If you think that's bad...you should see how long the Separatist series is ;)

Chapter 10: Maps and Worries

Trazu felt like he was going to be sick, having never felt comfortable about the cannibalistic side of his people, especially after Varcanna told him about what Tnossok did to his sisters. “Ok…lets not think about that for now…lets just find out where he’s taking them…”

Naosha agreed. “Where Rissonik is being held is more important then how he is being fed.” She said. “There’s a map terminal in the office. We can use that to search the surrounding area. We’ll start in the morning.”

“Why wait until morning?” Trazu asked.

“Do you see what time it is? It’s past your bed time young man…”

“Mother….”

It was getting late and they all could use a good night’s sleep. So Varcanna retrieved their bags while Naosha showed Trazu and Tzosha the guest room. She playfully told them ‘no naughty business’ while in her house, to which both Trazu and Tzosha give her annoyed looks. They were married yes, but like many Trandoshans that kind of ‘business’ was reserved for when they wanted to start a family, which Trazu wasn’t ready for quite yet.

They ate breakfast in silence the next morning, Trazu noticing Varcanna was absent. When he asked his mother where she was she told him she was at the map terminal, explaining she didn’t sleep well last night. Trazu wasn’t that surprised considering the bombshell that was dropped on her yesterday and once he was done with his meal he sought her out in the office.

“Find anything Varca?” Trazu asked as he approached his sister, who looked very tired.

He watched as Varcanna stretched: her back and neck muscles had to be sore after sitting at the terminal for so long he imagined. “No. I’ve thoroughly scanned all maps covering zones that could be traveled to within six hours.” She said, sounding frustrated. “I even looked beyond that and to the south and east of here as well. Found no caves, towns,…anything that could be used to hide someone or something.”

“How old are these maps?”

“They were just updated this rotation, so they are fairly accurate.” Varcanna said as she brought up the holomap that covered the entire radius around the Clan grounds. “Here are the Clan grounds.” She said, pointing at the structure in the center. “And here is Hsskhor.” She indicated the large sprawling city just two miles from the Clan grounds: it covered most of the northern section of the map. “As you can see…there’s nothing of interest beyond those two things that I have found.”

Trazu studied the map, zooming into the western zone of the map to get a better look for himself. Then he noticed something odd, almost like a faint smudge on the holo image. Curious, he zoomed in even closer: the closer he got the more apparent the smudge became to him. Varcanna now saw it too.

“What…is that?” She said. “I didn’t notice it before…”

“Looks like someone either altered the map to erase something or found a way to disguise this location from the sensors used to update it.” Trazu said.

“Didn’t do a very good job if it. I’m surprised no one has noticed this before…” Varcanna said as she copied down the coordinates. “Still, what ever is really there must be where Tnossok is going. Unless there’s more ‘smudges’ on the map you can spot?”

Trazu looked over it again. “That’s the only one I can see.”

“Then we check this place out today.”

“We should find out when the last time Tnossok went there first.” Trazu suggested. “Last thing we need is for him to arrive at the site while we are still there.”

“Point. It may take some time to get a hold of Silliss to find this out though. He won’t be here today according to mother.”

“If we are forced to wait a couple more days to get this information then so be it. I’d rather be safe then sorry.”

Getting that information without arising any suspicion was indeed difficult. It took them nearly all that day just to get a hold of Silliss and almost all of the next day before he could contact them with the answer. It had turned out Tnossok had just returned from the last trip the day they had arrived, meaning they had three to four days before he would be expected to make it again. Trazu felt it would be perfect to go the very next day; however Tzosha wasn’t too keen on him doing this.

“Must you go?” She asked as they prepared for bed that night.

“If we are to find out if my father is there then yes.” Trazu replied.

“But Varcanna can find out just as easily on her own…in fact it would be less conspicuous if she just went alone. I mean…Tnossok did suggest that she was being monitored now…and if you weren’t with her he won’t find you.”

“Varcanna will no doubt need my Ranger skills out there hun.” Trazu countered. “Plus we don’t know what we’ll find out there: there’s safety in numbers. Besides…if my father is there who knows what state he may be in: he might even be about to die. What better way to send comfort his soul then to show him that he has an heir to carry on his line?”

“But there’s so much I want to do with you Trazu…” Tzosha persisted. “I want to sightsee around Hsskhor, visit other worlds, even start a family with you someday…”

Trazu straightened up and gave her a surprised look. “You are sounding like someone who doesn’t expect me to make it back at all…”

“I…I just…” Her voice sounded like I was about to crack. “…got this bad feeling….a feeling something bad is going to happen and that I may lose you…”

“Tzosha…” Trazu turned around and gently held her hands. “You know by now I am a lot tougher then I appear. You won’t lose me…I promise.”

Tzosha whined and wrapped her arms around him in a hug, lifting him off the ground in the process. He kissed her eagerly in response and things quickly escalated from there.

This was only because secretly Trazu had his own doubts about returning from this journey.

Chapter 11: Discovery

The next morning was full of nervous anxiety, no one knowing what the day would bring. Naosha wished Trazu and Varcanna luck, Tzosha only giving Trazu a hug and a kiss before they took off.

There was an uneasy silence between the siblings. Trazu himself was anxious about what they will find at the coordinates, however he sensed that something else was bothering his sister.

“What’s wrong?” He asked as they neared the outskirts of the city.

“Nothing.” Varcanna said sharply.

“You’re lying.” Trazu retorted. “Something’s bothering you.”

There was a tense moment of silence before she spoke. “I know what you two did last night.”

Trazu felt the heat of a blush rise to his cheeks. “I didn’t think we were that loud…”

“I didn’t hear you…I felt it.”

He felt even more embarrassed now, yet in a way violated as well. “You shouldn’t have been snooping then…” He said, a bit bitterly.

“I wasn’t trying to.” Varcanna snapped. “You project your emotions rather strongly brother.”

“Something like that is not so easily…controlled….when in the heat of the moment. Besides, how was I supposed know something like that could be sensed by you?”

Varcanna sighed. “You couldn’t have known…neither of us could have.” Another sigh. “It’s just that…it…hurts….knowing that…” She shook her head, unable to force the words out, but Trazu got what she was trying to say.

“You’re jealous of us…”

“More like envy…but yes…can you blame me?”

Trazu thought carefully for a moment, considering what he knew about her and his people’s society among other things. “Surely there’s someone….”

Varcanna laughed. “Don’t be naïve. Yes males may be vying for my attention now…but once they find out am a ‘dead end’ in terms of continuing one’s bloodline their interest will switch off faster then a grav shadow yanking ones ship out of hyperspace.”

“You’re assuming all males are like that…” Trazu said, feeling slightly insulted.

“It’s a fairly safe assumption…brother…”

There was no point in continuing the argument for he could tell she was firmly set in her belief that she will never find a mate of her own. So they continued on in silence until they were drawing close to the coordinates.

“We should be seeing something up ahead by now.” Varcanna said, sounding baffled. “But I don’t see a thing. Maybe it’s underground?”

“Could be, but from the amount of distortion on the map it seemed more likely it’s above ground structure.” Trazu replied, peering at the horizon intently, looking for any sign of a structure. Then he spotted something off to one side. “I think I see something.” He said, pointing.

Varcanna turned her speeder in that direction and stopped beside what looked like a radio antenna. “Odd place to put an antenna” She said.

“Doesn’t even have safety lights…” Trazu muttered as he climbed out of the speeder and approached it. “But I guess it’s not tall enough to be a threat to low flying space craft.”

He started walking around the structure, inspecting it. His only indication something had happened was when he suddenly sensed Varcanna was distressed. He turned around to look at her to see her standing stock still looking around intently for him. “Varca I am right here.” He said, but to his surprise she didn’t seem to hear him, but he could hear her calling for him. Thinking he needed to give her a good smack on the head, he approached her, only for her to suddenly jump back in total shock.

“How’d you do that?” She demanded.

“Do what?” He asked, puzzled.

“You disappeared completely, then reappeared out of thin air.”

“I did? Curious…” He turned back around and experimentally stuck his hand out in front of him: his hand and part of his forearm disappeared. “A hologram…must have sound dampening qualities as well, as you didn’t seem to hear me while I was behind it.”

“Something must be hidden in there if they are using this much camouflage technology. I take it you didn’t notice anything?”

“No, I was too busying looking at the antenna. Let’s go in shall we and find out.”

Varcanna nodded and slung a bag full of different items she thought they might need over her shoulder. For a moment they just stood there, a brief spell of fear of the unknown taking hold. Then with a collective sigh they took the plunge and gasped at what they found.

Before them were ruins of an old temple, much of it’s decorative décor having decayed long ago and the walls showing signs of extreme erosion, large blocks of stone littering the ground around it.

“Man…an archeologist would have a field day here.” Trazu said as they circled the ruins. “Who knows how old this is.”

“I can see one thing that isn’t very old…” Varcanna said, pointing at a standard electronic door at the main entrance. “Someone’s using this place for sure. Bet you it’s Tnossok.”

“But what was he keeping in there?”

“Only one way to find out.” Varcanna said as she took out a set of tools and knelt by the door controls.

“One of many talents I see.”

Varcanna chuckled and cracked the first smile he’d seen since they left. “Warrior, pilot, mechanic with a little engineering on the side.” She bragged as she removed the control panel and started fiddling with the wires. “You never know when such skills would be needed.”

“And saves on paying for a locksmith should you lock yourself out of the house.” Trazu said with a chuckle.

“Well...I can’t break into say…one of the Sykir faculties. That’s too complex for me to break into.”

“Sykir?”

“One of the sci/tech Clans. Father currently has an alliance going with them and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the ones that provided him with those.” She gestured to the antenna. “They specialize in military and espionage technology, though the latter they wouldn’t admit officially.”

“Like the merchant Clans that deal in smuggling…”

Varcanna nodded. “The Sykir have a reputation of being a bit brutal toward competitors; even practice rather inhuman interrogation tactics according to rumors.” She added with a sour note in voice. “That’s probably why father likes them so much…”

She finally hit the right wires and the doors opened, only for both of them to be suddenly overwhelmed by a very distinctive odor.

The stench of death….

Chapter 12: The Search

Even though their people were carnivorous and the stench of decay was no stranger to them, the smell was overwhelming even to them. Both took a couple of steps back, covering their snouts with their hands trying to keep their breakfast in their stomachs were it belonged.

“The bodies of many must have been disposed of here for it to smell this bad…” Varcanna said, gagging.

“If the flesh of said bodies were being consumed as food the smell shouldn’t be so bad.” Trazu said, rapidly blinking away the tears that formed due to the stench. “Then again, if this has been going on continuously for nearly twenty years, the smell would be permanently fused with the very stone by now.”

“Well…we can’t stand here forever.” Varcanna said digging into her bag and pulling out two lamps. “We’ve come this far, it would be pathetic if we were turned away by the smell of rotting flesh.”

Trazu nodded in agreement, accepting one of the lamps and turning it on before stepping into the gapping black maw that was the entrance of the ruins. Once they were inside they quickly found the source and reason why the smell was so strong: the decaying corpse of Tnossok’s last victim was in the very first room. However most of the corpse’s condition wasn’t due to decay, there were the obvious signs of scavenging: by something just as big as they were.

“Looks like someone is definitely being kept in here…” Trazu said. “These teeth marks no doubt belong to a fellow T’Doshok.”

“This room seems to be a collection point.” Varcanna said. Trazu shone his light around the room to see what made her come to that conclusion: there were countless bones piled along the walls. Some of them were complete skeletons and others looked to have been ripped to pieces: quite a few of the larger bones look to have been smashed and the marrow sucked out of them.

“How many do you think are here?” He asked.

“Well…considering a ‘delivery’ was roughly every week and assuming only one body was delivered at a time, if we take the number of weeks in a standard year and multiply that by twenty years….dear gods….that would be well over a thousand….”

“You would think that many having gone missing at such regular intervals would have raised some flags somewhere.”

“With Tnossok using the Arena as a cover as Silliss seems to have suggested, even if someone did suspect they wouldn’t have been allowed to talk about it. You remember how reluctant Silliss was.”

Trazu nodded and studied the ground around the fresh corpse. He found a set of tracks in the dust leading away from the corpse and into one of the connecting hallways: they were fairly fresh. “Whomever is trapped down here went this way. Let’s see if we can find him.”

They found more ‘collection points’ in other rooms as they conducted the search, the condition of the bones in as varied of states as the ones in the entry room. In a few places it seemed the prisoner attempted to use the bones as digging tools, but bone was a very poor tool to use against the hard rock that made up the floor and walls of the ruins and most of the would be tunnels of escape were very shallow.

Trazu lost the trail a few times, mainly due to the lack of suitable surfaces that would leave such tracks, dust and sand being the only viable surfaces that could be disturbed in that way in this place. What prints he did find though revealed a clue to the prisoners behavior: he, or she, tended to walk on all fours. Any self respecting T’Doshok wouldn’t move about that way, even though it is not uncomfortable to them, for that method of locomotion being reserved for hatchlings. However Trazu could see why this individual would subject himself to this: in extreme darkness their infravision did squat to help them see non living objects. By moving on all fours, he could more easily feel what was around him and prevent himself from falling into possible deep crevices and pits. But this also brought into question the prisoners mental state: it could mean he has gone completely feral due to the unstimulating environment he was in. Trandoshans were not very social beings, but even they had a certain level of need when it came to interacting with other sentient beings.

At one point they entered a huge chamber that seemed to be more natural cave then manmade structure. They could feel and smell moisture in the air as well: a natural spring had to be close by. As they explored this chamber, they found no bones and the deeper they went in the scent of water became even stronger.

Trazu suddenly stopped in his tracks, Varcanna nearly tripping over him. He felt something was in here besides himself and his sister, but couldn’t quite think of how to describe it to his sister. Fortunately, he didn’t have to, for what he felt revealed itself to them.

“So now he sends more then one after me.” A voice suddenly echoed around the chamber, masculine in tone. “He must be getting tired of this game…to send more after me so soon.”

“Game?” Trazu said, looking around for the source. However due to the echoing effect of the chamber and the light from the lamps prevented their eyes from going into infravision mode, neither of them could see anything.

“Yes…a ‘game’. He’s kept me in here for so long I’ve lost track of time, sending those who he wants to be ‘rid’ of in here to kill me with the promise of a great reward should they succeed. All have failed…as will you.”

“We’re not here to fight you!” Varcanna said. “Tnossok did not send us here: we came here on our own accord.”

There was a pause: Trazu sensed surprise from the speaker. “For what reason then, if not to try to kill me?” The voice asked, cautiously.

“To help you…to rescue you.” Trazu replied.

“Rescue me? But…there is no one besides him that knows I’m still alive. Not even little ones I could call my own…for he told me he had slain them himself.”

“You’re wrong…there is still someone that believed you were still alive and bid us to find you. Do you remember Naosha?” Varcanna asked.

“Naosha…” The voice sounded very sad, Trazu sensing near overwhelming sorrow and regret. “I should have listened to her….but I let my pride and anger get the better of me. I failed her…” A long pause. “But why wait so long to send you to find me?”

“Because she was waiting for me to return.” Trazu said and turned the lamp on himself so that he was illuminated fully. “Look at me…tell me who I remind you of.”

There was silence and they both heard the sound of someone approaching. He was tempted to shine his light in that direction, but stayed his hand. Just beyond the edge of light’s boundaries, he could see a faint shape roughly six feet tall appear.

“You resemble me…” The voice said, much clearer and closer now. “Who are you?”

Trazu angled his light so that it wasn’t blinding him as much any more and illuminated the figure before him more clearly. Though all that was said before was a big clue to this figures identity, he was having a hard time believing those clues until he actually saw him. “I am Trazu, son of Rissonik K’Satikur.”

Chapter 13: History

He looked far older then he should be. Despite having been supplied with ‘food’ he looked thin and malnourished. His scales, though it was hard to tell in the limited light, looked discolored and dull due to being in near complete darkness for so long. The pale lines of scars were all over his body and it was a miracle he was even alive, considering the ‘game’ he suggested Tnossok was subjecting him to. They were wrong that Tnossok was killing the dissenters himself: he was bringing them here and forcing Rissonik to kill them for him, in the hopes they would eventually kill Rissonik. His father had to have been using every single trick in the book to keep himself alive and no doubt that eventually Rissonik would have fallen.

Trazu watched as Rissonik too a couple steps back, the look of pure shock on his face: he didn’t blame him for his reaction.

“Can’t be…” Rissonik said, his voice low and full of disbelief. “He told me he killed all my spawn, spawn that was all female…and that he had the son.”

“Mother knew Tnossok would kill me when he saw me, so she hid me in a rival Clan before he came to inspect the nest.” Trazu explained.

“He knew there was a male hatchling, but he assumed it was of his blood.” Varcanna added. “And he couldn’t question where the hatchling was taken for training since our grandsire was an Elder Counselor.”

Rissonik nodded, then stared hard at Varcanna, who shifted uneasily when she realized she had made a slip. “If Trazu is my only surviving spawn…then you must be of Tnossok’s stock.” He said a bit bitterly.

“She hates him as much as Naosha does.” Trazu said quickly. “In fact…if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t even be here.”

“What do you mean?” Rissonik demanded.

“Well…I would have never succeeded in hatching. Varcanna helped me out of my shell…and protected me from the other hatchlings.”

“I’ve…never heard of that before.”

“Nor has anyone else.” Varcanna said. “There is a unique bond between Trazu and I, one we cannot really explain. If it is of any consolation to you Rissonik, Tnossok’s line ends with me.”

“Yet you live?”

“He does not yet know.”

“I see. But wait…if you two are the only offspring between me and my brother…then…” A look of horror appeared on his face. “Trazu…have you experienced bouts of bloodlust, with blackouts following shortly there after?” Trazu nodded slowly. “Kazuk…that means that blasted spirit found away around my father’s attempts to be rid of it.”

“You must mean the K’Satizitus….” Trazu said.

Risosnik nodded. “Your grandsire realized that not only was thing starting to become too dangerous to keep, but the entire Clan was becoming too dependent on it’s existence. During the early years of his life, before Tnossok and I were born, he researched our family tree trying to find patterns. He discovered that every generation only had one surviving male offspring by the time the father died. Thinking he had it, he split the line by mating with two different females, resulting in Tnossok and me. To further ensure the spirit didn’t pass itself on from him to us, he made us promise on his death bed not to kill each other. It seemed to have worked…neither of us did get the spirit, but now…now it seems it merely waited to see how we faired with passing on our own genes.”

“And since I am the only surviving male….it took up residence in me…great, just great…” Trazu grumbled. “How do we get rid of it? I certainly don’t want it.”

“I don’t know.” Rissonik said helplessly. “The resulting skip in generation has thrown this mystery onto a new level of complexity. Father was so sure it was a direct genetic link…”

“Meaning there’s a possibility it could just jump to a completely unrelated individual if it so pleased.” Varcanna mused. “But doesn’t…since it likely wants to torment the heirs to the one that killed it.”

“Just where did the K’Satizitus come from anyway?” Trazu asked.

“No one really knows.” Rissonik admitted. “All that is known is that countless generations ago, before the time of the first hyperdrive, a great beast started attacking our people. It slaughtered many before retreating into the wilderness and despite the warriors best efforts they could not stop it, for it was too fast…too smart. Again and again it attacked, killing all those that opposed it and those that couldn’t hide fast enough. It did so for the shear joy of it, for it never devoured its victims. It was a dark time for our people.
“Then a young male came forward, our ancestor, claiming to have had a vision. A vision that he would slay the beast and end the slaughter. Many laughed at him, for if whole squads of warriors couldn’t stop it, how could a single warrior? Undaunted, he set out on his task and eventually the lair of the beast deep in the wilderness. The details of the fight that followed has been lost, but our ancestor was victorious, returning to the city with the beasts severed head. Soon after, he took the surname ‘K’Satikur’ and founded the K’Satikur Clan, and taught other T’Doshok the fighting methods he had learned from the beast. The Clan quickly became renowned for it’s fighting prowess. However it was soon discovered that the K’Satizitus was not completely gone.
“It was our ancestor’s son, Desik, that discovered it. There had been mysterious slayings during the night and during the investigation he realized the killer was him, under control of the K’Satizitus. But rather then find out how to banish it completely, he sought to control it, so he had himself chained to the floor of his room for three days and nights and engaged in a mental battle of wills with the beast’s spirit. He won and with the spirits powers at his command, used them to expand his influence over our people until his own death by the hands of his son.”

“And the pattern continued…until our grandsire realized it would be better for all if the thing was gotten rid of completely.” Trazu said.

Rissonik nodded. “The odds are against us now, for the amount of time that has passed since the K’Satizitus physical body was defeated means there is little evidence to research how to get rid of it. The fact that details have been lost even though our family has taken care to pass the story along from father to son religiously over the generations works against us as well.”

“There has to be a way…” Trazu growled. “I don’t want this thing…and I sure as ziss don’t want any future sons of mine to suffer under it as well.”

“Let us deal with one problem at a time brother.” Varcanna said. “We need to get Rissonik out of here and back into his proper place as Sha’tor.”

“How?” Rissonik asked. “I may be able to defend myself against those he sends down here…but I am in no condition to challenge Tnossok for control of the Clan. Even if I was…there is still the matter of the promise I made to my sire on his death bed.”

“We hide you until you are ready to challenge him.” Trazu said.

“No…I will not hide.” Rissonik said firmly. “You did not come all the way here to pull me out of one dark place to just put me in another. I am done being stuck in dark places with no light, I want to see and experience the outside world again. When Tnossok finds out I am free, I have you to champion for me.”

Trazu felt the blood drain from his face. “The only way I will be likely be able to defeat him is by calling on the K’Satizitus…” He said. “Which I don’t want. Besides…I want nothing to do with leading anything…”

Rissonik snorted. “You cannot always have what you want my son.” He said. “Nor can you always avoid the responsibilities that are your birthright.”

As much as he didn’t like it, Trazu realized his father was right so he dropped the issue. Also knowing that the longer they lingered here the greater the chance they would be discovered snooping around, the group started making their way out of the ruins. They were silent at first, only the sound of their footfalls echoing down the halls of the ruins, but then Rissonik started asking questions, questions about what Trazu did during his life mostly. Trazu couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable telling him everything, especially about his encounters with Zista. In part it was because he knew male Trandoshans were more likely to stigmatize another male when an act of shame or dishonor had been committed upon them. Even their deity, the Scorekeeper, was believed to erase any points a male has gained should an act of shame befall him, thus Trazu feared his father would judge him harshly for that event.

“I can tell by your tone that you fear I would judge you harshly for what had happened to you.” Rissonik stated at one point. “Don’t. The emotion you showed in telling is proof enough for me to know you did everything in your power to prevent it, thus the shame falls upon her for committing such an act of dishonor, not you. Besides…I fear more about what the K’Satizitus would do to your soul if we do not find a way to get rid of it…”

Trazu simply nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. He was starting to see why the Clan liked his father so much: he took into considering all possible revenues of information before making a decision or casting judgment upon someone. This made him wise, fair, and a good leader and Trazu was already feeling proud to have him as his father.

Soon enough they reached the main entrance and it was there for the first time Rissonik showed signs of doubt. Trazu watched as he hesitated at the door, glancing briefly at the corpse of his last victim with an expression of regret, and staring out the door to the world beyond, the fear evident on his face. He could only imagine how his father felt, finally getting the chance to leave the prison that had been his ‘home’ for nearly twenty rotations. So much had likely changed on Trandosha since he was first imprisoned, thus Rissonik no doubt had a lot of catching up to do.

Finally Rissonik took his first steps outside. He gave a brief cry of pain as the sun assaulted his eyes, those red orbs no longer used to sunlight, and was forced to shield them with his arm. For a moment Rissonik looked as if he was going to dash back into the ruins, but he stood firm, forcing his eyes to adjust to the brightness. He then just stood there, arms outstretched, head back and eyes closed, soaking up the sun he had been denied for so long.

“I had forgotten how warm it felt…” Rissonik said softly, almost dreamily.

Trazu smiled and was content to let his father soak up his newly found freedom, but Varcanna suddenly gave a cry of warning.

In the distance there was the growing silhouette of a vehicle that was heading their way…

Chapter 14: Reunited

“We must leave…NOW!” VArcanna hissed as she started for her landspeeder.

Rissonik looked at first to want to make his stand right there, grim determination and hate showing on his face. Fortunately logic took hold and allowed Trazu to lead him to the landspeeder. They had Rissonik lay flat across the backseat, to shield him from view, before taking off. Varcanna took the landspeeder on a perpendicular route to the approaching vehicle before swinging it wide back toward Hsskhor and it was only after Trazu was sure he couldn’t see any signs of pursuit did he give his father the ok to sit up.

“That was close…too close.” Varcanna said, her voice edgy.

“Do you think it was Tnossok? Rissonik asked, growling faintly.

“It’s possible, but the only way to find out for sure was to have gotten close enough to spy the pilot…which I didn’t want to risk.”

“And just because we aren’t being pursued doesn’t mean that individual may not have sent a message to certain interested parties…” Trazu grumbled. “Lets just hope that pilot was just someone going on a hunt and ignorant to what’s there. For the meantime though let us watch our backs at least until we get home.”

“Even home would not be safe remember brother?” Varcanna reminded him. “Tnossok can come into the house with no resistance if he so please.”

“Point…and even if we started using guards from other Clans his status alone would be enough to intimidate the guards into letting him in.”

It didn’t escape Trazu’s notice that his father was being rather quiet. When he looked back he could only smile: Rissonik, despite being an adult, looked akin to a kid at a zoo, his eyes wide and excitedly absorbing all the sights he hadn’t seen in years. He actually whined when they asked him to lay back down again as they drew close to Hsskhor, Varcanna instructing him to use the blanket that was under the seat to cover himself with. They couldn’t risk one of Tnossok’s supporters possibility recognizing Rissonik for who he was as they traveled down the streets of the city.

They remained silent throughout the trip through the city, speaking briefly only in whispers once they reached Naosha’s home. Fortunately the guard on duty was once again Silliss, whom gladly let them in. To their surprise, Rissonik recognized him.

“Silliss….is that you?” He said once they were inside.

Silliss visibly shuffled his feet, looking both embarrassed and bewildered that Rissonik knew him. “Yes it is…how do you…” He started to ask, but Rissonik cut him off.

“I knew your father very well Silliss.” Rissonik said with a smile. “He and I were practically raised together. You were a very young lad back then before I was…incarcerated.”

Silliss blinked in shock. “Rissonik…” Without another word the warrior dropped to his knees, his eyes staring at the ground. “Sha’tor…my father spoke so highly of you…told me how he wished he could find out the truth of what happened to you himself but…”

“He needed to protect and care for you.” Rissonik finished for him. “Do not kneel before me just yet Silliss. I have not reclaimed my title.”

“But you will…won’t you?” Silliss asked as he stood up.

“Eventually. But for now I have a lot of catching up to do. What is the state of the Clan?”

“Nearly dead…” Silliss said, casting his eyes to the ground again. “It’s lost it’s counsel seat due to our ‘Sha’tor’s’ stupidity. He insisted on eliminating completion, sacrificing countless lives in his follies and scaring away many potential members, while eliminating those members that spoke out against him.”

“Probably the only reason the Clan is holding together at all is because Besk is his right hand T’Doshok.” Varcanna added.

“I remember him…” Rissonik said quietly. “Liked to cling to my brother, seemed to idolize him in fact. Yet I always feet he had an agenda, an ultimate motive, thus I never trusted him and kept my eye on him. If he is as close to my brother as you say he is, it will be difficult to keep my rescue a secret.”

Silliss nodded. “The other thing to keep in consideration is that including me there are a dozen warriors that rotate guard duty here and I know some them are strong supporters of Tnossok.”

“Probably wouldn’t be a good idea to keep you here then father.” Trazu said. “We can’t risk a guard informing Tnossok about your rescue.”

“Understandable…” Rissonik said with a sigh. “I would like to see Naosha first though…is she home?”

“I personally haven’t seen her yet today sir, but the guard I relieved said she hadn’t left the house.”

“Good…” His voice quivered. “Where is she?”

“I’ll go find her for you Uncle.” Varcanna said. “Take a seat in the lounge and relax a bit.”

Rissonik looked anything but relaxed as he sat down on the couch and Trazu couldn’t blame him. Their relationship had been so new when they were forced apart and the time they were apart so great it was possible the passion, the fire, in the relationship could never be ignited again. Trazu personally found it a miracle that Rissonik was able to keep his very sanity though out his ordeal.

There was the sound of someone running. Both Trazu and Rissonik looked up expectantly and before he could react Trazu found himself getting smothered by his own lifemate.

“You’re back…thank the gods you’re back.” Tzosha said, squeezing him tightly and lifting him off the ground.

“I missed you too love.” Trazu said, hugging her back the best he could. “Please put me down…you’re embarrassing me in front of my….” He stopped his complaint short when he glanced over at his father.

Turned out he missed the initial reaction due to Tzosha’s smothering him. His mother and father were locked in a passionate embrace, tears of joy evident in their eyes. He was expecting a bit more excited reaction, remembering how Naosha reacted when she saw him, but he was happy that it was apparent none of the love for each other had been lost between them.

“You…are absolutely filthy…” Naosha remarked once the reunited pair had released each other form the embrace. Her tone was more in a teasing manner Trazu noted.

“Considering where I’ve been all this time…can you blame me?” Rissonik replied, a broad smile on his face.

“I suppose not…but you have no excuse now…come along.” Naosha started half leading, half dragging him up the stars. Rissonik looked clearly embarrassed by this, but he didn’t resist her either as she shoved him into the restroom and closed the door behind her.

“How much you wanna bet they’ll be doing more then taking a bath?” Tzosha said with a smirk as she finally put Trazu down and plopped down on the couch.

Trazu gave her a nasty look. “Thank you for putting the one image no one wants to have of their parents in my head…” He said flatly. Tzosha merely giggled.

It was over an hour before Rissonik was able to show his face again and Trazu had to admit he looked much better now. He was still too thin, but his scales had some of their original luster back: no doubt thanks to some vigorous scrubbing on Naosha’s part, and he was wearing a simple robe instead of the tattered scraps of clothing they found him in.

They ate a late dinner together as a full family for the very first time. It was somewhat humorous, as Rissonik was no longer used to using eating utensils. Once he had them figured them out again he ate ravenously yet was plainly savoring the taste of food he had been denied for so long.

Trazu couldn’t stop smiling through out the meal and the light hearted discussions that followed in the lounge. As he leaned against Tzosha, feeling the exhaustion of a full day start to lull him to sleep, he felt for the first time truly complete.

Then the alarm sounded…

Chapter 15: Confrontation

The alarm had taken them by surprise for Tnossok usually didn’t come pester Naosha at this time of day What surprised them even more was when the doors burst open suddenly, before they had a chance to open the secret room. Trazu and Tzosha quickly hid behind the couch, dragging a stubborn Rissonik with them. Naosha and Varcanna stood tall, bravely facing Tnossok as he stormed into the manor.

“Now you come harass me at this time of day?” Naosha said coldly. “Won’t you get it into your thick skull that you will never be welcome here?”

Without warning, Tnossok backhanded her, sending the elder female sprawling to the floor. Behind the couch, Tzosha and Trazu had to pin Rissonik to the floor to keep him from jumping out and tackling his brother, the rage in him evident.

“You dare to strike an Elder Councilor!?” Varcanna hissed as she helped her mother up to her feet. “That is a crime punishable by death!”

Tnossok grabbed Varcanna by the vest and slammed her against the pillar. This was despite the fact she was a full foot taller then he was. “I know you were snooping around a certain site today.” He hissed threateningly. “A site that is forbidden.”

“Obviously…considering the technology you employed to hide it. Even erasing it from the public maps and records. More crimes to your less then pure record…’father’. Should I add murder and attempted murder to that list as well?”

“Silence!” Tnossok slapped her across the face, leaving a couple of faint scratches across her delicate face. “I’ve been doing some thinking….”

“Really? A rare feat for you, hope you didn’t hurt yourself.” Another slap silenced her.

“You won’t be so rebellious once you hear what I have to say.” Tnossok growled. “I realized that since I have a son I really don’t have a need for you at all. I could kill you here and now and it wouldn’t matter since I have a worthy heir already.”

It was obviously a surprise to Tnossok when Varcanna just started laughing. “Oh what you don’t know….should we tell him mother?”

“Let him decide that.” Naosha said, smirking.

“What are you two talking about?” Tnossok demanded.

“You were always a bit slow…brother.” Rissonik said as slowly emerged from behind the couch. “Always had a bad habit of assuming things and leaping before looking. But I never held that against you, especially since in this case it worked to my advantage.”

Tnossok’s eyes were very wide as he turned around slowly to face his brother, releasing Varcanna. “How?” He said. “You should be dead by now.”

“I made use of the environment to it’s fullest.” Rissonik said with a broad grin. That grin quickly turned to a frown. “Have you forgotten the promise we made to our sire on his death bed?”

“Of course not.” Tnossok hissed. “He made us promise not to kill each other.”

“But he also made us promise to lead the Clan together. I couldn’t do my part trapped in those ruins very well now could I? Thus you have shamed yourself by breaking your promise to our sire.”

Tnossok looked distressed for a moment, but then calmed, having an almost cocky look on his face. “So you survived brother…but what good did it do you? My traitorous daughter rescued you too late to have any more children. I am the only one between us that will carry on the bloodline.”

“Incorrect again brother.” Rissonik said with a smirk. “Remember what I said about you assuming things?”

Trazu sighed, realizing he wasn’t going to get through this without confronting Tnossok himself. “No matter what you hear…” He whispered to Tzosha, who had a look of dread on her face. “Stay hidden.” After she nodded with agreement he gave her one last nuzzle before showing his face.

Tnossok looked confused when he saw him. “Who the ziss are you?”

Trazu gave his Uncle a cold stare, steeled his nerves and said. “Trazu, son of Rissonik.”

“Impossible!” Tnossok howled. “I ate all his spawn!”

Trazu shrugged. “You missed one, but not without some help from mother.”

“You assumed he was yours when mother told you he had been already taken away that day.” Varcanna said. “If you were smart, you would have confirmed his parentage. But alas intelligence was never your strong point.”

Tnossok looked at Rissonik, then at Trazu. “Apparently you weren’t very generous with your height genes brother.” He said surprisingly calm: Trazu folded his arms and glared at him but kept his temper in check. “Looks like I’ll need you after all Varcanna my dear…”

“Actually…” Varcanna said quietly but loaded with venom. “You won’t get a single egg from me.” When he looked at her with a questioning look she added. “I’m sterile.”

“Lies.”

“You want proof? Check my medical records.” Varcanna spat. “Trazu is the only offspring of Naosha’s left that can carry on the K’Satikur bloodline. Your side of the line ends with me.”

There was a tense silence so thick you could cut through it. Tnossok seemed to be going though countless emotions, from shock, to sorrow, to despair, then finally rage. “Then…the line ends…for everyone!” He hissed, unhooking his K’Zuta and bringing it to bear.

“Oh…kazuk…” Trazu said as he dived out of the way when Tnossok rushed at him, his K’Zuta barely missing him. Everyone else scattered as well, staying well out of Tnossok’s reach. Trazu quickly realized to his distress he was the only one in the room that had a weapon to fight back with, so reluctantly he unsheathed his sword. Worse still, Tnossok had made him the primary target and he was having a hard time staying out of reach. He already had one close call too many in his book during this brief encounter and the few times he was forced to parry made his teeth ring.

“Silliss!” He heard his father say. “Get Naosha out of here and to a safe location!”

“Aye Sha’tor!” Came a prompt response and Trazu could see Naosha beelining for the door. Trazu was grateful his mother was now out of harms way, but what of Tzosha? A quick check when he had some breathing space revealed to him to his horror that Tzosha wasn’t there anymore. He quickly found her though, but how so was not as he had hoped.

Tzosha had apparently tried for the door, only to be spotted by Tnossok. She was now on the floor, whimpering and trying to get away from Tnossok, who was advancing on her.

“Help!” He heard her cry. With a small cry Trazu rushed toward her, reaching her just as Tnossok started his downswing….

Chapter 16: All or Nothing

The impact made both his ears and teeth ring and the force of the blow nearly knocked him to the ground, but Trazu stood firm, using every ounce of strength he had in his short body to hold Tnossok’s K’Zuta at bay. He crushed his eyes closed against the pain in his left hand, which he which he had pressed against the blade of his sword to help keep Tnossok’s weapon at bay. The sharpened edge of his blade was starting to cut into his hand and he could feel a tickle of blood start to flow down his arm.

“Tzosha…” He said through clenched teeth. “Get out of here.”

He couldn’t confirm if she had left or not, for he was forced to focus attention completely on keeping that blasted K’Zuta from shredding him to pieces. He could feel that bloodlust, that rage, what he now knew was the K’Satizitus, starting to grow within his mind, the spirit demanding to let it’s powers be unleashed. No. Trazu thought. I will not submit to the likes of you again.

Suddenly Tnossok took a step back, nearly causing Trazu to fall flat on his face. Trazu narrowly avoided getting hit by his weapon when he reflexively dived to one side, knowing Tnossok would have most likely used a downswing attack: his assumption was correct and he heard the audible metallic sound of the weapon clanging against the marble floor. He managed to scramble to his feet in time to leap over the next attack: a low sweeping reverse swing.

Trazu continued to be on the defensive, his ‘sixth sense’ was in overtime as he continued to dodge and parry Tnossok’s attacks, using furniture to his advantage when he could. By what he accredited to more to luck then anything else, he managed to land a couple of blows, drawing blood from the enraged red Trandoshan.

However like with his fight with the K’Zur wielding Trandoshan when he was still on Talus nearly two years ago, he found himself tiring quicker then Tnossok, even though Tnossok was using a much bigger and heavier weapon then he was. His luck began to run out and injuries started to accumulate: his left arm hung almost completely limp now due to a couple of deep wounds. Then Tnossok landed a heavy blow to his head with the blunt side of his weapon, sending Trazu crushing to the floor. It was a miracle he was still conscious, though he was badly stunned and found his limbs unwilling to lift him off the floor due to fatigue and bloodloss. No…Tzosha…Father…Mother… He thought as he tried feebly to get his body to move before Tnossok finished him off. He could only look up helplessly as Tnossok, who was grinning savagely, started his down swing.

There was a blur of red and a loud crack. At first Trazu didn’t understand what had happened, until he heard her voice.

“Get up brother and get out of here!” He heard Varcanna, who was holding her father’s weapon at bay with a combat staff: it was badly bowed due to the sheer strength behind Tnossok’s blow. “Your life means more then mine does!”

Trazu frowned, his pride not likely the idea of abandoning a sibling to such an opponent, knowing she stood no chance. He tried desperately to get to his feet so he could help his sister fight him: maybe, just maybe together they can defeat him. Time was against him however, as it did not escape his notice that his sister’s staff was weakened with every blow she parried and blocked.

Then, just as he managed to raise himself up to one knee, he heard a sickening snap. He looked up just in time to see Tnossok’s weapon rend two deep wounds diagonally across his sister’s chest: a serious wound, if not fatal. He remembered calling out her name as she seemed to fall to the ground in slow motion, the broken pieces of her staff flying in different directions when she hit the floor. Trazu felt a great pain in his heart, his sister’s life now hanging by a very slender thread, a thread that will be cut through if he did not stop Tnossok. With a cry of denial he jumped up to his feet, only to collapse to the ground again. His only thought was to save his sister, damn his own life, but he was too weak to even do that…

Use me. A voice not his own said in his head. Use me and you can save her.

There was no time to debate, to question. He accepted the voice’s offer gladly, forgetting the vow he made just moments before to never submit to it agian and the last thing he saw on Tnossok’s face before tearing into him with his suddenly regained strength and power, was fear.

***

Tnossok was dead. Trazu breathed heavily, his body dripping with blood: most of it not his own. This time, he remembered everything that happened before the fatigue set in, he remembered every move he made, every attack, every blow. He had, for once, been in total control of what happened during the rage and was able to release himself from it the moment Tnossok’s shredded and torn body had hit the floor.

Yet Trazu’s line of sight was not on his fallen uncle, but on the still form of his sister. He walked toward her, his heart heavy and his legs giving out beneath him halfway and forcing him to crawl the rest of the way. She was breathing, but barely. He tried not to focus on her wounds, wounds which exposed the bones of her ribcage, and instead focused on her face. To his surprise her now dull, slightly milky eyes blinked and turned to regard him: she was still conscious!

“Brother…” She said in a barely audible whisper. “Live…”

Her eyes closed and she failed to respond to Trazu’s pleading calls. Trazu, grief stricken, wailed in despair and collapsed beside her, letting the darkness overwhelm him.

Chapter 17: Aftermath

What he felt reminded him of when he was still in his egg, a soft warmth surrounding him and seeing nothing but darkness.

Am I dead? He thought, wondering if he will be standing before their deity, the Scorekeeper, at any moment to count the jagannath points he had accumulated during his life. But then a slit of light appeared, growing wider as his eyes opened for the first time in who knows how long.

The view before him was distorted due to the liquid and the glass of the container he was in: he was in a bacta tank. He never been in one before and he decided he didn’t like it in here, in part because he didn’t like anyone besides his mate looking at him in nothing but his skives! It took a bit of effort, but he got the attention of one of the attendants and they started the release procedure.

A few moments later he was crouching on the floor in the recovery room, a towel wrapped around him. One of the medics gave him some water to help chase away the raw parched feeling in his throat that the breathing apparatus had caused. As he sipped the water he tried remembering what would have caused him to be put into that tank, his memory being a bit fuzzy. His thoughts were interrupted when Tzosha came bursting into the recovery room and wrapped her arms around him in the biggest hug she could give him, nearly knocking the glass of water out of his hand. He didn’t mind, in fact he was grateful to see a familiar face, as it started to jog his memory.

“We were so worried about you…” She said, squeezing him tightly. “We feared we lost you. How’s your arm?”

Trazu smiled and licked her tenderly on the cheek. Experimentally he flexed his left arm, noting the two new pale scars on the upper potion: it was a little stiff, but he had lost none of the flexibility in it. “Good.” He said, sounding a bit hoarse.

“They were afraid they might have needed to remove it so you’d grow a new one.” Tzosha explained. “Since the wounds were so deep. Here.” She took out and reattached the bracelet that symbolized their union to his left wrist: it was removed to prevent it from possibility contaminating the bacta. “Took forever to scrub all the blood off of it.”

“Blood…” Trazu echoed as he stared at the bracelet. His eyes widened when he remembered fully what had happened. “Varca…” He asked looking up at her, his eyes full of worry.

“She’s going to be in the tank for awhile.” Tzosha said softly. “She nearly left us completely at least twice that I know of, but thankfully she seems to be stable now and recovering. Going to have a scar for the rest of her life though.”

Trazu sighed with relief. “Knowing her…it’s a scar she will wear with pride.” He said.

Tzosha nodded with agreement. “Your father is also here, getting a thorough physical. Not very willing I might add.”

Trazu chuckled, only to have a brief coughing fit due to his throat not having recovered fully yet. “Must have been at mother’s insistence.” He said when he could speak again. “I would have made him do it too if I wasn’t out cold.” With another sigh he leaned up against her chest and closed his eyes. “I just want to lay like this for awhile if you don’t mind…”

“Snuggle addict.” Tzosha said with a giggle, rolling her eyes as she gently wrapped her arms around him.

He didn’t hear her, as he was already asleep.

***

Varcanna was in the hospital for two months before she was released and as Trazu predicted she wore the scar with pride and like a badge of courage. She even stopped wearing undershirts when she was wearing her vest, much to her mother’s disapproval.

Rissonik in the meantime got caught up on Clan issues and went to work getting the Clan back to how it was before he disappeared. Word of his return spread quickly and much to the older Trandoshan’s pleasant surprise many former Clan members, many of whom had discretely left during Tnossok’s reign, started returning, many asking for readmittance into the Clan, which Rissonik happily approved. One of them was his old friend Tiosk, Silliss’ father, and while Tiosk now had commitments elsewhere that prevented him from rejoining the Clan, Rissonik was happy to see him none the less and the two spent a few long nights reminiscing the old days. Besk, Tnossok’s former right hand man, was one of a handful that left, claiming Rissonik was not fit to lead the Clan. Rissonik accepted those losses easily, having never trusted Besk in the first place.

With Tnossok gone for good and her lifemate having returned, Naosha had a new spring in her step, her life free from harassment. As a result she became much more vocal in the Council: whether or not this was a good thing remained to be seen. She also insisted on ‘fatting’ Rissonik up to get him into the shape he was in before. Poor Rissonik never realized the love of his life could be such a slave driver!

As for Trazu himself, he was slowly getting used to Clan life and to the idea that one day he would be leading this Clan himself. He still felt uncomfortable with it, but he felt that as long as Tzosha was by his side he could manage it. Besides, with luck that was years away.

Speaking of Tzosha, she finally got in contact with her mother in Sekhag. Much to her delight, her mother had removed the irresponsible Zista from her will, meaning Tzosha will be the sole inheritor of the family business when she passes on. Zista, from what she heard, was absolutely furious and made a few threats, but Tzosha didn’t care. She felt that as long as she remained with Trazu in the K’Satikur Clan, there was nothing Zista could do to her. Besides, she now had other priorities…

“Trazu?” She said one day, shortly after celebrating his twentieth rotation.

Trazu, who was sitting outside watching the sunset, looked up at her, noting the excited expression on her face. “What is it hun?”

Tzosha sat down next to him and hugged him tightly. “Guess what.” She said softly in his earhole.

“What?” Trazu asked, smiling and leaning back against her, his eyes drifting closed.

“I just found out…you’re going to be a daddy.” She purred.

Trazu’s eyes snapped open and he pulled away to look at her with a questioning look. She just smiled broadly and nodded in confirmation. It took a moment to sink in fully, but when it did Trazu gave a cry of joy and hugged her tightly. He didn’t think he could be any happier then he was right then…

Meanwhile, the K’Satizitus was biding it’s time….

***

Fin...for now ;)