who actually knew Iduxians."

"Jedi," Vaatus corrected. "There was only ever a handful. Most of the Iduxians were just normal people, without powers."

"I'll be careful with the distinction. Again, can you describe these Jedi?"

"One was male, and human. The other was female, humanoid but not human." Vaatus considered. "I've heard her species came from a world called Pesegam. It's past Far Thanium."

Pesegam, humanoid. Pieces of remembered data clicked into place. Taith asked, "Is this the one they called the Red Witch?"

"I knew her as Essan."

"Did you meet before or after she served Xim?"

"Before."

"Do you know if she was present at Vontor?"

"She was."

"And what about the other engagements? Terman? Xo's Eye? Nar Kreeta or Moralan?"

"I'm not positive."

"But the Iduxians were at those battles."

"I can't say. I wasn't there."

"I understand. Still, my impression was that the Iduxians allied with Xim toward the end of the war… then turned on him at Vontor. Can you speak to that?"

Vaatus hesitated. "It's not my place to."

Taith tempered himself. "Do you know why the Jedi have secluded themselves on Idux since the war? I should say, are there Jedi on Idux, or someone else?"

"I shouldn't speak to that either."

Should, not can. "Mister Vaatus, if you have any connections with the Iduxians you can share, I will be in your debt. I swear I'll repay you, somehow."

"Do you want to go to Idux?"

Taith wasn't sure if Captain Brexin would be willing, but if not, he'd find another ship. "I want to resolve the mysteries that have obscured the war's end like fog. The Iduxians—and the Jedi—are the second-biggest one."

"The first?"

"What happened to Xim after Vontor."

Vaatus blinked. "I can't help you there."

"But Idux?"

The Nikto looked at his desk. "Do you really wish to know?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

Vaatus had begun the conversation with that question. Taith had given him one answer, a professional one. Now he believed the Nikto was looking for a person answer.

He said, "Everyone living in known space today is a child of Xim. Me, you, King Jaminere, even your refugees from Kintan. Some people say his legacy is a shadow, but I think it's a sun. A bright, fiery light we all bask in, draw from, and swing around even if we try to break away. Of course I want to know the sun. Why wouldn't I?"

Vaatus raised his eyes. Dark alien eyes held Taith's. "If you really want to go to Idux, there's someone you can try talking to. I don't know how much she'll tell you or even if she'll be willing to talk, but she understands the Jedi better than anyone else you'll find."

He leaned in, breathless. "Of course. Was she an Iduxian herself, one of the followers?"

"No. Just a normal, human woman."

"Who is she?"

"My sister," Vaatus said. "But again, she might not be happy to see you."

"I'll do whatever it takes."

For a second, Taith thought those hard Nikto eyes were smiling at him. "I'm sure you will," Vaatus said.