The Rebel Faction

Asri could only stare at the unconscious Trazu in disbelief. No one had told her he was a runt and with this new knowledge she felt a since of kinship with him: he had no doubt been teased about his size throughout his life. Now she noticed the clothing he wore and knew what they meant. You went to the Dark side... She thought, worried. But as yourself or the spirit? Right now she knew it didn't matter, however the question of whether like her former masters will come looking for him will be in question.

"Asri..." She heard Silliss say, catching her attention. Beside him she saw Lavality, who looked a lot worse for wear then she did when she saw her last. "You did it....but, how did you know where it was?"

"I did some brain storming with Sha'tor Rissonik after you guys took off." She replied as she gently lifted Trazu up in his arms. She felt pain flare up all across her back due to the burns, but she ignored it. "We figured out that Hyossk was the most likely one to have taken the skull."

"Thank the gods you were right...." Silliss said, nodding with approval.

"Catch me..." A faint voice said suddenly. Silliss looked at Lavality to see her falling: he quickly caught her.

"We need to get her to medical...." Sillis said, picking her up.

"You're not the only one...." Asri said with a wince as another shot of pain hit her.

"Ok...just don't fall out as well alright? I can't carry all three of you...."

They met up with the medical team outside, Silliss handing Lavality over to them as he gave them an account of what happened. He also asked them to send word back to the Clan grounds about what happened, though he guessed Varcanna, due to her bond with her bother, already knew the outcome. Asri refused medical service, saying her injuries weren't serious enough to be treated right then. They did accept a ride back to the grounds through.

Silliss had been right about Varcanna, who was found pacing by the ruined gate waiting for their return. For once she didn't scowl at Asri as she took her brother from the albino's arms, her joy overcoming her hatred. By then Naosha had returned to the grounds as well and the whole family had surrounded Trazu, hugging him and holding him close, nevermind the fact he was still unconscious.

The initial outporing of affection was over as quickly as it started and Varcanna spirited Trazu away to the medical faculity to all him to awaken at his own pace. Asri watched it all with a sense of envy, wishing her family had been that supportive and loving toward her. Then her own injuries finally overwhelmed her and she collapsed, the cyborg Tiskus catching her as she fell. She too was then taken to the medical faculity.

"How are they?" Rissonik asked a couple hours later.

"Your son is still slumbering, with no indication of how long he will do so." The medic said. "We have made preparations to provide substance to him should his slumber become...excessive."

"I fear it may become excessive..." Rissonik said with a sigh. "He would sleep for hours after a controlled take over, which normally lasted not even an hour. Who knows how long..."

"As I said, we are prepared to keep him going and healthy for as long as necessary." The medic assured him.

"Good. And Asri?"

"She's been badly burned all along her dorsal side." The medic said. "Thankfully the worse is only 2nd degree. We have her in the bacta tank now and full recovery should be quick."

"She's a resilient one...that girl."

"Indeed she is Sha'tor, but we have found that her resilience is not completely...natural."

"How do you mean?"

In response the medic handed him a datapad. Rissonik's eyes widened in surprise when he read it. That explains a lot..... He thought as he handed the pad back to the medic.

"Quite amusing if you ask me..." The medic said idly. "If we could..."

"You will do nothing of the sort." Rissonik said sternly.

"But...sir."

"She now doubt had her reasons for not telling us about this before...if she even knew about it herself. It would be inapproprate to start expermenting with such technology without her knowledge. Therefore, unless I find out otherwise from Asri herself you are to forget you even saw this...understand?"

"A...aye Sha'tor."

Later that day there was a party celebrating the Trazu's freedom and the perminant banishment of the K'Satizitus. Such a joyous occassion it was they even invited those of the Sarevidivus Fleet to attend if they could, though the only one that truely would have understood what the party was for was in medic bay herself.

Even though they were missing the two most important individuals during the celebration: Asri and Trazu himself, it didn't dampen the mood of the party and for the first time members of the Clan truely relaxed and let go.

It was the end of an era for the Clan, one that had a powerful and dangerous spirit barely under it's control.

And the true beginning of a new era for the Trandoshan race itself.

The guard, a seasoned K'Satikur warrior, looked him over, a questioning looking in his eyes. Even though he had just watched him speak with Tzhali and was obviously an ally, the warrior couldn't help but be a little suspicious. "Leave your weapons here and you may join the feistivities while you wait." The warrior finally said. "If it's an urgent matter, I believe the Sha'tor is currently in the medical faculity watching over his son."

Just then a Keshir approached the warrior, a small goblet in his claws. "Sir." He said. "Here is your share of the ashes of the fallen."

"Ah....Nasis and Ranik...may your spirits be welcomed by the Scorekeeper with open arms." The warrior took the goblet and then drained it's contents with a single gulp. "The memories of your great deeds will always live within me." Maskis looked a bit disgusted.

"You seem to have been away from home for far too long to look upon such ritual with disgust friend." The warrior remarked with a smirk, the small amount of alochol in the drink the ashes had been mixed it giving him a pleasent buzz, but not enough to impair his senses. "The ashes of the honorable warriors that have fallen in battle have always been consumed by the warriors and kin that remain behind. What better way to remember them then by forever carrying a part of them within you?" He explained. "These ashes were of the two K'Satikur that died attempting to protect Admiral Lavality from the K'Satizitus. Their sacrifice enabled Lavality to delay the spirit long enough for Lady Asri to destroy the anchor that kept the spirit locked within the Sha'tor's son. For them....no greater honor can possibly be given...."

****

Varcanna stood in the room, staring at the bacta tank Asri was currently floating in, conflicting emotions swirling in her head. The Akisi looked so helpless and vulnrable right now and she was tempted to tamper with the device so that great harm, if not death, would come to her.

Yet she freed Trazu... A thought invaded her head, knocking away her thoughts of killing the hated female.

Then she remembered how the kids, her nieces and nephew, practically flocked to this creature when she was first welcomed into the Clan. They all but had abandoned her as their guardian, their 'mother', replacing her with this freak. What does she have that I don't? She thought, a low growl eminating from her throat. She's not even related to them and still..... The thoughts of murder again started to fill her mind.

She returned Trazu to you. That throught reminded her, again banishing her thoughts of ill will toward the ablino female.

Other things of what good Asri had done for the Clan started invading her head. How she warned Rissonik of the Soverinty being under Hyossk's command. Helped Lavality fight off a trio of Bounty Hunters that had them pinned in the Council of Elder's building. Found and rescued Kysh and his sister. Slew Besk.

Besk.... She remembered that male, how he nearly blew her out of space a few months back. She had wanted to get that bastard back, but Asri took that from her. It amazed her still how she managed it. The fact Besk was Asri's father was even more so, for Varcanna knew Besk wouldn't have allowed an Akisi to live in a clutch he sired. Unbelieviable actually, which meant she had to be either lying about her parentage or...

She wasn't white to start with... She thought, rememberign how Asri kept claiming that very thing. But other then diesase, which was evident she didn't have, why would she turn white?

Everything these days was telling her not to hate her, but she remembered in school how it was grinded into her mind that they were evil and should be killed. Granted what the schools taught she found to not always to be reliable: she quickly learned the truth about the Wookiees, how they were just concerned about their planet and any action taken against the Trandoshans were just to defend themselves and their homeworld. That and other things, like how evil the Empire truly was, were discounted by what her mother told her and her own experiences in life. Everything was either proved to be true or not, save for the belief about Akisi.

Until now. Hense Varcanna's confusion.

What am I to believe? She thought, still staring up at Asri's floating form. What I've been taught as a youth or what I have been told by 'witnesses' as an adult?

Unable to decide, she shook her head and left the room to rejoin the fesitivies.

Rissonik was sitting by Trazu's bed, watching his son's slow, rythmic breathing as he slept. He and Naosha had been taking turns watching over him, wanting to ensure the face of a family member was the first thing he saw when he awakened, if he ever awakened.

The doctors has assured him it was really just a sleep like state his son was in, not a full blown coma, but still Rissonik worried. From what Silliss described, Trazu's annoucement of his freedom seemed so full of relief that there was a chance Trazu may be content to allow himself to join the ancestors. Since he had been 'missing' for nearly three years who knows what he may have done, especially as a Dark Jedi. How did he feel about the evil deeds he had no doubt committed while under the influence of the spirit? He certainly had time to think about it while the spirit had control over his body and if the old Trazu they knew resurfaced during that time he no doubt had a lot of regrets and it was those regrets that made Rissonik worried.

Quilt wasn't something he ever handled well.... Rissonik reminded himself, hoping that his quilt wouldn't be so overwhelming they would lose him again: this time permenantly. He knew Trazu will need a lot of support from this family to get through the emotional turmoil that was sure to follow when he awakened and this time they weren't going to let him run away from it.

He also knew that criminal charges will no doubt be brought against him for whatever crimes he committed while a Dark Jedi and during the period the spirit had full control. The tricky part will be convincing the investigators that Trazu's actions hadn't been completely of his own free will, thus couldn't really be held to blame. Of course...that depended on said investigators beliefs in the supernatural: many Trandoshans, for instance, even believed in the Force.

Rissonik wasn't sure what made him aware of Maskis waiting outside, but something prompted him to look his way. At first he felt angry: who would disturb him during an obvious personal matter? But his anger lessened significately when he spotted the symbols of the Sarendivus Fleet on his clothing, realizing it had to be something of importance. With one last glance at his son, he rose from his seat and left the room. The lad had to have been thinking about something, as he jumped when Rissonik spoke.

"What is it? Word from the Fleet?" He asked.

Rissonik read the data pads contents, frowning slightly at the information. It was a miracle she was even alive according to the contents, especially after getting tore up by the K’Satizitus. Thankfully, the heads of the Fleet understood that Trazu hadn’t exactly been in control of his body, so they weren’t going to be putting criminal charges on him or otherwise demand his head on a platter.

That’s going to be a pissed off Wookiee…. He thought as he read the info containing the command restructuring the Fleet was going to do, remembering how he had reacted to the last promotion. “Going to the Order eh?” Rissonik responded after Maskis finished speaking. “I have a grandson there, but I am uncertain if we will be making any visits in the near future ourselves. Certainly…“ He stole a glance back toward his son. “My son would want to see him when he awakens, however I do not know when that will be. Either way, arranging transport and escort for Miss Lavality won’t be a problem.” Briefly he wondered if it was a mistake to mention he had a grandson at the Academy, but decided he could trust this male. “Just let us know when you’ll need it.”

As he handed Maskis back the data pad, he noticed the odd weapon on Maskis’ belt. He knew it had to be a lightsaber, but it also could tell this male wasn’t Jedi material. He pointed it out and Maskis quickly explained where he found it and that he had been hoping he would know who it belonged to.

“Only those trained in the Force uses a Lightsaber.” Rissonik explained. “My son has one and we did recover that, therefore the one you found can’t be his.” There was a brief pause as Rissonik thought over the possibilities. “Ah, I bet you that belongs to Miss Lavality. She did crash her ship in the location you found it and with the news she’s going to the Academy it would make logical sense.”

After Maskis gave his thanks and took his leave, Rissonik returned to his son’s bedside.

Was it him…or did he just move?

***

He was standing a field of tall yellow grass, the sky a beautiful shade of blue with playful wisps of clouds moving through it. The place was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, but that didn’t matter to him, the sun warm and soothing and there was light kiss of a warm breeze on his green scaled hide . Close by, he could hear the faint trickle of a nearby stream and the songs of birds singing their melodies. He closed his eyes and relished it for all it’s worth.

There was another presence here in this paradise, one warm and loving, one he, at first, didn’t remember. But then heard her voice caress his mind with it’s sweetness and he remembered.

He remembered the playfulness of her pale gold eyes. The beauty of her yellow ochre scales gleaming in the light. The warmth of her body wrapped around his as they cuddled. The sweetness of her musk following where ever she went. He sensed all these things and it felt as real as it did in life. He didn’t want to leave this place, he didn’t want it to end.. He wanted to remain forever in the embrace of a the love he had lost.

But then things seemed to cool and the presence pulled away. He cried out in alarm, fearing losing her again, his arms reaching out, searching for her warmth. Yet that presence remained out of his grasp.

~It’s not your time…~ He heard her say. ~They need you.~

Then she was gone completely and the world around him became dull, almost cold. He knew what it was: reality, and it was trying to reclaim him. Now he remembered the pain, the regret, of his deeds in life and that he had to face them. He didn’t want to face them and he tried to run away, but the world around him continued to change. The grass disappearing, the bird songs fading, and sky becoming increasingly dark only to start to turn white. He fought it with all his might, the power of his will starting to change things back to the way they were.

~Do not abandon that I have given my life for again…~ He heard her say suddenly, harshly.

Realization hit them then. To will himself to really die now would only cause more pain and suffering on those he would leave behind. He was needed, not only so he could take his father’s place but as a father to his children as well.

His children…

How much have they suffered not knowing who he was? Only having a fleeting memory of him greeting them at their hatching? Would they even know him for who he was? Would they forgive him for running away? No, he could not abandon them now, no matter what the consequences he may face for his past deeds.

~I will always be with you…~ He heard her say as the sky now was almost unbearably white. ~Trazu…~

Then that white dulled, the shapes of hospital ceiling tiles forming with the occasional glare of a light among them. He could hear the faint beeping of monitoring equipment and the light comfortable warmth of the hospital blanket draped over him.

“Trazu?” He heard a familiar voice say and he turned his head toward the sound, to be greeted by the face of his father.

“Father.” He said softly, offering him a small smile. His father smiled broadly, then without warning embraced him.

“Father!” Trazu exclaimed in surprise, feeling the heat of a blush rush to his cheeks. “Please you’re embarrassing me!”

Yet he couldn’t resist hugging him back.

He was home.