Chapter 32: False Dawn******************************
Vhal’Dan CongressBaransu no Kage: Kazic Ovarug
Arbiter: Saani K’aval
Council of Balance:
1st Speaker: Ryshhk K’rrmerii
2nd Speaker: Issan de’Janneric
3rd Speaker: Marc-Andr Drevifv
4th Speaker: Lynorri Marh
5th Speaker: Jorol Qui-Xot
6th Speaker: Candurous Eriston
7th Speaker: Sabawynn K’jek
******************************
The following months flew by, Kazic’s time taken up entirely between his duties as Kage, attempting to deduce a solution to the vergence caused by the Lus’phor Holocaust, all the while trying to rebuild Vhal’Ulhadv…and the Vhal’Dan Order. During which, he was met with strong opposition by his Congress, who were themselves divided. And while Kazic was a competent Kage, he was no Arkady Cyne. By necessity, he’d worked to incorporate former enemies in Congress, both to show amnesty for past transgressions as well as fostering goodwill. But the troubles of the past would not so easily give up the ghost and the remembrance of initial misgivings would often resurface.
In one case, Kazic was shocked that his decision to appoint Ryshhk as 1st Speaker had created such turmoil: most Jedi respected the Wookie Gray Master and listened while it seemed that a very small but vocal minority—ironically those who were polar opposites could evidently agree on this one thing—thought and considered him a traitor. Thankfully it was Ryshhk himself that solved that particular quandary: in front of the entire Assemblage and in Open Session, he challenged all that questioned his loyalty to the Order. To all the Jedi within the Hall of Balance, it was a sobering event which silenced poisonous tongues and gave reassurance to many.
To Kazic, it was a bleak reminder of Anson’s invocation of
P’Rae’Lior…and his summary indictment of Kazic’s actions. As well as Anson’s whispered curse damning the Anzat with his dying breath. In both, Kazic could not fault his brother in either instance…
It was during these times that Kazic felt most impotent; he now admitted that he was more a warrior rather than a politician. That shouldn’t have surprised him; in fact, that was one of the biggest factors as to why he’d backed Arkady for Kage. He’d known that his friend was more fit for the office than he’d ever be. Kazic smirked.
…Same as now… He held no illusions: he’d been a capable wartime Kage…but now, in peace…? It seemed to him that in every single session, the Speakers could agree on
nothing. And he was unable to do anything about it. In fact, often it was Saani who was able to offer equitable resolutions for the intra-Congress feuding.
But it was still not enough for true solidarity. And in the darkness of night—often well into the light of morning—he questioned whether or not he was even worthy as Kage. He’d considered abdicating the office; after all, Saani was certainly more qualified than he ever was…but with the aftermath of the Lus’phor Holocaust and the vergence that it had caused, Kazic would never wish to foist that onto anyone’s shoulders, much less his wife’s.
But all of that seemed to pale in comparison to the fact that he and Saani were going to have a child. And while this should have made him happy beyond expression—point of fact it did—Kazic was nevertheless plagued by apprehension. Most telling: he hadn’t seen the
daen nosi since Anson had died. Partly as he was unsure of what this portended and partly because he was occupied with so much else, he did the worst thing possible: he ignored it.
As time wore on, Saani’s behavior
did change, or at least became more noticeable: not only was she more prone to fits of anger but she had become aggressive. Not assertive,
aggressive. Saani no longer projected an aura of serenity and patience; now, her temper was a thing of note amongst even the teidowans. Whereas Saani had always been the most tranquil and approachable of people, now her temper was always just beneath the skin, one errant word away from a forthcoming scathing retort.
At first, Kazic had obtusely attributed it to the Lus’phor Holocaust vergence. After all,
every Jedi on Galtea was experiencing some symptoms; he thought perhaps that Saani was among those experiencing the worst of it. Later, he thought that her pregnancy might be adversely affecting her. Yet, he had not recalled Saani acting in such a manner when she’d been pregnant before… But again, Kazic thought that past events were the cause; after all, the last time had resulted in countless tears, sadness, and pain. He couldn’t blame her if she was somewhat…
short with him.
But soon she was short with others. And afterwards to almost everyone.
But then, he witnessed something that he thought he’d never see. During one of Congress’ more…heated debates, Speaker Marc-Andr Drevifv was arguing…something (Kazic couldn’t even recall later) that was counter to Jorol’s position. And while both men were passionate concerning their causes, they both showed mutual respect…until Drevifv made an offhanded remark which touched upon the deaths of Jorol’s two children and husband, Tsarvung. Realizing his own faux pas, he opened his mouth to express his obvious remorse.
The words never left his lips; before he could speak, Saani was suddenly in front of him, seemingly teleporting from her Arbiter’s Chair, lightsaber in hand, ready to ignite, and held menacingly at Marc-Andr’s throat. Those within the Hall gave a collective gasp while Saani whispered fiercely into the human’s ear. Even with his superior hearing, Kazic could not make out any details.
Whatever had transpired, later that day Marc-Andr made a very contrite—and public—apology. When Kazic had immediately afterwards had asked Saani what had transpired, she would only coyly intimate that Jorol’s dead husband and children would never be mentioned again by anyone whom the dusky Speaker did not consider family…
But that night, Kazic decided to press his wife further.
“
Kanp’a…what was that about?” He asked as soon as they’d entered their shared apartments. He began to stroke his black goatee, concern evident upon his face. With remarkable timing, he felt the beginnings of a migraine starting from behind his eyes. …
Damned vergence… He thought, his fingers massaging his temples ineffectually.
Saani seemed to continue to make light of the incident, divesting herself of her boots while heading further into the atrium and grabbing a drink. “I would not suffer traitors like Marc-Andr to speak lies about our friends and family.” She laughed. Sauntering up to her husband, she put her arms around his neck, pulling his head down to hers. It seemed to Kazic that Saani vacillated between extreme bouts of anger…and excessive sexuality. It was disconcerting to say the least. Often times, his flared nostrils would almost…itch wasn’t the right description. Like a phantom pain or an unseen presence: always felt but never made physically manifest. But whatever it was, it always coincided with Saani’s more…carnal desires.
Unwavering, Kazic pulled away, a frown starting to spread upon Saani’s lips. “Not that. Or rather, not
just that: you looked as if you were actually going to kill him. You were
that close to igniting your saber.” He gently but firmly grabbed her shoulders. By the Maker, his head hurt… “Saani…I’ve never seen you so…quick to anger, so full of rage.” He thought back to when he’d looked down upon Saani’s lifeless body, Valens holding out the small yet deceptively heavy black orb—
the price for Saani’s life—towards him. And he’d accepted, absent of what the actual cost would be. Or what it would mean for Saani herself…
“
Kanp’a…I…I think something is very wrong with you. Please, please let the Vhal’Dan doctors look at you.” Even as he said it, he knew that the only people who could possibly help were those that he had already sent away.
Not that he could contact them. Kazic had found Ari’s gift of the communications orb gone from their room when he and Saani had finally made it back. And as for Saani’s…J’Nessah had had it upon her person when she’d been killed in the explosion. Not that such would’ve destroyed the blackstone artifact; of that Kazic had no doubt. But the events of the day had prevented him from recovering the orb from the Lus’phor hanger…
And then, the planet had exploded.
No…no, there was no way for him to contact Ari…let alone Valens…no way to ask about what had gone so incredibly wrong…
As if thinking about it influenced Saani’s mood, she suddenly turned from demure to irritated. “‘Doctors?’ There is nothing wrong…except that I now see that even my own husband has it out for me.” Her eyes flared, the sclera red and bloodshot. “But why should I expect any different? You entreat with our enemies, welcoming them back into the fold while any notion of justice is ignored all in favor for your precious peace…” She began to shout. “Kazic, those that have DIED would be furious that you’ve become so cowardly, showing your throat to stave off even the hint of dissent!” Her face adopted a look of contempt…and disgust. “How could anyone believe that you could lead the Vhal’Dan?”
Kazic took a step backwards, as if hit by a physical blow, his migraine all but forgotten. Saani had NEVER behaved in such a fashion, never spoke down to him, never…
hurt him like that. Ever. Anguish, anger, and a forlorn pain that he’d never felt before ripped through him. “…Why would you ever say that…to me…” As he spoke quietly, Kazic saw that either his words or the look upon his fallen face had penetrated Saani’s rage.
Her purple eyes flashed, regret overcoming her countenance, concern such as she’d shared with him in the past pouring from her, both in her emotions and the Force. Reaching a tentative hand towards him, she touched his shoulder. “I…I’m sorry,
K’ompo. I…I was angry and I took it out on you.” She wrapped her arms around her husband’s broad shoulders, laying a cheek upon his back. “I’m sorry, Kazic…”
Memories of Kasah rebounded in his mind, her angry attestations accusing him of apathy… of Ari and the look of shame upon her face…of Anson and his final words damning him of betrayal… All of it, piercing his heart, cutting to the bone…into his very soul.
And all of it was NOTHING compared to what he felt now when Saani had uttered those words.
Stepping away from his wife, Kazic moved as if in quicksand. “I…I understand,
Kanp’a.” He felt numb. “I…I need some time. I…I’ll be out. Don’t wait up for me.” The words came from his lips, mechanical and monotone. And with that he donned his hooded robes and left.
<<<<< >>>>>
Uncaring of where he was, Kazic boarded the hyperloop, sitting inconspicuously with his hood up among the few passengers that came and went from the various stops as it sped upon maglev tracks that encircled the city. In some areas, there were necessary detours resulting from the destruction wrought by the Civil War but throughout it all, Kazic saw nothing. Not only had his migraine returned with interest but, lost in his own head, the Anzat painfully mulled over the many mistakes that he’d made.
But his thoughts always returned to his biggest concern: Saani.
Even as the twilight of evening was replaced by the blackness of midnight, Vhal’Ulhadv’s cityscape remained bright, illuminating the city proper, the surrounding countryside, and—as it seemed to Kazic—his own trepidation. He now believed that Saani had come back…wrong. Everything that had happened…he knew that he’d been ignoring all of the evidence. Now, he could no longer hide the truth from himself.
Sighing, he finally felt as if an invisible weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Now that he’d admitted it to himself, he found himself convinced…or at least hoping that there was a way to help Saani. Crossing his arms, he considered: as Saani was resurrected with the Force, then perhaps it was to the Force that he should look for a solution. He smirked; Valens had been true to his word: he’d taken as payment many of the Vhal’Dan artifacts.
However…
However, Ryshhk had told Kazic about how he’d absconded with those Force relics that Anson had taken, or at least many of them. The Wookie Speaker had been reticent to do so, but upon talking with his uncle Yshhrk (who was himself a powerful Jedi), he knew that he had to do what was right for the Order. And while Kazic had been given a brief list concerning which artifacts Ryshhk had saved, he did not know what each and every relic was supposed to do. Or could...
Feeling somewhat better, Kazic now knew where he was headed to next. Consulting the datapad attached to his seat, he typed in the pertinent information before sitting back on the aircouch and absently rubbing his temples again.
With a wistful smile, he said a silent prayer, one giving hope that he’d be able to help Saani with…whatever it was that ailed her.
<<<<< >>>>>
Ryshhk was in the middle of his meditations, offering gratitude to the Trees and their spirits, when he heard the organic chime from his front door sound. Collecting himself, he rose and made his way through his comfortable apartments, the interior mirroring the arboreal setting of his native Kashyyyk. Like many of the Vhal’Dan, Ryshhk had tried to create a “home away from home” when he’d originally come to Galtea. Pursuant to that, within the atrium was a tall, thick tree, originally grown from a sapling given to him from his Uncle Yshhrk. He smiled, knowing that his uncle would be proud of the Lineage Tree that the sapling had become…just as he himself had matured. A pain lanced through his head as his smile spread, bringing him violently back to the here-and-now. Ryshhk hoped that the Council of Balance would be able to figure out how to counter the vergence; if even the most conservative rumors were true, the symptoms were getting worse. He could personally attest to that. The front chimed again, reminding the Wookie where he’d been headed. Answering the door, he came face-to-face with the Kage.
[Good evening, Kage], he said in a low timbre. [What can I do for you]?
“Sp…
Ryshhk…” Kazic’s face was impassive but he smelled…pensive. And below that: pain. “I…I need your help.”
[Of course. Please come in]. Ryshhk moved to the side to allow his Kage entrance, his curiosity piqued. Keying the door closed, he led the Anzat into the comfortable, wooded atrium. After offering the most comfortable seat (as was custom) to his Kage, Ryshhk rounded the organic-looking table and, before taking his own seat, gently and reverently touched the Lineage Tree taking up the entire wall of the atrium. Sitting opposite Kazic, Ryshhk inquired, [What is it you wish to ask of me, Kage]?
“Ryshhk, please: ‘Kazic.’”
The Wookie nodded. [Of course. Kazic]
Nodding imperceptibly, Kazic spoke softly, his smell becoming…careful. More specifically, “cautiously optimistic” Ryshhk would say. “Ryshhk…I need to examine the Force artifacts that you rescued from Anson’s camp.” A sudden pungent spike in smell—remorse? regret?—overpowered Ryshhk’s nose before Kazic continued. “My wif—
Saani, she needs help. I think that perhaps one of the relics that you saved might be able to do so.” The Anzat’s red eyes were intense, mirroring his smell. And full of pain, pain that Kazic no longer hid, either by choice or by capitulation. The Wookie could relate; his own head was throbbing. As to his Kage’s request…
Ryshhk slowly sat back, exhaling. It was clear to him that Kazic had come to him not as his Kage but rather as his colleague. He took all of two seconds to consider.
[I will help you. And your wife; it’s the least that I can do for someone who is so honorable…] His memory of Saani sparing his life always fresh within his thoughts. He did not know if any of the artifacts would be able to help Kazic but Ryshhk was intent to help out in any way that he possibly could.
As the black of night turned first gray and then blue, the light of day seemed to mirror the promise of a better future. And as Kazic left Ryshhk’s apartments, he felt the load upon his shoulders lessened. He smiled despite the migraine that still lingered. But it was to be a false dawn, one full of broken hopes.
And of worse things to come.