Aftermaths
Leantre Vio listened to Tyscio Zier, the leader of Tyscio Clan, as he recounted the events of the fleet. From his medical bed, Leantre had already began to form the military engineers into a Reconstruction Corps, their surveys of the damage to the major cities near at hand even though the aging man was supposed to sleep.
When Zier was finished, Leantre looked at his fellow leader. "Mr. Seth Vinda was in here this morning and we had a long chat."
"We could not have succeeded without his help," Tyscio commented.
"Which flies in the face of Caprician self reliance.." Leantre added.
"To the crows with Caprician self reliance!" Zier answered quickly and Leantre chuckled. "Then you realize the power of the Clans has been broken."
The younger white haired Clan Leader nodded. "Yes. There's no way we can return to the old ways... not after this."
"Tell me, Tyscio, what do you think about Capricia entering a Commonwealth with Bonadan?"
Zier thought a moment and sat down.
"I can think of worse ideas." he finally commented.
"Herridian agrees."
And the two began to talk about the details that would usher in a new dawn for Capricia.
*
The Vinda Corporation Fleet under the command of Richter Bayern entered the Caprician System several days later as the damaged Vinda Corp ships were readying to leave.
Scipio was shocked to learn that while they were fighting for their lives, Vinda's Company had succeeded in breaking the backs of the Corporate Sector Authority.
"I guess this means you are going back to Bonadan?" she asked Achinta as she lay in her medical bed. The doctor's had seen through her front of wellbeing when she kept allowing other injured people ahead of her onto the operating tables.
It took her collapse to bring her around. And now she lay there looking at the only person who seemed the
same after everything that had happened. It was something she held dear.
Of course, she knew Achtina would eventually leave, he was Vinda's Handyman but she didn't realize it would be this soon.
"I would like to come with you..." she started tentatively, as if sticking her foot into water to check if it's cold.
"..if you want." she added lamely.
Clannus Prime's mother on a stick, Scipio! Get a hold of yourself!
And her eyes seemed to struggle between fire and fear.
*
Herridian Wye looked at the construction crews swarming over Natabb City as temporary shelters were erected for those inhabitants still alive to reside while the rebuilding was going on.
His son and daugher were each at his side, his son hardly commenting about his capture.
Until the boy talked, he would remain in the dark about the experience which, truth be told, caused him extreme worry.
But perhaps in time... he thought.
He seemed to breath a little easier,
Yes, time was a great healer.
The information gathered by the Avatar had been valuable to the medical community on Capricia to determine that the worst of the Leveller of Empires was behind them.
"What had triggered the mutation?" a doctor asked of Herridian not too long ago.
"What is the one thing in our solar system that remains in a somewhat predictable and constant state of flux?"
When the doctor signaled his confusion, Wye continued, "Our sun. The Yuuzhan Vong set their virus' mutation to be triggered by changes within our sun. Exactly what, such as radiation, ultraviolet spectrums, we do not yet know. The Medical Facilities on Tirus were much more advanced and they reached that same conclusion though they did not know what kind of mutation would occur. Just that certain changes within sun were the cause of the particular virulent strain of the Leveller that afflicted them."
"Why?" the other doctor suddenly blurted out, "If the buggers wanted us all dead..?"
"They were buggers. But they were honest buggers." Herridian answered. "If they incorporated the mutation into the virus and it had not changed to affect their soldiers then they would have interpreted that as a sure sign of their deity's approval of their actions. Who knows what other planets they would have razed after Capricia."
"But the fact that it did mutate to affect them in the end.."
"Told them that their deities may not have approved of our conquest. It took the edge away from their final attacks."
"Thank the makers they were damned religious!" the doctor said in obvious relief.
"Yes, ironic isn't it? The same beliefs that drove them to kill us are what eventually what helped to save us?"
Herridian soon drew his thoughts to the present.
For now, they would rebuild their lives.
And his family... his
children were alive and, most importantly, they were safe.
*
"I am Tyscio Korban. I was born on Capricia many thousands of years ago." he started with little preamble to the group seated around the table comprised of Herridian Wye, Tyscio Zier, Leia Organa Solo, Seth Vinda, Hespante and others.
Herridian had revealed the excavation under the ruins of the Jedi Temple and the relics discovered, one of which held visuals of Korban himself.
Or at the very least, someone who looked like him.
It was time for his story to be told.
"The galaxy I lived in was united under a single government called the Commonwealth Union of Worlds. It was a galaxy that had no knowledge of the force."
"What?" Leia asked surprised. "Life creates the force."
"
Now." Korban ammended. "Then, there was no such thing. We had our own abilities that were naturally, biologically, and evolutionary inherent. The Caprician's ability had to do with telekinesis whereas other people's gifts were something totally different."
"How?" Seth Vinda asked, interested inspite of himself.
"Nowadays, it is commonly known that most intelligent creatures use a small percentage of their brain. In my time, the percentage was much higher. It allowed for more specialized abilities."
"So what happened?" Herridian asked.
"The Force happened."
"But you just said.."
"We had no knowledge of the force. It did not exist for us. And yet, there were growing reports of individuals causing problems in outlying star systems. Defying local institutions, seizing power for themselves..and having abilities not common for people of their races. Abilities that your force users in this era posses.
At first, we thought them isolated events, but the more they cropped up the more we began to take notice. It seemed that the existence of midichlorians were found within the blood of those problem people. And yet, we began finding them in more and more inhabitants, those that were not causing problems. Our scientists began to really worry then."
"You found it in life." Leia commented.
"In almost everything at the time, where it was not there before.
Our scientists called it the Nephys. They formed a hypothesis that the midichlorians were symbiotic creatures from another galaxy and we tried to erradicate them from living tissue."
"Only you couldn't."
"No. Not without killing the living tissue. The midichlorians were here to stay and we had to deal with them but it was not until our leading General, a General Bane decided to conquer the Union did we really begin to fall apart.
It was as if self ambition were let loose upon Bane and his followers and they sowed destruction everywhere they went. He murdered my family and he tried to turn my fiance to what you call the darkside. She fought the influence but only at the cost of her life. He captured me and injected my body with midichlorians in hopes of, in time, influencing me to serve him.
Hespante, my retainer, spirited me away and put me into stasis on a world you now call Almania. I was not supposed to be out this long though but when I awoke, I that is where I met Recon Klain and a woman named Iriana who could heal with a touch. Perhaps a holdover from the biological abilites of her race."
"What is Hespante? A droid?" Leia suddenly asked. "He seems to be human one minute and then he..." her voice trailed off.
"He is what we called a simulacrum. In your terms, a holographic projection given solid form."
"That's impossible." Seth Vinda said quickly, though the marketing possibilies began to race through his mind.
"Given that this is what I am, I contend that it is not impossible. Only impossible for you to duplicate now." Hespante commented, vanishing before them and then reappearing. He continued, "Korban is the heir to the Union leadership and as such, he had a biological processor implanted into his brain. Given that the brain has enough power to run 200 million supercomputers, powering me is no imposition. I can manifest myself inside his mind as independent thoughts or physically. Though the manner of my manifestation physically depends alot on the state of Korban's mind."
"Why?" Leia asked out of curiosity.
"Hespante served as my own private teacher in many things. Most governmental families used them. They were common."
"And now I am the last." Hespante said a little mournfully.
"And he is damaged. For with the midichlorians within me, my mind is also being closed off to my natural abilities. Sometimes they can break through, as was manifest in the Capricians during the First Invasion but using the force directly affects it. They also conflict with many of Hespante's higher functions."
"That's why Scipio hurts when she uses the force." Tyscio Zier told Herridian. "She broke barriers when she was tortured in the First Invasion and her inherent ability was revived from it's dormant state. However, she was also strong in the force and since the midichlorians do not just go away but remain, the two abilities conflict within her."
"But the relics on Elrood were dated much later than the era you speak of, Korban," Herridan commented.
Now, Tyscio Korban looked at the portly man, "That is indeed me in the recording and it is Union technology but I do not remember making them. I don't remember being on Elroodia.. I mean Elrood. As far as I know, I was asleep from Bane to Almania."
"General Bane would not be also Darth Bane would he?" Leia suddenly asked.
"I've heard of this Darth Bane, a Sith was he? I do not think they were one and the same given that I thought I had killed him in trying to rescue my fiance. Their name must be a coincidence.."
"I wonder.." Hespante murmured to himself.
"In any event, I would like you to come with me to Elrood, Korban. I would like to see if anything seems familiar to you.."
"I am at your service."
*
Antioch
Mathias hated being dressed up in uniform even though he did look like a Caprician General. At least according to Tyscio Korban when the young man remarked on the older one's outfit and even though his stripes showed him to be a formal Seargent.
With pay and benefits, which was something concrete Mathias could really appreciate.
Still, walking amid the growing crowds with those both familiar and unfamiliar who had shared in the defense of Capricia down the capital lane to the waiting dignitaries and the governmental courtyard, it was an impressive sight.
Rows of polished weapons and clean clothes did much to bolster the spirits of the victorious even amid great loss. Vinda Corp's employees and leaders were also on hand to be saluted and given a special place in the hearts of the Caprician people.
Even Adalric Cronus delayed his departure to accept the awards bestowed upon them making a grand entrance giving the population something to marvel at. The hyperdrive on his warship having been completed, it was poised to leave the system for Onderon as soon as the ceremonies were over.
Richter Bayern and his crew were also on hand to witness the accomplishements of Vinda Corporation honored with much pomp and ceremony.
The remaining Clan leaders and representatives of the Noble and Minor Houses unvieled the "Commonwealth", which they would enter into with Bonadan and Vinda Corp.
Drawing the ties to their peoples official though perhaps not as close as the bond already forged with the blood they both spilled on the field.
The fighters steaked overhead launching an impressive array of fireworks and the first celebration of the Jubilee began.
The victory over Death.
A Victory of Life.
*
"Leaving already?" came a voice behind Leia as she was packing.
"I have to get back to the Republic. Lord only knows how much paperwork I'll have to deal with back on Corellia not to mention Coruscant. Besides, my students need me as Master Amalia Braska reminded me in the last transmission she sent. I think she is growing tired of handling them all herself so I must first go to Naboo," Leia remarked with some amusement.
"I need you too.." Tyscio commented as well which brought Leia up short.
"Now what would the Heir-Apparent to the galaxy need with a simple Jedi Master?"
Korban grinned crookedly, "I've seen your wardrobe
princess, there's nothing simple about you."
And Leia laughed slightly.
"I know you've many responsibilies now. But think about it."
"I doubt you'll let me forget." Leia's eyes held a certain mischief and Tyscio Korban's voice suddenly turned gruff as if he were Mathias.
"Damn straight Mistress." then he cleared his throat and chuckled. "I've got the entire trip back to Naboo with you to help make sure I stay in your mind."
"Oh?" an eyebrow rose. "And how will you do that?"
Korban walked closer to her and slipped his arms around her waist. "I'm sure I'll think of something." he grinned that boyish smile of his and their lips met.
*
A Distant Future
The children fell silent as Hepsante ended his tale.
"But what happened to Mr. Vinda? Mr. Korban? Leia? Mathias?"
And Hespante held up a hand silencing them. "Those are stories for another time. Now, children, it's getting time to leave."
Selene grinned, "Teacher, how did they make droids in that old building?" he pointed to the ancient Construction Yard.
"I ask myself that everytime I see it." Hespante quipped back and Selene laughed, helping him gather the children together.
"Are you going to see him?" she asked when they were on the transport heading back to the school.
"I've seen him at every Jubilee." the simulacrum commented. "This time will be no different."
"I wish I had known him. What would he say to everything that was happening now? What would he think of me?"
Hespante thought a moment and suddenly turned to the young woman. "I think he would say that you remind him of his wife."
"The road since the first Jubilee hasn't been a easy one for Capricia as well as Bonadan."
"And yet the more things change the more they stay the same. One thing I had to learn was that you need faith that things will turn out well in the end. Even if it does take a bit of time."
Selene suddenly turned serious.
"You realize that there is a referendum regarding the construction of more simulacrums?"
"Of course. I keep up with the Commonwealth's latest advances in technology. I also understand Executor Johnson is going to speak in favor of the project in the Hall of Voices."
"They claim that, though small, the processor could be an instrument of manipulation."
Hespante snorted. "The person who called the referendum is a woman. Therefore her arguement is flawed."
"Now's not the time to take a sexist view Hespante." Selene warned.
"It's not sexist. The arguement is flawed because women have already proved that (at least) they can be controlled by small instruments?"
"Oh?" Selene asked intrigued. "Someone should tell my fiance."
"Oh, he knows." Hespante said, pointing to her engagement ring.
Selene laughed. "He'll need more diamonds than this to keep me under total control." she joked.
"I've no doubt about that, the poor fool. But you get my point." He smiled at a future prospect, "I'll run rings around the referendum lady."
And both the ageless simulacrum and Leia Selene Korban made their way to the celebration.
And, in the far distance, back on the Plains of Jak'Tol, echoes of the past roamed...
Yes, the stories of those past legends would be for another time.
For now, the Conquest of Capricia was over.
"...and at the end of the day, when it's all over?"
"If, in this great galaxy of chance, you find yourself alive for one more day... do not think that it is without purpose.
Finding it out..
...now that's the trick."
*
EPILOGUE
Corporate Sector Space
Just within Orron III's orbit
An unnoticed, medium sized, battered and tired old looking freighter emerged from hyperspace, its model and markings of some unknown alien origin.
Slowly the ship chugged closer to something else floating , seemingly blindly , slowly rotating from the effects of Orron III's gravity. The Alien freighter seemed to slow , and with a hefty 'clunk' activated a set of large floodlights which bathed the floating 'object' in its harsh light.
The light reflected from the object indicating it was mettalic, and on closer inspection was found to be small shuttle, dead in space, just one of many wrecks leftover from the fierce battle fought above Orron III, nothing remarkable.
As the alien ship moved its lights across the shuttle's scorched and pitted surface , the shuttle's orgins were starting to be revealed...
A galaxy known isignia could just about be seen across its blackened hull.....
Vinda-Corporation...and eventually the light glinted across its namesake...
VCS - Starry Night - III Fleet
Whether or not its markings could be recognised by the aliens observing it was not clear, but one thing was ... It had interested its salvagers...
The alien ship activated its tractor beam , and started to reel in its catch, these aliens were of the breed seen after every major fleet battle, those who seek to profit from others misfortune...
Scavengers...
* * *
"...Black bones!...what a piece of junk!... look at it! its fried, what can we possibly salvage from this piece of Kriff!.....what a waste of time!....I told you we should have taken a closer look at that Vengeance-class cruiser we passed back earlier..."
"shut up a minute!"
The rather greasy looking alien , scowled towards its travelling compariot, whose clothes seemed to be remarkably cleaner...he didn't like being told to shut up, especially by someone smaller than him...His eyes fell upon his fellow crewman's overalls, noticing the lack of any dirt or grime...
...how in the name of Vader did he always manage that!?...
Charg , watched patiently as his clean crewmember fiddled with the wires of the salvaged onboard shuttle's computer console, its innards having being strewn across the entire docking bay of the freighter...
"its computer is still intact...if I can just patch in a feed from our power supply I might just be able to boot it up..."
The cleanly dressed figure's voice was interrupted abruptly as the shuttle's onboard systems suddenly came online, and the smaller of the two alien's raised his arm triumphantly...
"...aha!..I knew it , y'see Charg!, told you it was worth ..."
"..what the..."
The Aliens voice slowly trailed off as his eyes studied the computer monitor in front of him. Charg having noticed his fellow crewmate's face, sqeezed past a part of the shuttle's hull to try to see what his clean compatriot was looking at...
"..what is it Zandell?...Zandell?..."
Charg's face joined his partner's in studying the unusual data-burst that had just been bought up on the computer's monitors...
Zandell's eyes glazed over as he scrolled through the information that had been stored within the computer's memory banks...
They had stumbled onto some kind of military intelligence , everything from CSA military statisics to defense reports...
Most of it, (he reasoned), was too out of date to be useful , or could not be understood, apart from one file, which stood out, it was a profile, a young woman...
Zandell's eyes widened as he read the profile further, and he could hardly stop his jaw from dropping as he realised what they had disovered...
His lips mouthed the woman's name , but only her last name, her surname, audibly escaped his lips as the importance of what he had found dawned upon him...
"...Vinda..."
...somebody, somewhere, would pay handsomely for this...
End
