Note: Ok, I know, I haven't been around much...sorry! But there is a very good reason for my being incommunicado...no, I have not been at the international naked-time convention, haha, I have in fact been doing this!


What new found creation is this I hear you ask...well, it's a present in progress for the guys and girls over at theforce.net's Yuuzhan'tar thread. I have been sketching all the regulars (including myself, see if you can spot us all ;) ) in their Yuuzhan Vong persona's...oh...except for DarthCaedus1138, he'll be the one with the unimpressed look on his face. This image will be nastily cropped by Darth-Blog, so please click on it for a full view!

And now onto the fic


Chapter 14: Pt1


Tinuu's legs felt like loosened blorash jelly, but he could not let them give way. Watching, as the spotlessly adorned shaper lay the large pod out upon the shimmering stone slab, his efforts to prevent him collapsing, redoubled. He had been the only one in his shared grashal who was still there, when the shapers' initiate had called.

So here he was, bony knees near clacking together in fearful anticipation of the truth. Funny, the truth had never been something he had shied away from in the past. The truth was something the extolled were supposed to embrace now.
The smell of the damutek, too, did little to calm him, he had bad memories of places like this - once having been a shaper's test subject, during the years the Yuuzhan Vong had spent in the endless black of the void between galaxies. Unspeakable experiments, he had once endured, usually for means of testing out the protocols not used for millennia. But that had been long before he, or anyone of his fellow extolled, would have heard the words of the Jeedai heresy. Long before he had placed his faith in the teachings of the one known simply as Yu'shaa, the prophet.

And where was this prophet now? The stories were numerous.
One, spoken by the Priest, Harrar, told of a first hand account of discovering Yu'shaa's true identity. He had claimed that the prophet was Nom Anor -a name that was widely known among Yuuzhan Vong of all ages - and in the latter half of the invasion, synonymous with failure. With all this in mind, perhaps he had been wrong to place so much faith in the words and ideals of the Jeedai?

Standing here, in the wake of the past several hours, Tinuu could truly believe he had been wrong to trust Sekot and the Jeedai. The Gods had warned their children, had spared many lives despite the odds, this time. But next time - and he was sure there would be a next time - perhaps all of those who had up risen against their masters, would not be so lucky. And Tinuu was determined not to be among those unlucky enough not to realize the error of their ways.

The shaper, who had brought the large containment pod into the chamber, had set about coaxing the top half of the pod to yield and open. When it did so, she peered curiously inside, the tendrills of her headdress curling in revulsion, though perhaps not for the reasons that Tinuu dreaded.

"I will need her name, domain and the designated grashal for the records..." She looked towards the straggly-looking Tinuu then and her voice took on a rather sneering tone "...If you recognize her."

Death was nothing remarkable to this one, nothing shocking nor nothing to be feared. by the looks of her, Tinuu could tell she was true caste, born and bred. It leant much to her character and mannerisms, she held herself well.

Steeling himself, Tinuu knew the time had come and he gingerly stepped forward, almost faltering as he went. Catching himself, by supporting his weight on the edge of the shimmering slab, any sign of disgust from the shaper was lost in the air around them, as he peered over the lip of the pod.
The sight that met his eyes, inwardly shredded his nerves to within an inch of unbridled anger, it strangled his gut to the point where he knew if he spoke, and anything he had to say would be incomprehensible.
Inside the pod, was a face he knew well, one who's owner had inspired much courage in him at one of the most awful times of his life. When he had been so consigned to a life of never ending shame, it was she who had taught him to have faith.
And then the breath in his throat hitched, as the smell of charred organics hit his olfactory senses, almost forcing him to wretch and vomit.

Unable to turn away from the horrifically unrestful, yet lifeless face of his grashal-mate, Tinuu nodded once to the shaper, not bothering to conceal his deeply pained expression. The shaper would want an answer, one he did not want to give her, for if he did...that made this a stark reality.

"Sae" He choked out, forcing down the emotions as best he could, "She has no domain, not anymore."

The shaper continued to stare, strange eyes flickering sublimely in the light, "And the grashal?"

"Kssha" Tinuu finished, with more difficulty not noticing the look of recognition the shaper had shot him.

The shaper nodded, entering the information into a portable qahsa. When she had finished, she motioned uncaringly towards the exit membrane. It was all a formality or inconvenience to her.

But Tinuu took one last look at his fallen comrade, shaking his head in disbelief. Sae's lifeless eyes seemed to stare into the heavens, though she would never see the glory that should have been hers.

"You were wrong, we were wrong" Tinuu whispered to her, "we should never have gone against the gods."

This time, he did intend to leave. And when he turned, he could see the shaper standing there, interest burning brightly in her shimmering gaze.

"Tinuu, formerly of domain Shen'g?" she asked all too smoothly, headdress rippling in hypnotic waves.

Too astounded and ready to allow himself to be overcome to say anything, he merely nodded once in the affirmative.

"Creche-twin of Shaah, formerly of domain Shen'g?"

Another nod, and the shaper almost smiled then. Almost.

Tinuu's head was a miasma of emotional pain and confusion, he never stopped to think why the shaper might be asking him all this, nor did he care right now. He just wanted to go, contemplate, alone.

"You perceive the changing winds also then?" She said, cryptically, "Are you one of them?"

"Them?" Tinuu asked, dumbfounded, what was the point of all this?

This time, the shaper's eyes widened slightly, as if she had spoken of something she shouldn't. But she did continue, regardless.

"One of the traditionalists- those who did not elect to take the ways of Sekot as their own." She paused, tentacles of her headdress writhing awkwardly for a moment, "When you spoke then, I assumed-"

Tinuu cut her off then, the second he had observed her inconspicuously flexing her eight fingered shaper's hand. The deadly finger spears concealed within, had already begun to ever so slightly protrude from the tips of those multi-implemented fingers of her's.

"Yes, I am." He said in somewhat of a rush, trying to project his voice in such a way it would portray confidence.

Again the shaper's expression changed, this time to suspicion, then curiosity.

"But you are a shamed one. You accept the consequences of your choice?" She asked in disbelief.

Blindly, Tinuu continued, all too aware of the fact that this shaper had no intention of letting him leave alive, not now she had let slip some information he apparently should not know.
Still trembling inside, he inclined his head subserviently,

"I accept that what the god's truly intended for me and my kind, was not this self imposed exile and debasing of the true caste." He articulated, "That my redemption can only be found with the true gods, by following the true way."

She seemed to relax, if only slightly, for a second before Tinuu noticed that the spark of curiosity was once again alight in her eyes.

"Then you know of the one who works in secrecy to restore the true way, who orchestrated the destruction of the temple of unity?" Her voice was but a whisper.

Tinuu froze, until now, he had not been aware of just how deep in vhlor-ichor he was actually getting. Traditionalists, as he knew them, were those unaccepting of Sekotan pantheon, those who were unwilling to abide by the rules laid down during the peace negotiations with the GA.
T'arlann Shoolb was one such person, but was he capable of orchestrating something of this magnitude?

Tinuu remembered well, the argument between the elderly Prefect and Sae, just days before now, the bitterness and resentment in his voice- But this?!
Deeper still, was the fact that Tinuu had doubted his own faith, believing that the temple's destruction had been the result of the gods exacting punishment over those who had turned away from them! When the reality was far worse, and far closer to home.

He felt deep pangs of regret at having cursed at his brother, his twin, for holding on so tightly to his faith when it had been he all along who had been wrong. And then those words he had uttered to Sae...words the shaper had so clearly mistook for his affiliation in this whole mess.
'I am so sorry..' He thought to his deceased friend, he had to make amends.

He could live through this and stop this before it became too much, before it gained enough momentum to- He didn't even want to think about that yet.

'You won't have died in vain, I will see to that.'

"I do," He lied, hoping that the shaper would say no more.

But she did and her headdress became excitedly animated all at once.

"Truly?" She sounded genuinely keen, like an awe-struck crecheling "Have you spoken with him, personally?"

Tinuu shook his head once or twice, "No, exalted shaper, I do not know the one you speak of, not personally."

Somewhat deflated, the shaper seemed to sag in on herself as she replied,

"Of course not, you are shamed and such things are beneath him-"

She seemed very uncertain when she said that, but Tinuu could not fathom why. Plus he was uncertain himself, why would a shaper share this with him? It suggested that there were few she could have spoken to - and no wonder.

"My master and he spoke only once. There is a storm on the horizon, shamed one, the Yuuzhan Vong will rise from the ashes of defeat, and this time the infidels will be powerless to stop us."

The extolled one swallowed hard in an effort to loosen his frozen tongue, and when finally he managed it, they arrived hoarse and whispered,
"Their sacrificial pyres will light the skies on a thousand worlds," He said meekly.

She smiled then, coldly and straight at him, her gaze unwavering and unsettling. Her headdress began to coil around to frame her intricately adorned face, in an all too ominous fashion.

"Indeed, the gods have gone unsated for too long, our actions will bring them the glory that is rightfully theirs - as will yours."

Tinuu clamped down on the urge to shudder, he did not like the sound of that, nor did he like the way she continued to look at him - the same way a vua'sa would watch it's prey. But he bit back on his fear, he knew it would be the end of him. Instead he nodded and the shaper receded back towards the chamber's centre, turning her attention back to the slab upon which the pod, containing Sae's body, lay.

"Until that day, shamed brenzlit, I have all the information I need - leave."
Her mask of professional resolve had descended into place once more, and Tinuu's mind flooded with momentary relief.

When finally he was permitted to the damutek, he could not have headed for home fast enough.

*****

Situated a fair distance from where the temple of unity had once stood, the damutek of the Intendants looked relatively unscathed by the previous night?s events. Modest, as most of the newly formed structures were in the integrated settlements, it was distinguishable by the long ?roots? that fed the damutek water and nutrients, sinking down into Sekot?s bountiful earth.

Ibu, the priest, lead both Tekli and Danni Quee through the tampasii eagerly towards the damutek entrance. The trek had been a short and uneventful one, with the group drawing very little attention to it?s self along the way - with perhaps, the exception of a few small groups of crechelings, who peered through blister transparencies of grown structures, or around the wall curvatures of their teaching grashals. Their eyes were filled with curiosity, for many had never seen a real life Jeedai up close, their presence here was exciting.

The entrance it?s self, was nothing remarkable, quite the opposite. It looked like every other damutek in the settlement, but Ibu had assured Tekli, that it was easy to tell each one apart on first glance. Danni had carefully concealed a smile when Tekli had replied that she would have to take the priest?s word on that subject.

?I do not know if my scent or bio signature will allow us entry,? Ibu was saying, attempting to present his wrist to the sensory biot lodged inside the oqa membrane frame.
?But it will alert anyone inside to our presence if it is accepted.?

The group waited anxiously for a moment, the membrane shivered, as if wanting to act, but stayed sealed.

When everyone was certain it was not going to move again, Tekli voiced her thoughts.

?I do not think alerting anyone to our presence here is such a good idea,?

The blonde human beside her, nodded in agreement and then turned to the Priest.

?Is there any other way in? One that won?t let them know we are coming in advance??

Ibu pondered this for a moment, spur implanted knuckles grazing his chin as he scratched it pensively, ?Perhaps I can be of service to you?? He began,
?A Jeedai would surely be suspicious, but I would attract far less attention.?

Tekli?s nose twitched, ?You may have a point,? she conceded and again Danni could only concur.

?We should leave then?? She asked, but Ibu shook his head, producing a villip from within the folds of his robeskin.

He stepped away from the damutek entrance, enough to be certain he was out of earshot.
Tekli, who?s superior sense of hearing was having a little trouble picking up what was being said, was trying to make sense of a few of the Yuuzhan Vong native words she had heard, when the Priest ceased his conversation and turned them.

Motioning with the wave of one rail-thin arm for the two female?s to follow him, he began to move further away, in the opposite direction to the damutek.

?Now, we go? He said with a wry smile, that seemed to Tekli, more a human expression than Yuuzhan Vong.

?What was that all about?? Danni, who had been pensively quiet and confused until now, said after a few moments of walking in silence.

This time, the Priest stopped, spreading his palms in a non threatening gesture,
?I spoke with one of my savants, and commanded them to adorn themselves with a chilab.?

Danni?s brows beetled for a moment and then rose in sudden remembrance.
Chillabs, small grub-like creatures that were a relative of the language-translating tizowyrm, were organic surveillance biots. When equipped with one, a chilab would record all it?s host?s eyes viewed.
Both Tekli and Danni shuddered to think how one such biot managed such a feat, but the nose being the insertion point, suggested a considerable amount of pain.

Ibu continued, unaware of the two female?s silent revulsion.

?I asked them to go to the damutek of Prefect T?arlann Shoolb, under the pretence of requiring ritual resources for purification ceremonies. He will be certain to record all of what he sees there.?

Tekli smiled, if there were points of interest, then they could perhaps pay a more formal visit at a later date- but that did not leave them much time and she still hadn?t been able to raise anyone from the Jedi order.
By the time they could send someone out here, any evidence connecting to the disaster at the temple, could have been concealed or destroyed. They had to do better than this.

?Danni, do you still have any of those faux vo....Yuuzhan Vong bugs we used to infiltrate the slave ships with during the war??

The blonde haired woman nodded, ?Only a few, but it might be a risk too far if they are spotted, they were not designed for long term use.? She confessed, unsure of how the priest would feel about one of his savants carrying such a mechanical device. ?But the risk and need for someone to remain inside to gather evidence is eliminated, that would be better.?

?The bugs you speak of...these are made-things?? Ibu asked, interrupting the two ladies train of thought.

Tekli and Danni looked at eachother in unison, before the young Jedi turned to the priest and nodded slightly,
?Our apologies, Priest, but we would rather not risk lives wherever possible.? She said gently.

Ibu chopped his head once, ?This I understand, we all make sacrifices, Jeedai.? He admonished, though the disapproval was never far from his expression, however, he did not complain.
?They may be confused for Sekotan life - no Intendant should be looking for something such as made-things or non Yuuzhan Vong surveillance methods. Not those dogmatic enough in their ways as to believe they could be duped by a....a machine.?

Tekli knew they had very little time to make this split decision, and it was slipping through her tiny fingers bit by bit. They would have even less if she were to try and contact the Jedi order again, let alone return with a decision - by then, whoever had set this horrific plan in motion, could be well on their way to repeating this disaster in a hundred settlements all over Zonama Sekot!

?Alright,? The Chadrafan said, issuing a small sigh, ?Ibu, we shall do this your way, but your agent must take and deposit the mechanical surveillance bugs.?

To both female?s surprise, the Priest bowed humbly, giving no outward sign that working with Jedi, or machines, this time, would be a problem. And apparently their surprise showed, too.

?I have made many sacrifices for the benefit of my species, Jeedai Tekli, this is but another I must make...I am doing this for those who wish to honour the terms of our agreement with the Galactic Alliance.? He reassured them, only now rising from his bow.

Tekli placed a small, furry hand upon his forearm,
?And the Jedi thank you for that, as will your people when we get to the bottom of this.?

He smiled, if a little awkwardly, ?Let us not count the vua?sa?s until they have come of age.?

*****

TBC in pt2