Remembrances (PART II): Be My Past Forgotten
[Hytarr Sector - Planet Dylo 16 BBY]
The lush jungle world of Hytarr was known for its strange and beautiful flora. It was normally uninhabited except for a few guests. A small hastily wrought encampment sat upon a large open grassy mesa amidst a sprawling canopied jungle. A bright blue/green sun shone upon the world rendering it into a surreal pastel hue. Two males sat across a beaten crate that doubled as makeshift table while a young twi'lek woman played with small twi'lek girl who seemed to be making the game as rough and tumble as possible.
"It was a great risk bringing them here Ea'dryn. It is a dangerous world even for you and for us", spoke a heavy set human with long dark hair hiding his features.
A blue twi'lek male replied, " I do what I must. This whole enterprise is a risk. I am a botanist not a Jedi, Ouredros. You knew that."
"I did this because you are my dear friend.."
"and.....", came the interjection.
" ..and our clan, ... her clan, owes a great debt to the Jedi. To you in particular. But I also do this out of my own free will."
"How long can we carry on. Questions are arising and what of her - she starts asking her own questions already. Even if we say nothing ......" The human stopped and sighed, leaving the rest understood.
Ouredros stood up and took his cool clear glass of red Ithorian ale and paced a few steps looking at the twi'lek females. He took a deep draught and ran his hair across his temple revealing his bright yellow face tattoos.
"She looks a lot like her you know. They share the same spirit, drive and compassion. It is uncanny. I miss her you know."
The twi'lek sighed and looked down at his hands, " I miss her too - all of them. But what hope do we have if the girl is all that remains; out of so many of you who once existed. Now there is nothing.."
"No, others do remain." replied the human; "There is an old friend. He has not failed me yet, but his mind I know not. We must all be apart; lest we underestimate HIM again.. " He spit into the grass and added with contempt "..our beloved Emperor."
"We must do this Ea'dryn. This girl may be our among those who bring us salvation, if she is true to the legacy which lies within her."
The man approached the girls and nodded to Tli'ena, the elder girl, and called to the younger girl, "come here little one. I have a gift for you. "
The young twi'lek looked at him, with her deep brown eyes and smiled - she knew there was nothing to fear.
Her dress fluttered in the gentle breeze as Ouredros kneeled before her and placed an arm on her shoulder. As he looked into her face it was obvious he held back a great deal of emotion. He reached into his tunic and brought forth a small holographic device and a small purple crystal and pressed them firmly into her palm.
"With this one day you will know your destiny. These are things most prized to me. Keep them, protect them and remember... me ....little one ...my little Vedra...Aayla.." He stood up as his face lost all sense of control and looked up in the sky and inhaled deeply.
As he started to turn his head jerked sharply to the right towards the canopy top below. His face was no longer an expression of melancholiness but determination.
"To your ship NOW! Take them.. flee!! ." He pointed to the ship nearby and handed the young girl to Ea'dryn, who merely nodded in return.
The twi'leks raced to their ship. The male was bearing the girl on his shoulder. They reached as small depilitated freighter at the far side of the clearing, just as three jetback-wearing armoured figures soared over the mesa unleashing a barrage of blaster fire on Ouredros.
With the keen instnict and speed atypical of a Jedi, Ouredros deflected and dodged the oncoming barrage. The concentration of fire scorched the ground around him. He jumped upwards and ignited a single green glowing blade which he threw at one of his sky-borne assassins. Unlike the Jedi, the target could neither, dodge of deflect the oncoming blow and tumbled from the sky down to land in the grass with a resounding thud -- quite dead.
"Ouredros, Run! Come!" shouted the male twi'lek.
"No. Go!. There are more inbound, I can feel them. It is me they want!" came the faintly laboured reply.
The twi'lek gasped in horror as two more pack equipped assassins soared over the mesa and covered the Jedi in rolling streams of flame as Ouredros regained both his sabre and the footing. One of thugs noticed the ship and zoomed towards it. The ship's hull was smattered with crimson bolts. Ea'dryn slammed the door just as he saw Ourderos, now half-man and half-flame soar again skyward, like a Devaronian phoenix, into one of his tormentors. They crashed together and after a brief flail and tumbled down into the canopy below.
The ship roared to life and quickly climbed skyward, carrying its cargo of departing twi'leks.
The little one was crying, "Mama!. Did he die."
"Of course not little one. Of course not ... " and she hugged the little twi'lek girl stroking her lekku gently.
"That Jedi has the strength of of a Hyporian rock-maned lion. He will be using their helmets to make soup soon." The reply prompted a giggle from the girl and she noticeably calmed at the delicious mental image.
Ea'dryn quickly glanced at the two of them and sighed and resumed his piloting. As he turned, the terminal let out a soft beep and he flipped a pair of switches. The cockpit window filled with a burst streams of light and the spot where the ship had passed became another twinkle in a sea of stars.