Before we begin, I feel that I have to give LSG some credit for this chapter as well. He sent me some incredible snippets pertaining to the easter eggs and I KNEW that I HAD to included them. SO: Chapter 9 is dedicated to LSG
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Chapter 9: FrustrationsSEARCH PARAMETERS NOT FOUND. INQUIRY?For what seemed like the hundredth time, my enquiries had come up with nothing. Frustrated, I ran my left hand through my short hair.
Dammit. This was getting me nowhere fast. Closing my eyes, I rubbed my temples as I considered my next step. And promptly came up with nothing.
Shakal,
sometimes you need to step away from a problem to gain perspective. I heard D’Aylanna’s voice in my head. And she was right. I’d been trying to force intuition.
Well…I did tell the women that I’d check out the Gardens.
Rising slowly from the terminal, I made myself relax while I closed my eyes and, going through a mental Force technique, I felt the tightness in my head begin to dissipate. Breathe. Balance.
I opened my eyes again and, in no hurry, began strolling through the Archives and entered the adjoining Hall of Annuls. Clearly the University of Bar’leth had gone through great trouble (and no small amount of funds) to acquire some truly spectacular exhibits. The disparate exhibitions were often displayed in enormous menageries, often drawing large crowds consisting of tourists, students, and hobbyists.
Soon, I began to not only feel better but to truly enjoy myself. I came across a geology presentation where I engaged the professors in a full-blown discussion about rock mass plasticity. Smiling, I could almost hear the collective groans of the students in the small crowd but…I had the proverbial rancor by the bit. Before I knew it, I’d begun typing some constitutive equations and relationships with the instructors. And while they would sometimes correct a mistake that I’d made, I was able to hold my own considering.
After some time had passed, I shook hands with the Fellow’s Panel and made my farewells. Distractedly walking away, I smiled at the time I’d spent with the geotechnical engineers, thinking of how my life could have been drastically different if I had chosen an…
easier path in life. Would I trade what I had now? Not for a Hutt’s weight in credits. But…it was amusing to reminisce.
Suddenly, I was rudely interrupted out of my contemplations by a grandstanding Toydarian docent.
“And now, for the first time in this sector, the University of Bar’leth is proud to present…the Wilhuff Tarkin Collection! This incredible assortment of verified personal affects from the infamous Grand Moff is as macabre as it is extraordinary!”
Looking past the oily Toydarian as he hovered, I saw a hermetically sealed transparisteel case surrounding various items. Admittedly, they all looked rather mundane: a uniform with the rank placard “belonging” to Tarkin, an “official” registry of Tarkin’s appointment (“By the Emperor himself!”) to the Imperial Special Weapons Group, a large doonium consignment to Project Stardust that Tarkin had confirmed via his thumbprint-ident, a sheaf of papers fanned out on table…
I abruptly stopped, turning the volume down on the Toydarian’s assertions. Paper itself was anachronistic and almost gauche in its use, given the virtually unlimited storage capacities of datanodes. What was any of it doing here in such a display? I bent my head closer to get a better look, using my cybernetic eye to discern the fine details.
Amazed, I saw that these papers had the Authentication Ident-Scans of the Imperial Grand Admiralty. And printed below the various names of military functionaries (Tarkin’s was the first) was a simple communiqué concerning the Death Star:
“THE FOLLOWING PLANETS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED AS DEMONSTRATING CONCLUSIVE ANTIPATHY AGAINST THE EMPIRE. LIQUIDATION WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE IS AUTHORIZED VIA DS-1, ORBITAL BATTLE STATION. LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR.”
BOTHAWUI PRIME (GOLM)
CHANDRILA
CORELLIA
KASHYYYK
MON CALAMARI
RYLOTHBile in the back of my throat began to rise. I was disgusted: such a strange thing to see the death of worlds listed so…bureaucratically. Such banality…like a checklist…
Something caught my eye. I noticed a detail that I’d missed before: handwritten below the list of printed planets in neat, flowing Nabooian script—
Nabooian script…Palpatine—was a single word.
Aethas.
Aethas. I’d heard that before…but…where? Opening myself to the Force, I went through a mental recall technique…
The Night Sister’s face looked amused. “What could that be? Some myth come true? That the Jacipri Creation story is factual? Perhaps Uhanayih really is the Yinchorri ‘Within World’ that their religion tells them? Or how about that the Aethans were real and are coming back to life to immolate all of the ‘imperfect Jedi?’”My stomach suddenly sank…
Two references to the same obscure myth?! And in such a short time… Whatever it portended, I knew that it couldn’t be good… But, it got me thinking. Perhaps…
Hurriedly, I returned to the Archives and, sitting at a terminal, typed in the enquiry field:
SEARCH: “AETHAS BLACK STONE”Within a split-second, the monitor greeted me with this:
FOUND: 17 FICTION ENTRIES. INQUIRY?“Dammit!” Embarrassedly, I apologized to the three other patrons around me that heard my expletive. One and all, they gave me pointed looks.
SEARCH: “NON-FICTION{TANGENTIAL/AETHAS BLACK STONE}”This time the results were more in line with what I’d expected: a…rumor, of sorts. Within the database, the last known reference of the black stone was from over 500 years ago. As I read, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Sporadic and convoluted information—and, often times, unreliable and contradictory—but what I gleaned from the database consisted of an Old Republic expedition. There were no particulars listed but the entire project had been abandoned, all media surrounding the event redacted if not outright destroyed. There were only two excerpts that agreed on one thing: in the wake of the debacle, the various miners associated with the precursors “…exhibited unusual behaviors upon their return…” that was attributed to “…some kind of space sickness caused by ‘extreme gravitational effects.’”
I sat back in my chair. A mystery to be solved? More like “more questions raised.” Inadvertently, I sighed and mentally shrugged. I just hoped that either D’Aylanna or Jorya were having better luck than I was.
<<<<< >>>>>
“Save the Cartusion whales! After the Clone Wars, they were hunted mercilessly for their bones so the evil jedi could inlay them in their lightsabers! Save the Cartusion whales…!”
The skinny Lorrdian kept repeating the same thing, over and over. Try as I might, I was beginning to get annoyed… I’d struck out at ExtraCurriculars; they told me there was no “Doctor Aphra” on the staff roster but “suggested I check out ‘Adjunct Studies.’” But, as far as the Lorrdian, Father had told me to ignore people who had a “tenuous relationship with the truth.” Even as I went to go around him, he stepped in front of me deliberately.
“Save the Cartusion whales! Aren’t you against the genocide of these gentle creatures? Can’t you give of yourself
something just so that an innocent can live?” I was trying to be patient, and told him politely but resolutely “No, thank you” but he just wouldn’t relent. Then, he made a mistake. Grabbing my upper arm as I went past him, he attempted to pull me back.
Like Mother had trained me to do, I grabbed his wrist at the pressure point. Pivoting slightly, I kept an iron grip while forcing his hand in a position that…it should not have gone. Suddenly, his voice was higher than mine.
“No. Thank. You.” I smiled while looking directly in his eyes and twisted his wrist a bit more. “My Father doesn’t like for me to join strange organizations that have no Imperial approval. I’m sure he’d like to meet you. He arm-wrestles wookies for fun.” He went on his tip-toes as I turned his wrist a bit more. “And he taught me all that he knows.” His forehead was sweating profusely while I used my sweetest voice. “May the Maker look upon you favorably.”
As soon as I released him, he smiled sickly and ran away. I couldn’t help but grin as I continued along the quad to Adjunct Studies. I went into the main building, looking for one of the “friendly” staff to help me out. As it turned out, the “staff” was a Civils/faculty droid.
“Hello student! How may I be of service?” I couldn’t help but smile at the thought that, if our roles were reversed, Mother would have probably used her lightsaber as an answer by now.
Coughing quietly, I asked, “Yes, please. Can you direct me to Doctor Aphra’s office?”
The droid made an odd noise. “There is no ‘Doctor Aphra’ employed here.”
I was stunned.
But…how…the Night Sister… I tried again. “Well…was there ever a Doctor Aphra that worked here?” I was hopeful.
But again, the droid made the same noise. “There was no ‘Doctor Aphra’ employed here. Ever.” The finality of the droid’s speech was anything but subtle.
Was it all for nothing?! My censure…Mother and Father’s anger…“You know…I hate to see a pretty lady frown.” A voice came from behind me. Turning, I saw that it belonged to a tall, lean lavender skinned Sephi. He had deep black eyes almost like Mother’s…and he was gorgeous. “Maybe…I can help?”
Still, I had a job to do. “OK. Yes, you can tell me if there was ever a Doctor Aphra that worked here.” His blond hair looked as fine as silk.
“Sorry, pretty lady. Like ‘bucket-head’ said: no Doc Aphra ever worked here.”
I felt poleaxed.
But…by the Maker he looked beautiful.
Focus! “Oh. Well…thanks anyw—”
“Oh no, pretty lady,” he interrupted, “you don’t get it. Doc Aphra didn’t
work here. But I know of Doctor Chelli Aphra—”
My astonishment must have shown on my face. The Sephi’s smile deepened and, when next he talked, his eyes went to the floor. “—
but you’ve got to pay for it.” He looked right into my eyes, no longer coy.
Now I was—slightly—annoyed.
By the Maker…now what?! Exasperated, I said, “And what’s your price?”
“Simple, pretty lady. I have to have your name.” His smile was playful; he was good looking and he knew it. Not that that was necessarily a
bad thing…
My face showed none of that though. “My name? That’s it?” My incredulous tone was unmistakable.
He’s still beautiful…“That’s it pretty lady.” He gave a creative flourish. “…Well, and the pleasure of your company for dinner. Your choice where we eat.” His smile displayed his perfect lips.
I was thankful to both Mother and Father. My education had been more than just saber combat, polymathy, and the Force. Mother in particular had schooled me. Very,
very well.
Still…he was beautiful.
“OK.” I heard myself agree. “My name. And dinner.” Elegantly, he nodded and smiled. OK then. “Jorya.”
But where…? “And…I have to admit, I don’t know of any good restaurants around here.”
“Jorya.” He said my name as delicately as if he were holding a Hapan crystal goblet. “Well, I happen to know of several good bistros. But first: you’ve held up your end; it’s only gentlemanly of me to do likewise. Doctor Chelli Aphra didn’t work here; she got her doctorate here from Bar’ ‘U.’”
I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, I went to leave, speaking tersely, “OK. Well thank you…” And then I realized that I didn’t even know his name.
“Strileth Jantsk, pretty lady Jorya.” He put his hand up, carefully…as if he were afraid that he’d scare me. I almost laughed at that. “Please, don’t go. I have an ulterior motive for asking you to dinner: so that I could give you more information on Doc Aphra…in the hopes that it would ensure me a second date.” His smile was open, forthcoming.
And, admittedly, I probed him with the Force. Incredibly…he was being truthful.
I must have been quiet awhile because he hastily added, “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be presumptuous…” I started laughing. The look on his face was priceless.
“I’m sorry Strileth; I…I’m not laughing at you. You’re just so…honest.” I hadn’t smiled like this in a long time.
“Um…thanks?” His small grin began to grow bigger. “…Does that mean ‘yes?’”
I couldn’t help myself. “Yes. For the first dinner…for the second? Well…that just depends on what you can tell me about Doctor Aphra. Let me have your comm-number; I’ll ping you in a little bit.”
Such a handsome smile…“And Jorya,” the Sephi’s voice sounded amused, “Please call me, ‘Stril.’ Only my parents call me ‘Strileth.’” His dark eyes reflected his easy smile.
“OK. Stril.” And as I walked away, I looked back over my shoulder. He was still watching me.
So beautiful… Shaking my head, I headed to the Gardens to meet Mother and Father.
<<<<< >>>>>
D’Aylanna and I were waiting for Jorya in the Gardens when she found us. In a flurry of explanation, she told us of her encounter—and her luck—concerning Doctor Aphra. I had to admit that I was less than enthused regarding the particulars. Still…it warmed my heart to see Jorya in such spirits.
“…So can I, Mom? Dad?” Jorya reminded me that she was still a young woman, regardless of recent events and responsibilities. Or, perhaps because of them. Looking at D’Aylanna, I saw that she agreed with our unspoken consent.
“Yes, Jorya. You may.” I trusted her and knew that she had a level head on her shoulders. Well…most times.
“Thanks Mom! Dad!” She emphasized each with a kiss to our cheeks and ran off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw D’Aylanna shake her head, an amused set to her lips.
“Were we ever that young?” Her rhetorical question caught me as I was also waxing nostalgic. She looked up into my eyes, fondly remembering. “Seems so long ago…”
“Perhaps…but you still look as young as the day I met you,
Ereneda.” My wife smiled one of her rare smiles, saying nothing. Tenderly, D’Aylanna took my arm and we began to amble through the Gardens, her head leaning upon my upper arm. And, for a time, I was able to think of other things. But it was all too brief.
“
Ereneda, I need to talk to you about something: the dagger that I found in the Canticum Lowlands among the witch’s paraphenelia. But not here and not without Jorya. Let’s head inside…”
<<<<< >>>>>
We were halfway down the long, wide oval cargo corridor, naked industrial steel rusted and greasy with age. I stopped dead, my hand moving swiftly to block Jorya from going any further…
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
At the other end of the corridor the cargo lift was approaching…an untameable tide of primal power rising with it.
I stared wide-eyed at what I felt, a glance at D’Aylanna revealed a frantic expression. I turned to Jorya. “Run Dear One, run and do not stop.”
Confusion and disappointment etched across her features as the tide rose higher. “Run, what…from what?”
“She’s too inexperienced; she can’t even sense it! RUN JORYA!” D’Aylanna screamed igniting her sabre.
Jorya searched our faces for some hint but saw only the naked fear, realizing this was no time to argue. She turned and ran back the way we had come.
The tide was nearly upon us, the early breaks flicked sprays of raw power even at this distance.
The lift doors started to open.
“It can’t be…” D’Aylanna whispered.
I ignited both my sabres and strengthened my stance to hold back the ocean.
“Shakal…” D’Aylanna said quietly as the figure appeared between the parting doors, a human figure clad in light-eating midnight armour…a sword black as death in one hand, a rifle accented with thin lines of blood red metal in the other.
He moved with speed that was not possible for a Jedi or machine. And from that point onward I knew my life would be measured in seconds…
<<<<< >>>>>
I woke drenched in sweat breathing heavily…it had been too real… I called upon the Force to calm myself, collect myself. It took me a moment but slowly realization began to take hold. Reaching out with my right hand, I felt D’Aylanna’s sleeping body beside me. Jorya was also a comforting presence in the Force, asleep in her adjacent room. Settling down, I prepared to drift back into sleep when something amiss caught my eye.
Across the room lay the black knife…I was sure I had placed it in a sheath. Yet there it sat at the front of my gear…slowly leaching my dissipating fear…
