A four part fictional installment, The Pillars of Menat tells the story of the events on New Tython following the Tenth Great Jedi War.
Cast Of Characters
Part I
When The Smoke Clears
Menat Ombo–35 ABY
Little more than a few months had passed since the last shots of the war were fired over Menat Ombo and the city still resembled a warzone. The people had strived to rebuild their small hovel shacks while others worked amidst the rubble of nascent building projects which had resembled the hollow half dead tree stumps of the surrounding countryside.
Although most of all the bodies had been found a massive graveyard had been dug up outside of the city accompanied by smaller auxiliary pits awaiting undiscovered remains. A thick sweet staunch odor from the decay hugged the air throughout the city; a constant reminder of the current situation.
The stranglehold of death was however broken when life breathed its breath on Harakoa. The fields burnt by the onslaught of the war had now recovered yielding impressive crops for which invigorated the economy of the city. The Marketplace boomed with activity and once again became the primary forum. Small shops and businesses had replaced the ones lost in the war; they sold everything from food, general merchandise, to the rarest Clan Ordo helmet found in a field somewhere.
Life was returning.
Seeds Of Discord
Visulu Marketplace
A lone voice broke through the usual calm of the marketplace sparking interest from the common passersby. The figure projected himself first from his companions to the tedium of eyes now upon him.
“I know your anger and your pain. Where were they? Where were they when they killed your brothers and sisters? Where were they when your homes were burnt to the ground? And when they burned your farms, where were they when they defiled our planet?”
The man backed up as a handful of people clamored forward to hear what he had to say.
“They are sworn to protect us, and serve us, not live in the Abbey as would Emperors! You are all guilty of making them your kings!”
The crazed figure spat and snarled as he spoke pointing his finger in every direction at the growing crowd. The people booed at him in response.
He raised a hand and bowed his head, silence spread
“…I am guilty, I admit. I admit I trusted in the word of the Jedi to defend us from the horde.”
He was interrupted by a voice in the crowd,
“The Jedi fought for peace, I was there! They were outnumbered! What else could they do, they did their best to protect us…”
The radical’s eyes beamed with intensity as he tried to stare through the crowd, he opened his mouth:
“Protect us? They can’t protect themselves! Bring peace, what peace? We are still burying our dead! If you would ally yourselves with fraudulent beings you are no Tythonian brother of mine and do yourself a disservice by not taking responsibility for yourself.”
The crowd was growing and even several shop-owners had left their stalls to listen.
“What can a Jedi do, that you cannot do for yourself? Have any of you questioned whether or not we even need them?
Silence once again befell the crowd of people.
Foundations
The Council of Urr Meeting Chamber-Ooroo Abbey- A few weeks later
“Disent, that’s what it is! No matter what you call it, that protesting is inciting violence and making a mockery of everyone’s laws. Sir, the harassment of the natives is reaching deadly ends, if no action is taken the mobs out there are going to start tearing the city even further.” a man spoke opposite from the Gand High Councilor.
A Harakoan tribal leader spoke, “A flash mob burned down two houses in Memit this morning, where was your militia police to stop them?”
“Our militia does what it can, but we are no use against a mob of that mass.”
An outbreak of voices erupted from the Tythonians and Harakoan representatives as they crossed words with each other from their cushions.
The High Councilor bowed his head rubbing his temples before motioning his hand to the Nagai man to his right. The pale skinned figure stood up and approached the central enclosure. Immediately a silence overcame the group as all eyes put their attention forth toward the lanky man.
“No more fighting. It ends today, no matter the consequence.”
His face gave an air of neutrality as he focused his attention toward each of the representatives eyes, his gaze a cold yet nonthreatening gleam.
“In the interest of your peoples, the Jedi of Odan-Urr will consider resigning our political presence from the city, if your sides agree to a joint Tythonian/Harakoan government.”
The banter ignited once again amongst the circle, each side stressing their stance. Drodik broke the tension as he strode the inner circle drawing their attention.
“The city needs unity. The voice of the crowds demands our resignation and we feel it is time to give them that. They claim that we are weaker now than ever before, and that we are responsible for bringing the Brotherhood to war on the planet. The claims against us are true and everyone is aware of that. The fact is that Menat Ombo does not need us in a governmental capacity any longer. Menat needs you, it needs its own representatives to represent the city as one unified body. Before any healing and progress can be made, there needs to be unity.”
“Impossible, the prejudices against our people are too long ingrained. It will not work.” A Harakoan leader interrupted.
The Nagai continued calmly
“You must as a combined council with our assistance, devise a form of government to oversee your interests. Once you do, we will vacate the Abbey ceding control of the government to the new council and retain an adjutant position in the Hall of the Watchmen. There we will remain at the service of Menat Ombo and all people across the planet.”
He returned to his seat beside Ji and Jendan.
Part II
Flight From Memit
An Alley in Memit
A fist swung through the air striking the nasal crest of a male Harakoan man. He fell to the muddy street while his attacker stood over bathing him with his looming shadow. He couldn’t see his attackers face just yet, but he knew what he was up against. A group of the man’s comrades adorned with yellow cords on their shoulders gathered around and began to kick at the helpless Harakoan.
“Blue bastard!” The attacker, a Tythonian man belted out. Spit shot from his mouth a moment later into the injured beings face; the Tythonian man walked off casually with his group of friends.
“These people are getting more violent these days Sua” A Harakoan woman said while she wiped the man’s face. “They know no shame, attack us in broad daylight with no regard for the law!”
“Calm down, its ok I’m fine.” he said as he stood up. He hunched over a little bit his shoulder blades in obvious pain from the kicks he had just received.
He continued, “Besides, did you see their cords? They support that demon Cy, we’re lucky they didn’t kill us.”
“Did they search you?”
“No,” Sua said as he pulled out a small book “I was on my way to the house, I need to get this to them, it’s important.”
A moment later the sound of charging footsteps thundered from around the corner.
Sua gave the woman the small notebook, “Take it to them!”
The woman hesitated to flee as the group brandished their clubs.
“RUN!” Sua yelled as the group drew closer
The Compromise
Ooroo Abbey
Whenua strut about the room with his hand rubbing his elongated forehead in stress. He was obviously in deep contemplation. His fellow tribal delegates Kiri and Matiu sat at the table with the Tythonian delegates Adrianus, Jantine, and Marten sat opposite them while the Jedi delegates Ji and Drodik sat at the head of the table.
The Harakoan known Matiu raised his voice in the silence.
“What could we hope for if we signed this accord? It would not bring back our burnt homes from the soil, nor breath the great breath into the lungs of our deceased family. It would only bring shame and detachment from our own people.”
Jantine stood, “You would lose nothing but more if you do not sign on.”
“You do not understand Tythonian, if the Harakoans of this city become equal citizens with your people, their tribes will shun them forever; I cannot allow this to happen.”
Just then Whenua spoke,
“The Harakoans in Menat are already detached from our people Matiu. They have already rejected their tribes and become a part of this populace despite the danger around them. We need peace with these people and we need it now. This is but the first step toward healing this prejudice and burying it in the past.”
Adrianus stood from his seat, “Whenua is correct. By signing this document your people and those of all beings living in Menat Ombo may apply to become full citizens of the state. They’ll be granted all rights and privileges as well as protection as any human Tythonian.
Matiu nodded his head as he walked over to the document. “So this is it? This will dissolve the current government in favor of this one?”
Adrianus nodded as he readied the pen over the document on the table.
The two Jedi approached the table as did the other of the soon-to-be council members.
The Nagai spoke to them all, “By signing this you acknowledge to all of its content and will use your offices to enact the policies to which only uphold the peace and prosperity of all citizens of the new City-State of Menat Ombo.”
Each of the six members shook hands with the Jedi as they each took their turns signing the lengthy document.
Rage Has A Face
Visulu Marketplace- Days Later
A roar in the marketplace burst out as a ragged figure trod its way through the street. A cadre of men escorted him to the make-shift stage; upon their arms were tied yellow cords. Around two hundred individuals squeezed themselves around and encircled the small stone boulder in the ground. The ragged figure took to the small platform and stood there a brief moment.
The crowd continued to chant his name until he raised his hand to mid-chest level. After that the noise died down.
The man remained quiet as he surveyed the crowd. His eyes pierced every square inch of the crowd.
“Tythonians,” He said slowly.
“Brothers and sisters, all of you,”
The tension in the crowd was unnerving.
“We are a people, do you realize? We are among the first generations of our people to call this planet home. It is our duty to ensure our children, and theirs after them and so forth, can live without the fear of the Harakoan problem. If we do not ensure our own safety, and the safety of our future then we will never be free from the edge of extinction!”
The crowd started up again, they were completely entranced by this figure.
Who was he?
Where did he come from?
“Had it not been for the Jedi’s ineffectiveness I would not be here before you. But yet I am here, unafraid and unashamed to challenge those who would call themselves our governors. I ask nothing of you now than to do the same.”
The shuffling of a hundred feet kicked up the dirt in the plaza drawing new attention from the crowd already gathered. Behind the mass of people approached an equally sized crowd of mixed races. Among the faces visible were those of Harakoans, a few human Tythonians and Mon Calamari.
The crowd stopped a few meters away.
Immediately the men with yellow cords pushed their way forming a corridor of people through which the ragged madman approached the visitors. He stopped just after he made it out onto the clearing between the two crowds. The visiting crowd shuffled as it produced its own representative.
A woman of average height appeared. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and green eyes. Her brown clothing spoke of her humility as did the relative calmness of her company. She walked steadily toward Cy and stopped a few feet away.
“Afternoon,” said the madman.
“What brings you here ma’am?”
The woman glanced down at the dirt and spat air from her pursed lips. Her eyes returned to Cys.
“What are you doing here hermit? This is only going to end one way, you know that don’t you?”
Cy blinked his eyes and looked at the sun. His retinas singed beneath the radiance of the fiery star and returned his miniscule pupils back towards the woman.
He whispered to her,
“Then I’ll have to do this right…”
The woman began to pace a little as she spoke, “The law is different now, the Jedi are no more, they’ve gone to their temple, you’ve won. End this.”
Cy smiled indignant of her response. “They are still the new governments advisors, they need to be brought to justice for their dereliction.”
“What would your justice be? Blood?”
The madman took a few steps backwards toward his crowd,
He locked eyes with her once more,
“Justice IS blood!”
Cy retreated back toward the stone boulder he descended from.
“My justice is blood! Justice IS blood!”
The crowd began to repeat the phrase in a chant. A few Harakoan men rushed out to assist the woman back to the safety of the crowd. The madman fell to his knees and began shouting,
“Justice IS Blood! The blood of all free Tythonian men and women!”
A moment later in the chaos one of the Harakoan men fell dead. His blood splashed the faces and clothes of the woman and other Harakoan; The lifeless body lay in the dirt beside a blood covered stone. More such stones rained down as both crowds let out thunderous roars while they raced toward the other.
With little breath, Cy looked on in a mad daze and clenched his fist while his yellow corded praetorian guard carted him away.
Part III
Opposition
A Basement in It’kla- Nightime
The woman ducked as she avoided roots from the surface above creeping down into the tunnel passages. At her feet along the dirt walls of the corridor lay the sleeping bodies of dozens of Harakoans and Tythonians. She grasped her way through the dimly lit spaces til she emerged into the lower basement of an above residence. The air in the room was thick and dull, however the company within was great and magnetic.
“Whats is this?” A calm voice said as it picked up what the woman had dropped on his desk.
She looked down at it, “She brought it to us,” the woman said as she took the hand of a female Harakoan following her.
The voice exhaled smoothly as it picked up the small dirt encrusted leather-bound book. “Your husband died for this book didn’t he?”
The Harakoan nodded whilst the owner of the voice scanned through the pages of the text. His fingers flipped through the pages quickly taking a mental note as to the contents. He paused as he came to a page of note. They were plans of some sort but the women in the room couldn’t make out exactly what they were looking at; the man closed the book with a firm grip.
“We are going to have to move quicker than I anticipated. I wish it hadn’t been this way but we must.”
He stood up emerging from the shadows while he approached the women. He approached the sleeping Harakoan in the tunnel and bent down on his knees. “His bandages are holding firm, has the swelling subsided?” he asked.
The woman in black responded, “Somewhat, but we’re limited on supplies. He won’t stand a chance if he develops an infection, not even at a clinic; he’s Harakoan, they won’t treat him.” She sighed.
“The new laws forbid the discrimination, we must try despite the circumstances. Have someone take him in the morning.” The man said.
“Cy will be having another rally later this week. I don’t want our protesters out there for this one.”He said
The Harakoan woman named Niya spoke up, “We lost five people! We must be there to speak against him.”
The man turned around,
“Yelling and screaming in the streets and the bloodshed will only further turn this city to ash. That is not the way we must do things. No, we will go to the Abbey and speak to the new council and the Jedi, they are ones with executive powers, they will know how to calm Cy’s supporters.”
Legion
Forest North of the Sabina River- Same Night
The canopy top of the surrounding forest swayed and moaned as the wind forced its way through the narrow alleys of tree trunks. Branches crackled and creaked unfurling a cascading sprinkle of leaves onto the soil below. Smoke from about twenty separate fires drifted upward through the orange glow of the night.
Silhouettes of over a hundred figures flickered in the glow of the fires of the camp. The figures were mostly men and women of various races, all armed to the teeth with blasters and rifles. For the most part they were content to have food in their mouths and a warm fire, but they didn’t come to this backwater jungle planet for just any excursion, nor would they settle for anything less promised to them as mercenaries.
Their mission was clear and they accepted it fully.
A Rodian male made his way through the encampment. No sooner had he sat down to drink down his worries than a tap on his shoulder brought his attention to his second in command.
“Sir, he’s arrived..”
“Come..” the Rodian responded.
The two approached the haggard man and his bodyguards. With outstretched arms the Hermit grasped th hand of the Rodian firmly
“Feeux,” he said
The Rodian tilted his head and pointed a thumb over his shoulder in reply
“As promised, these are the arms for your cause. They will follow your commands, as will I…to an extent of course.”
“Naturally.” Cy responded. His black eyes bulged with fascination at the number of mercs behind his new employee. He motioned to the guard to his left who handed the Rodians Second a large case. “Your payment, in full.” Cy said. The case clicked open and the two looked inside at the wealth of credits within.
Without question, Feeux knew his next course of action.
Plans For Peace Pt. 1
Council Chambers-Ooroo Abbey- Same Night
The blonde man Adrianus scanned through his datapad, “Marten, report from the Jedi?”
The Tythonian man read from his own datapad:
“K.U.D.F. is developing albeit behind schedule. As of now the Jedi have established and trained the following units: The Tanduran Dac Unified Commandos, The Melewati Bushfighters, and the Bombarda Artillery Column. Even the Wookie Unit “The Chosen” has successfully organized. Each unit is organized, trained and ready in the event their services are necessary.”
Marten clicked off his datapad placing it gently on his lap. The focus in the room shifted to the standing Whenua. The tall Harakoan Chieftan glared at the Tythonian Adrianus.
The blond man spoke again, “The protectorates, do you have your report?”
The Chieftan only nodded toward Kiri:
“Thus far we have registered three Iwus,” she said “Iwus Zawag, Gioki and Kazharam. The Gioki however are still reluctant to fully register. We and the Jedi guardians seek to protect them regardless.”
“And waste resources on people who refuse our help?” Jantine interrupted
“The Gioki are the oldest of our tribal cousins, relics of our history, our people.” said Matiu in response. “The Jedi understand this—“
A loud shout from Adrianus interrupted the entire exchange,
“So be it, there are more pressing matters we must attend, namely these radicals in the streets, Cy and who now? Who else is it?”
Marten interjected, “His name is Gideon. He’s gaining a following in the same manner as Cy, however his views are in the opposition.”
“I knew that.” Adrianus responded rubbing his forehead
“The man has been persistently sending messengers and letters requesting a meeting with this council.” announced Marten, “It might be wise to appease him, considering Cy’s movement is growing considerably out of control.”
“He is no Kotahitanga Military leader, he cannot control any soldiers.” Kiri responded
“No, but he has influence the same as Cy. If we back his movement the city will grow more toward the peace we need.” Said Adrianus,
“Cy’s arest has been ordered from the Jedi. They will apprehend him before the rally in a few days hence. In the meantime we would do well to have this open assembly with Gideon and his activists.”
Plans For Peace Pt. 2
Halls of the Watchmen- Ji’s Office- Same Night
“I want him arrested, immediately. There are the orders from the City Council.” Ji said as he laid a document on the desk. “From all reports and evidence thus far it was he who propagated the upheaval.”
The Aedile approached the desk taking the sheet into his hands. He scanned the text a moment before looking up at the Gand High Councillor,
“I’ll have Kairas unit dispatched to apprehend him. He is scheduled to hold another rally in a few days, hopefully they can spot him before then.”
The Quaestor rubbed his forehead a moment while he peered out the window overlooking the city.
Ji beamed at the Nagai before him,
“He has supporters now, a few weeks ago he was thought of as a crazy hermit, but now he has numbers. Whether or not they pose an actual risk to the security of the city remains to be seen, but even so, we should consider the disturbance in the marketplace a sign of his influence. Go and instruct the Lightwalkers of their objectives and supervise the operation. May the force be with you.”
The Ashes That Fall
Ooroo Abbey- Assembly Hall- A few days later
It was approximately mid-afternoon when the sounds of the chants from the protesters began to burst forward from the massive crowd. Hundreds of heads scattered about the plaza and the main avenues leading toward Ooroo Abbey in anticipation of the new voice of liberty. Smoke from Visulu could be seen overhead through the cities dense foliage from the grounds near the Abbey.
In the wake of the riots ending no word had been made as to the whereabouts or activities of the mad hermit Cy. His supporters however had grown exponentially in number from all corners of the city and outlying homesteads. Their presence on the streets was only a stark reminder of the current plight of the Harakoans and their pursuit for freedom and equality. Likewise, the presence of these new supporters, the anti-speceists pining for a peaceful Menat Ombo and equality for all citizens of the planet signaled a great schism in dominant ideologies.
The tattered soil and broken brick avenue leading toward the Abbey became so dense with marching protesters that people flooded the flanking forest. The entire mass of people came to a sudden halt at the steps of Ooroo Abbey along the slopes of the plateau.
The man leading them was himself flanked at the sides by the woman in black as well as a Harakoan woman and an assortment of other figures. He stretched out his arms from the steps overlooking the crowd and nodded thankfully. Silence befell the crowd and he began to speak:
“I cannot express to you the horror that is unfolding in the streets of the city; each day is worse than the previous. ” he said “This city was founded on the premise of peace that all beings regardless of origin would find peace within its walls; yet presently only bigotry and inequality seem to be thriving here.”
A slight breeze picked up in the treetops and the sun shone vibrantly down on the whole area. It was a perfect day.
“The era of a divided and bruised and polluted Harakoa has seen its end. The people, all of you are ready to move on! The victims of the past may have their rest now, for we will bring them the justice of peace.”
Thunderous clapping erupted.
“Moments from now, I and other leaders,” he said suggesting to the ten people by his side, “Will ask this council to investigate the validity of Cy Thurons heinous and destructive movement. The ideology expressed is inherently destructive to the progress of a peaceful New Tython and remains a direct threat to the people of Menat Ombo and the laws we respect.”
While Gideon spoke to the crowd a messenger from inside the Abbey emerged. A human woman, she walked gracefully across the plaza and greeted Gideon and the other movements leaders.
“The Council is prepared to speak with you Mr. Varos, follow me.” Gideon turned to the crowd and with an outstretched arm announced,
“For peace!”
Jebbis Pit Cantina- Half an Hour Later
The cool air of the day added extra comfort to the patrons of the outside bar Jebbi's Pit Cantina. About a quarter mile from the Abbey, the activity there could be heard clearly.
“What the hell is happening up at the Abbey?” said a Tythonian man to the barkeep
“Where’ve you been? That’s Gideons peace movement, I guess some people have had enough of that Cy” he replied while handing over a drink.
“Some people!?! *hic*” said a drunk old man at a table next to the dirt street,
“That’s half the city! ‘Some’ people is a damned understatement.”
A loud boom thundered through the air just then. The vibrations from a faraway source rocked through the ground shattering glasses from behind the bar. Inside of their chests, the three men could feel their hearts sinking deep and their fear rising. Puzzled, they looked briefly at each other.
“What…was that?” said Jebbi the Barkeep.
The drunk old man staggered from his chair and looked over the treetop horizon. A large billow of smoke rose like a snake, writhing toward the sky and the sounds of screams raced down the hill. The old man panted up the hill,
“The Abbey!”
Jebbi jumped over from behind the bar and darted out into the street brushing against the old man. The younger Tythonian followed. They stopped in the middle of the street, in disbelief they paused a second before sprinting up the hill.
Bisecting all the blocks of Memit, the two men raced through the thin forest in a mad dash toward the Abbey. As they ran the needles and branches of the trees whipped their faces as they pushed in haste toward the source of the screams. As they approached, the furor and horror began to unfold as they emerged onto the Abbey Plaza. Before them in great numbers were countless citizens ragged in their own blood and dust kicked up from the explosion. A great haze of dust made view into the Abbey nearly impossible, yet more bloodied people staggered through the damaged entryways.
“What happened?” Jebbi asked a woman sitting on the stones
Shock prevented her from responding.
Her chest heaved heavily in and out as she held her bloody head in her hand. Jebbi ran toward the entrance and began helping people out of the structure. Others began to do the same and before long the plaza became filled with people in distress.
A few hours passed into just before the sunset and makeshift camp had sprouted. Medics from KUDF established triage tents in the plaza, those uninjured and able departed for their homes.
Meanwhile the dust had settled in the Abbey and the true state of the explosion was known. Inside the bodies of countless individuals lay strewn about in a horrendous mash of broken and bleeding bodies. The pews of the Abbey nearest the crater along with most of the decorative fixtures and statues were shattered to bits. A large crack ran through the blood-stained stone floor leading up to the center of the presiding structure. Jebbi approached the battered podium.
In his amazement at his feet lay the distorted body of a man, he lifted his hand a few inches above the ground and met his eyes with Jebbis.
He tried to say something but failed. In the end, Jebbi held the hand of the man in his final moments.
Three figures approached Jebbi from behind, all bloodied from their injuries. The blonde man Adrianus, Jantine, and Matiu circled around.
“His name was Marten,” Adrianus said
“He was perhaps the wisest of us all.” He concluded.
Jebbi rose to his feet, “Stop Cy…” , he said as he pushed his way toward the broken doors of Ooroo Abbey.
Jantine wiped blood and tears from her eyes, “Have the Jedi found Cy yet?”
Adrianus sighed, “We’ll know soon enough.”
Part IV
The Peoples New Dawn
Ooroo Abbey- Meeting Chamber- Two Weeks Ago
The sun peaked over the horizon whilst a group of black clothed individuals sat across from the five surviving Council members Adrianus, Whenua, Jantine, Matiu, and Kiri. The loyalists of Cy, now christened the Peoples New Dawn had since appointed representatives. Those individuals now sat confident in their black uniforms, a yellow cord wrapped around their shoulders.
Outside, the incessant rumble of a thousand voices reverberated into the Council chambers. Citizens from all over Menat Ombo now crowded the perimeter of the Abbey banding in protest of the uniformed individuals. A week had passed since the bombing at Ooroo Abbey allowing a dull tasteless calm to hang over the mourning city. Mounds of dirt populated a forlorn field outside of the city limit; within were the mangled remains of victims respectively laid to rest. The forty-nine mounds added to the already innumerable bodies of those who lost their lives since the Jedi first occupied New Tython. How many souls had perished since then; in the diseases, the Tythonian-Harakoan atrocities, Jedi War, and now civil unrest gripped New Tython like never before in known history.
“We and the people we represent will not be made the scapegoats of this attack.” The man said.
“This is a pathetic move by this administration to claim that our organization carried out such an attack.” He continued as he pointed his finger at the council. “You fools have been deceived! Your claims would be more appropriate to accuse the Jedi of manipulating this attack into controlling you! You have no evidence or witnesses to even begin to make such claims against the New Dawn in the first place”
New Dawn; the name carried an odd amount of weight in the ears of the council. Not only had the civil unrest torn apart Menat Ombo further but now a runaway movement: The Tythonian Peoples New Dawn.
“Mr. Miliet, your organization agreed to meet with us. While you are not under arrest we understood you would enter dialogue with this council.”
Ozan nodded in indignation “Very well.”
“Name, age, and position.” Jantine asked
The gruff albeit youthful voice spoke first, “Ozan Miliet, 28; Position undisclosed”
The two officers accompanying him refused the same request.
“They are of no importance, merely security I assure you.”
Adrianus began,
“Can you disclose to us the whereabouts of Cy Thuron?”
Ozan laughed in his chair before standing
“Were we not under the pretense that there would be peace talks here today Mr. Miliet?” Jantine asked. The man paused and exchanged a whisper in his colleagues’ ear before returning his penetrative gaze.
“We are to deliver this,” he said as he handed the council a document. “I apologize Council members, but I fear I am wasting all of our time. Our orders are clear, there will be no peace talks; especially with a Jedi backed regime such as this” Ozan looked on at his confused audience.
He rubbed his grizzled chin before strutting about the room.
“The Tythonian people have no home beside this planet. Your Mon Calamari allies and Harakoan natives may return to their places of origin, but the diaspora of our people from our homeworld’s has left us wandering nomads and furthermore depicted as animals as we seek to carve a home for ourselves on this planet. In essence, you shall have your peace, council, as a by-product of our independence.”
The Council stood from their chairs as Ozan and the two officers backed up toward the door.
Ozan concluded, “In three days hence our organization has planned for the exodus of all supporters of The New Dawn. We shall vacate the city limits peacefully; that I guarantee, and settle in an unpopulated region north of the Sabina Basin.”
Death Of Ji
Halls Of the Watchmen- Ji’s Quarters- 2 Days Later
A thick sweet yet rancid odor hovered throughout the mortally wounded Quaestors quarters. Dim yellow lights barely illuminated the chamber adding to the nausea induced by both the smells and the humidity from the ammonia gas being pumped into the space.
The Quaestor rested on his backside next to the window. His view was spectacular this evening; the celestial bodies Ish and Kalfu rested gently against the dimming purple light from Yhi. Distant stars of the twilight poked through the atmosphere of Harakoa breathing a beauty unparalleled on other Brotherhood worlds.
Two Shaman from the Takuta Tama-nui-te-ra knelt beside the injured Gand tending to his wounds. Another Shaman divined in the center of the room, he cast himself onto the floor performing exotic rituals and offering prayer and steadfast energy to the upper cosmological realms.
Ji spoke quietly to the Takuta Shamans commander Protector Caleb Sal informing him of the last orders he would give him; the Chiss listened intently before acting.
When Ji had finished speaking Caleb rose to his feet and affixed the breathing apparatus to his Quaestors body. He then approached a control panel opening the windows and venting the chamber. The Takuta Shaman upon seeing this backed away from the bedside and prostrated themselves to the floor in deep prayer.
Caleb left the room momentarily.
The sound from the apparatus reverberated off the walls filling the space between the undertones of Harakoan prayer while a breeze picked up cooling off the Gands heated body. The crusty yellow linen beneath him had become soiled from the substances leaking from within his exoskeleton.
Beaten and tired, the Gands thoughts drifted to days gone by: Of his youth, the old Jedi Order, the founding of Menat… and finally the bombing of Ooroo Abbey…….
~~The Abbey was filled to capacity; Gideon the peacemaker stood speaking at the nave, and the Menat Council before him. The figure in the archway…it ran forward bypassing security. The blast tore through the chamber just as he had thrown himself between the peacemaker and the council. Power erupted from his palms as he let out a circumferential current of force energy throwing Gideon and the Council~~
Ji’s own palms now rested gently on his exposed body cavity. Oxygen had now intermingled with his organs, death was moments away, and he knew it. The week had been spent with every Shaman, and Jedi proficient in the healing arts, but to no avail.
His gaze shifted out the window once again to the view of the setting star and the moons above it.
“Master Ji,” a calm voice pierced the silence.
The Nagai Aedile approached the fading Gand.
He could see the intense damage and could sense somehow the life-force within the body dimming.
Ji nodded his head and pointed outside of the window. A group of Odanites : Revak, Morotheri, Kaira, and Vanwyck, Krandon, Lelila, and Guinevere, had followed Caleb and Drodik Va'lence al'Tor to the Quaestors chamber.
Everyone knew what was happening, no one who was present could say they didn’t.
“Quaestor Va’lence…” said the voice through the vocoder as he motioned the Nagai approach. “You’ve brought the Disciples of Urr?” his speech was becoming strained. The body seized for brief seconds while Ji stoically maintained composure.
He then spoke to the Disciples:
“Be not afraid…” he coughed, “the balance, between light…and dark, is nil; an illusion. The force is supreme…in its entirety. Light, dark, there are…..no such things.”
His body seized again in its last throes, the Oxygen in his ammonia based organs was poison.
“There is no divide, not between light…or dark, nor is there in life…and death.” He struggled to get the words out. “I will go, and so shall you all, but truly dead, we will never be….” His voice was trailing.
“Master Drodik, lead the Urrians in days to pass.”
At last the Jedi Master named Ji had his breathing apparatus removed and thus spoke the words of his homeworld.
His head then bowed and the motionless body faded into the twilight while the Takuta Tama-nui-te-ra shaman scattered flower petals out the window into the radiant setting sun.
The Pillars Of Menat
The Steps Outside Ooroo Abbey- Hours Later
The dark of the night abated at the luminous presence from the bustling activity in the early hours of the following morning. Steady streams of Menat Ombo citizens allying with the New Dawn flowed into the main commons filling the avenue in front of the Abbey. Just as Cy’s lieutenant Ozan Miliet had warned, the exodus had come to fruition.
These were the intolerant souls, the minds melded by hatred and arrogance fueled by matters inconsequential in stark reality. Though most were obscured in pockets of darkness, their true numbers were revealing themselves as the night continued its retreat. Manual and turbo-lift carts bore the burden of these peoples belongings, their future and destiny.
The line in the sand; a threshold boldly crossed.
Behind the activity, seated atop the highest steps of the Abbey grounds the Menat Council sat overlooking the exodus. “These, your people had made outright separation with you. Such treachery is intolerable!” Whenua exclaimed.
“That is true Councilor, this secession bears its own weight of legal violations.” Said the Tythonian Jantine.
The other two Harakoan councilors grimaced as they watched the sight of people, their trail departing out of the avenue. “The people have every right to break from this government; that much is certain. Incredibly the only verifiable law-breakers are Cy and the ridiculous thugs he employed.” Matiu said.
Adrianus stood from the step and faced his allies, “The Jedi have reported the scouts from KUDF have scouted out the Sabina river basin in advance of this movement, we shall learn more from the Jedi soon. If the reports from KUDF are true, Cy is amassing ground forces…this is civil war…”
His fists clenched a moment before continuing, “In all consideration, these people are leaving while not bearing arms now they WILL, that I guarantee.” He said pointing behind him.
“We should declare martial law and put an end to this before it contin—“ Adrianus ceased his speaking at the sight of the approaching Jedi’s Drodik Va'lence al'Tor, Morotheri, and Kaira Rohana.
“-And use our military against these townspeople Councilor?” the Nagai questioned rhetorically.
“These are civilians with little training than what they received during the Brotherhood invasion, Kotahitanga-Unity Defense is no tool of an oppressive arm.” Said the Miraluka Rollmaster.
Adrianus nodded, “Forgive my haste Master Jedi.”
A blue and purple haze began to illuminate the uppermost crest of the central mountains.
The Jedi approached the group solemnly before Kiri spoke, “Master Ji, he is gone from this world now, is he not? We could hear the Takuta madrigals of mourning.”
The Jedi nodded.
“The days which lay before us,” Drodik began, “are long and without ease; equally so are the struggles we must face.. Menat Ombo is a delicate creature, I urge you to allow this limb to separate so as to protect the body. Peace will come to the wounded city, but vigilance is needed until the character of this infection presents itself Councilors.”
The Nagai crossed his arms and departed with the other Jedi.
Alone again, the Council watched the moving crowd.
“Martens post, it must be filled within the next month.” Matiu said.
“The people, human and Harakoans favor Gideon, they call for his leadership; this election will be nominal.” Jantine interjected. “He is the voice of the people, his influence will be invaluable to this administration.” She said as she sat beside the other seated Councilors.
They continued to watch the exodus on into the brightening sky. The people were ardent in their goals. Women, children, old and young, all marched on. Meanwhile overhead, the star Yhi’s first sunbeams shot over the crest of the distant pale blue-purple skies paving the way as the collective inhabitants of New Tython headed into the New Dawn.
Epilogue
Epilogue- Datapad Entry- ???
x32Y-B
……………Veryfying…………..Record:
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.. . . … .. . .. .. Holo-vid <Set-45T-YR5
~~A video Plays~~
Dense foliage choked the surrounding topography, coupled with a deluge of rainwater from the canopy above making the trek through the brush increasingly dangerous. The journeying hikers, one brown cloaked figure flanked by two armed escorts cut through the thick vines and branches. The cloaked man feverishly pushed forward, his pace had surpassed that of the men at his flank.
“I can see it sir!” said one of the men. He held out his outstretched index finger toward several stone monoliths. Upon a ridge barely visible stood the upper most tops of seven stone pillars on the mountainside; the jungle had nearly buried them entirely.
~~Static….~~
“It’s been twelve days, he won’t eat or sleep. Only reads that brown book.” someones voice could be heard saying.
The video panned over their small encampment before focusing on the jungle temple itself. The team looked down a grand triangular stone hallway; the walls bore strange hieroglyphics of figures resembling ancient Harakoans except their nasal crests were much smaller and less apparent than present day.
The brown cloaked figure was then spotted rubbing his fingertips over the glyphs with the book in tandem. The company remained silent as they observed the madman whispering in tongues. “What is this place?” the same voice asked.
The woman in the group approached one of the walls and cast her torch upwards against the wall. A frieze of figures presented itself.
“This temple is ancient! How long has it been here?” she asked in great zeal.
The hermit cast his attention toward the group with great disdain.
“Silence!” he commanded in a hushed tone.
“What is this place sir?”
He departed from their presence seemingly ignoring the question.
The group continued to study the frieze, a great figure of a different race stood over a mass of ancient Harakoans, behind him were similar figures domineering over the population. In one panel the central figures arms stretched out over the people, they were knelt below him in fear. Another panel showed the same people organized encircling the figure, their arms raised in praise
~~Static~~
A strange red glow from the lights set into the stone floors barely illuminated the glyph-filled walls. The air was musky and stale from the millennia of calm. The team approached the end of a dark hallway, at the end they came to a bright orange-lit spiraling staircase.
The mad hermit led the way down.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” The woman was heard saying.
Along the way more hieroglyphs told the story of the ancient people from creation to the time of the great figure, in it the ancient Harakoan mystics were depicted in various panels performing rituals, healing the sick, and wielding ‘magic’ on their environments. The last of the panels in the staircase showed the rise of the domineering figure leading the ancient Harakoans into battle; a great power arced from his hand.
“We are here…” said Cy
The group emerged from the staircase into a massive keep. Seven colossal stone pillars, the same as witnessed from the mountainside stretched down finding their foundations in the stone floor of the chamber. Light was scarce, the only bit came from the small torches lining the walls; darkness had otherwise obscured the distant walls and pitch-black ceiling.
He led the group forward into the avenue lining the stretch of brick and stone pillars. At the end the group observed a small circular pool about 9 feet across filled with black brackish water; directly behind it a set of thrones awaited. Cy became immediately drawn, saying,
“This is the seat of power. Harakoan kings and queens ruled from here long ago, their court mystic’s practitioners of a powerfully dark and esoteric knowledge.”
“The force?” someone asked,
Immediately an eerie electricity in the air brought chills to the group now encircling the water. Cy plunged his legs into the thigh-high black water and waded toward the center. He held his palms just millimeters from the surface, a crackle of blue electricity radiated from his palms.
Fear filled their hearts!
The hermit began to mumble incoherently whilst his pupils retreated revealing the yellowish whites of his eyes. The thunder of immense energy began to swirl yielding a drone which filled the massive cavity of the keep. Cy’s harrowing voice grew louder in incomprehensible syllables whilst the group members witnessed him raise his arms revealing an alizarin glow from the floor of the pool below him.
Flashes erupted from behind the group who turned around. The video flashed as the holder spun around to see the origin of the beam. Four black cloaked figures with faces obscured by thick black masks approached the pool. Fear in the moment reached a fever pitch when one of the team members grabbed at their necks unable to breathe. They watched their own body lift off of the stone floor and drift over the black pool. The splashed as they fell into the glowing water and into Cy’s grasp.
The video became erratic while the other teammate made a mad sprint toward the staircase. In between strides glances of the dark ritual were seen from behind. A sudden loud scream erupted from behind causing the runner to stop and look back only to witness the final moments of her teammate.
At the end of the avenue in the black pool surrounded by the dark figures, Cy reached up to the alizarin ball of energy above him channeling his own energy. The mad hermit using his other hand reached into the haggard robes withdrawing a jagged blade and slowly brandished it over his head whilst mouthing a chant in an unknown language.
At last the knife began its trek towards the mortified sacrifice.