Musings...


The holonet had gone dark and for a while, Scipio stared at where the image of Achinta had once been.

Her glance began to encompass the room and knew that the Clan banners would soon be coming down.


And the Commonwealth banners could be going up.


Capricia was moving forward and if she wanted to do the same, she would need to learn from the example of her people.


I need to change!


Before slipping back to bed, she walked over to her personal computer terminal and keyed several instructions to have her things moved to Bonadan. In a few days, once she'd finished meeting with the Corporate people, she would follow in her personal shuttle.

Ambassadorials did have their perks after all.

It was time to solidify her role within that of the Vinda Corporation/Caprician Commonwealth.

Leantre Vio looked a bit pale as his shuttle exited the Caprician Star Destroyer Tribune. Tyscio Zier had wanted to send an entire armada of warships as an Honor Guard for the Regent of Capricia but Leantre would have none of that.

Now was not the time to remove the Caprician Fleet.

Or what was left of it, he thought with no small regret.

Most of the fleet was too badly damaged to make the trip to Bonadan anyway and so Leantre settled for the flagship.

It still bore the scars of the fighting even though it had undergone a rather quick refit throughout the interior. Still the ship was sturdy, it’s weapons, shields and it’s engines either overhauled or replaced. Only the ship itself seemed to still bear the echoes of past dead crewmembers.

It had a powerful, though, melancholy feel that touched the old Regent on some inner level.


His recent heart attack had given him a newfound respect of life, though, clinging to such respect was easier when your homes were not burning and you were not staring down aliens intent on destroying everything you hold dear.

The metropolis-like spaceport opened before his eyes as the shuttle broke the clouds and for the first time the Regent took his first glance at the heart of the Vinda Corporation.

“Give me a leisurely flyby,” he ordered. He desired to look upon the cities owned by the vast intergalactic corporation. Already, behind the scenes, both leaders were taking great strides in changing the bureaucracy from their respective governments to an all-encompassing Commonwealth.

But apart from a change in their names, what benefits to the people does this bring?


He held in his hand a report that had been given to his predecessor regarding the Vinda Corporation:


Seth Vinda is an anomaly. Mr. Vinda came onto the scene, his background a mystery to take control of Bonadan. Early corporate actions suggest business conflicts with the existing Corporate Sector Authority. Preliminary models suggest the more successful Vinda Corp grows, the weaker it will become. It will become the new Corporate Sector Authority and exist along the same cycle.


Leantre smiled a little. Since the report he had fought with the man, bled with him and had gotten to know him just a little bit better (though not as well as he might like). It seems Vinda and the CSE had a slightly larger conflict than at first suggested.


He glanced down at the cities as land streaked by and began to wonder if the formation of the Commonwealth was Vinda’s way to break out from the standard corporate models. To break his corporation of the cycle…

Somewhere on the Outer Rim



It was now early morning, and the twin suns were rising brightly in the sky above, having not quite yet reached their pinnacle. The cool breeze sweeping in from the ocean lent a brisk freshness to the air that teased the senses.

Natalya stood outside wrapped in a rough brown blanket, amidst the surroundings of the small garden , facing the vast blue sea.
As she looked towards the clear blue horizon her gaze was unbroken.

Her hands , (both clasped firmly around a cup of fresh Caff), brought the drink closer to her lips, and she sipped upon it absently, deep in reflection.

Her mind slowly sifted through all the events of the past that had conspired to bring her to this moment, where she stood now.
The raw, visceral heartache of her loss still hung over her like a dark cloud, yet there was something strangely ....soothing about watching the scene unfold in front of her.

...healing almost....

A rueful smile threatened to show itself from the corners of her mouth...

...now what?...

Natalya glanced back over her shoulder to the direction of Gaia's bedroom, the old woman had taken her in without a second thought.

"..now what indeed." She murmured to herself, echoing her thoughts.

Once more, she now found herself wondering how her plans had been blown apart, with the remaining fragments scattered to the winds.

Sighing heavily, she took one last sip from her cup, and moved back inside.







Placing the small cup gingerly down upon the wooden kitchen worktop, Natalya entered the old woman's bedroom, (if you could call it that), it was nothing more than a small annexe set back against the rest of the house. Natalya stepped through the archway, and let her eyes settle kindly on the old woman fast asleep.

She must have stood there watching her , hearing her muzzled breathing , for almost an hour, before unwrapping herself from the blanket she had been given and placing it carefully upon the sleeping figure.
Gaia did not stir, even as Natalya kissed her goodbye lightly upon her cheek.

Collecting her things together, Natalya cautiously picked up her newly aquired lightsabre and as she studied it once more, she seemed to reach a conclusion.
With an abrupt boost of purpose, she attached the weapon to her belt and quietly slipped out of the house, and set herself in the direction of the town.

Ession




"What seems to be the problem?..."

Achinta's quiet, well spoken voice announced his arrival, causing the scene in front of the hotel reception to cease abruptly. Two security guards, the hotel receptionist, and a strange multiple limbed alien, all entangled, suddenly turned to see the source of the voice, rather surprised.

At first impressions, Achinta created one quite effectively. Standing over six feet tall, dressed in a long black overcoat with short white hair, most people found his presence intimidating.

As the HRD's eyes glided effortlessly to each of the foursome , the security team leader abruptly clicked his heels together and delivered a short sharp salute, (much to the bemusement of Vinda's right hand), and introduced himself...

"...Officer Adams sir!, at your service!..."

As Achinta bowed his head slightly in greeting, The officer swiftly enounciated a rapid assessment of the situation, once more.

Inclining his head to one side as he listened, Achinta's gaze planted itself upon the culprit in question, a rather strange, and nervous looking alien, who appeared to be sweating... a lot.

The alien evidently found it difficult to hold the bodyguards scrutiny, either that or he found it hard to crane his neck to look up that high, since he was quite short.

"...just keeps saying he needs to see Mr Vinda....he's a loon if you ask me sir"

Achinta glanced back towards the security guard as he finished talking, and took in his appearance; a middle-aged officer, with short brown hair, cropped in a vein effort to diguise the bald patch that was starting to appear.

...ex-Espo... Achinta thought absently, before turning his attention back to the alien in question. He extended a hand in greeting, which the alien accepted , albeit somewhat suspiciously.

"...I am Achinta Vega, Mr Vinda's personal assistant, why is it you need to see Mr Vinda so urgently?"

The alien shifted awkwardly under the HRD's gaze, but didn't answer, there was a wild look within those eyes, he was clearly afraid...

"...whats your name?..." Achinta continued unfazed...

As the alien glanced nervously towards the security men, Achinta turned to face them and dismissed them both, much to the dismay of officer Adams who objected vocally, but begrudgingly did as he was told.

Achinta was more than confident he could handle the strange visitor on his own, in case the worst should happen.
Electing on a change of tact, the bodyguard gestured for the alien to sit down, and followed in kind beside him.

"...please take a moment to calm yourself, I will not hurt you...are you hungry?...thirsty?...I could order a drink if you need it?..."

The alien seemed to consider this proposal very seriously before finally speaking...

"...er..tea, yestea, Alderannian, thankyoumuch" His voice escaped as a nervous simper.

Smiling at what seemed like progress, Achinta turned to face the onlooking receptionist, and ordered the alien's request.

As she returned quickly with the tea, Achinta thanked her , and watched as the alien sipped it cautiously initially, then slurped it down with gusto.

Achinta continued once again...

"...Mr Vinda has an important meeting tomorrow, and he has left strict instructions to not be disturbed. If you have something important for him to know, your best bet is to tell me, I can deliver whatever concerns you have , personally..."

Visibly more relaxed, the alien seemed to hesitate for a moment, before he reached into his pocket and uncovered a data-disc, which he gingerly handed towards the bodyguard.

Tilting his head questioningly, Achinta gave a puzzled expression , before taking the disc carefully...

With his curiousity aroused, the bodyguard retrieved a small portable data-pad, from within his coat pocket, and inserted the small disc.

Charg watched the Vinda-Corp man nervously , as his analytical eyes scanned over the disc's contents.

After about a minute, Achinta looked up towards the alien, the confused expression had been replaced by one of grave concern. The bodyguard's voice came; slowly, delibrately, and deadly serious.


"...I want you to tell me, exactly, how, when and where you came to aquire the contents of this disc..."

*



The end was coming.


Coughing spasms raged through Molinjar as if a red hot poker were dipped within his stomach.

Outside, he heard the construction going on. A city was being built. A city that would be the capital of Capricia.

Antioch was to be the jewel of the galaxy.

"But a galaxy apart.." he rasped as he shook from further coughing. His men meant well, but he knew he had pushed them as far as they would go.

If I were to live, perhaps... perhaps I could bring them to the Republic...


"Sc.. .Scipio?" he called out and someone shuffled toward him.

"Lord?" came a rather young voice.

Gomorran's boy.

"Shall I fetch, Lord Scipio?"

"Is he overseeing the work..?" Molinjar managed to get out, motioning a sickly hand toward a window.

"No, Lord. Y...your servant Leantre is in charge." the boy stammered and Molinjar nodded in approval.

Leantre's a builder.

The boy took the nod to mean for him to fetch the Lord Scipio and so off he went. Molinjar was going to call out to stop him but a sudden spasm of coughing took hold and he buried his head in a cloth.

I am too young to simply go out like this.. he thought a little resentfully.


"And you are too young.." came a voice out of eyesight.

"Wh... What .. " he started coughing.

"You move too fast, Molinjar. Too fast. The Republic is starting to fray at the ends. You would have had Capricia fall with them?"

"Who?"

"Who am I? Come now. I am the gloriously vanquished." And a figure moved closer, a hint of glittering metal caught the sick man's eye.

"Closer.." he whispered hoarsely.

The metal diadem moved closer and Molinjar's eyes widened.

"No.." and the coughing started again.



The mark of the Noble House.


"You are dead!" the sick man hissed. "I brought ALL of you down!" Blood began to drip from Molinjar's mouth and the figure moved closer handing the sick man another cloth.

"In order to make the illusion complete, we had to .... sacrifice." the man said sadly. "Those men and women who have so much will not be forgotten by us."

Molinjar wanted to rage but was just too weak. A sudden tiredness overcame him and he sank back into his bed.

"You will reclaim.." he started but the man motioned him quiet as he sat down next to the dying man. "We do not do this for personal glory. We do this for Capricia. Capricia needed change. And for that to happen a strong leader was needed."

"But... " Molinjar coughed, "..not all."

"No. The shadow of the Noble House also needed to be withdrawn." The man seemed older, "And so we had to die."

"And.. now, so must I.." the sick leader rasped out.

"Too fast, Molinjar. You wanted everything too fast." the man said sadly. "It was not your fault. You were too young to handle the power correctly. But there was no one else."


Molinjar's body shook violently from the fit of coughing that came. At the end, his eyes blazed angrily, blood dripping into a cloth. "..The others.."

"Your men will mourn you, Molinjar. The planet will mourn you and remember for a time. 'The man who destroyed the Noble House'. But as time goes on, even this too will be forgotten and a thousand years from now.. Who knows..maybe Capricia will take it's place in the galaxy."

The sick man's eyes closed.

".. when we are ready.." the man from Noble House whispered.

And in the haze of sickness, a sort of calm took hold of Molinjar and his head turned to gaze fully at the man standing before him.


"Stettin." he mouthed.

The man bowed as if honoring a fallen but worthy adversary. "Lord Molinjar."

And the sick man began to laugh, his teeth stained red. In one display of strength, he pulled himself up to bring his eyes to bear on Stettin.


"Unificiation is coming, Noble House man.." he sputtered out.

The man nodded, "Capricia is united. You accomplished that."

Molinjar waved away the compliments. "No!" and a hand grabbed Stettin's garment, "Unification of ALL that was destroyed!"


The Noble House man suddenly looked unsure.


"Stettin was ruler when it all fell apart." the sick man stated and the man stood up so sharply that Molinjar fell back into his bed.

"Y... you are not suppose to..."

"Remember?" and Molinjar exhaled loudly part in contempt and part in jest. "I am dying... Men say all sorts of mad things.."

And his body shook as his tired coughs sent incredible amounts of pain through his sides.

"Tell me, Noble House. Who are you really? Grant a dying man this one last request.."

Stettin stared at the fallen leader of Capricia and was suddenly overcome by emotion. He was responsible for this. He was responsible for reigning Molinjar in. And the dying man's words shook him, Stettin was ruler when it all fell apart.


"Very well, Molinjar. I will show you..."



And he did.






Lord Molinjar was found dead on his bed by Lord Scipio and Lord Gomorran's boy. A strange smile was found on the man that had single-handedly brought all the factions of Capricia together. From henceforth he would be known as the Father of Unification. In compensation for bringing to light the historical title that he himself would never bear, Clannus Prime, he would be known as Nas Visician (in the old tongue): The Destroyer of Noble House.

Natabb City

Caprician Archives





"Can I help you young man?" came a gentle voice. "When you came in I took you for a researcher... you had such an intense look about you. But as I see you now, you look lost."

A rather portly woman in her fifties moved slowly over Kaneda.

"I am Librarian Snow. It is so nice to see young men interested in history. Nowadays they only think about girls, space battles and more girls." The woman's face frowned slightly, "They don't even think to give their own poor dear grandmother a call once in a while."

Then she pushed those thoughts aside and brightened at the man before her, "Is there something that you were looking for?"

The woman patted Kaneda on the arm in a reassuring manner. "As large as the main depository is, it can be overwhelming."

She looked at him expectantly.

Somewhere on the Outer Rim

Back into town





It took Natalya almost an hour to walk back to town. She could have hired a speeder , or a swoop , but, after being cooped up inside a freighter for the past six months, she welcomed the small trek.

It had felt good to feel her feet on solid ground, and with what she had learned in the past twenty four hours, walking off some of the excess baggage still swirling around her head felt good. It seemed to help her organize her thoughts more.

It didn’t, however, stop the awful feeling of numbness still aching inside her, it was like a knot in her stomach , and Natalya could do nothing except hope that it would not last long.


…her stomach…


(it churned almost in response)…


..damn it!, I haven’t eaten!…


Slipping inbetween the meandering crowds of people hovering around the centre Natalya glanced around looking for a place to eat.

Stopping outside a homely looking establishment, Natalya cast a final critical eye over its exterior, before stepping inside.











“…where has she gone , Gaia?…silly girl, left without having any breakfast…”


Gaia tutted to herself under her breath as she fussed over one of her many potted strains of Caffa Bean plants in the back porch.

…she’ll end up like that other one, if she’s not careful!…
(She thought to herself, matter of factly), her mind briefly recalling the visit by Yana Okani…


The familiar sound of the door chime interrupting the otherwise peaceful surroundings soon ended that particular train of thought. The old woman’s face brightened as another replaced it…


...she’s back!…

Unable to hide her delight, Gaia smiled to herself…

…you’see, ‘told you she just went out for a walk!…


Dropping everything where it was in her excitement, Gaia shuffled her way back inside to answer the front door, and in doing so, neglected to pick up her handbag, and the small weapon lying inside it…

As the door slid aside the familiar scents of the crisp sea air permeated her senses, and as she faced the outside expectantly, there came something else, something new…

Gaia frowned.


It wasn’t Natalya.


A strong, almost hoarse, masculine voice punctured the air…


“…Mrs Naito?…Mrs Gaia Naito?…”

“…yes?…who are you?…”

“…the names Deed…and these are my associates”

“….what do you want?…” The old woman blurted out as she reached out with her senses, there was indeed more than one. She suddenly felt very vulnerable.

“…we are looking for someone, someone we think you know…mind if we come in and talk?…”

The frown across Gaia’s face deepened, as she became suspicious…

“..I’m sorry, this isn’t a good time for me, I suggest you call back another---“

The voice interjected, firmly, and carried with it a distinct trace of underlying menace…

“…I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible”

No sooner had the voice finished, Gaia reached frantically for the control unit in an effort to close the door. But she was too old, her reach short, and the men too quick for her.
Gaia felt a clammy hand clamp over her mouth, and an overwhelming sense of uselessness as she struggled against the strong grip of the men who held her.

“…now, Mrs Naito, I suggest you tell me everything I ask you too…”


(Came the voice’s calm but sinister words), as the one called Deed stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.

Capricia - Orbital Station Highland





"Connection Established."


And the tired visage of a certain Tysico Korban came into holographic view and Herridian delighted to see the boy.


"Lord Wye." The Caprician responded sleepily.


"My .. my.." Heridian suddenly remembered that he never thought to check what time it would be on Korban's end. "I am sorry for waking you.."


Tyscio managed a slight grin and waved the former leader of Caprician's once Clan of the Sciences. "What can I do for you?"


"I wanted to let you know that I've got the Avatar readied.." the portly Caprician started and when Tyscio did not immediately put two and two together he continued, "A settlement fleet along with many of the Commonwealth's scientific departments are leaving for Elrood."


"The Jedi Temple?" Tyscio asked absently.


"Not all Mr. Korban. There is the little bit of that hollowed out room with that strange device that.."


".. that looked like myself giving a rundown in an ancient Caprician language.." Korban finished.


"I was hoping to see if you'd like to see the planet for yourself... See if we can't get to the bottom of what is going on here.."


And Korban granted the scientist a chuckle. "Lord Wye.."


"Herridian.." the portly man allowed.


Tyscio bowed, "Herridian, the mystery has kept this long.. I am sure it can keep for a few days more.."

"A few days more?" sputtered the scientist, his face reddening.


"At least until your vessel reaches Naboo to pick me up." Korban grinned and the stout man calmed considerably.

"Didn't mean to give you a heart attack.." the younger man on Naboo commented.


"I'll see you, my boy, in a few days. We will get underway in the afternoon."


"See you soon, Herridian. And call me Tyscio."

Capricia

Natabb City - Archives




Kaneda gauged the woman before him and smiled, inclining in greeting as he did so.

"...they do say youth is wasted on the young..."He stated slyly in reply to her earlier comments.

Although it did not show, she had caught him unawares a little, and as she digested his words, the Section agent's brain raced with the many possible answers to her enquiry, then promptly did so, without skipping a beat.

"...come to think of it there is something you could help me with..."

His thoughts burned with a curiousity upon a number of subjects, the original purpose for his excursion here would have to take a back seat for a while. Now was the time to answer some of those other questions he'd come up against whilst browsing through the records of Capricia's turbulent history.

"...I have been studying your history, a fascinating one to be sure, and I have read many references to something referred to simply as 'the Noble House' ... I was wondering if you had anything a bit more in depth, all I can seem to find are somewhat vague speculations..."

He watched as the Libarian nodded slowly to his words...

"...they appear to be quite the myth..."

The Section agent leant forward upon his cane, and waited patiently for the Libarian to respond.

Natabb City

Caprician Archives


Librarian Snow chuckled at the young man's curiosity. This one is going to be a professor one day, she thought.


"You must be from the Vinda Corporation," she started, the man's unfamiliar garb suddenly registering. "Why else would someone wish to learn about our myths."

She walked over and gently grabbed the man's arm as if to lead him back down the main hall passing rows and rows of archived records.

"The Noble House." she murmued. "Part legend, part myth... to be honest, no one really knows what it was or if it really existed."

Before the young man could point out the obvious, she continued. "Let me explain: There are not many records or information from before the establishment of the Clans about a thousand years ago. It seems, the Clans destroyed everything pertaining to their past they could get their hands on to create their 'New Society'.

There are some old poems or old writings written in a very lyrical quality from before the establishment of the Clans that makes references to the Noble House but historians are not sure if the reference was alluding to an earlier myth, if the Noble House was a religious reference of some sort or if it was indeed real."

She smiled, "Now if you consider that most myths have some basis in fact, then yes.. the Noble House myth may have been based on something that existed once but what I could not say."

"There are stories in early works after the establishment of the Clans that talk of Noble House with such spite and fear, as if Capricia, before Molinjar, was some terrible place to live under the shadow of this...thing."


"There are fairy tales for children...'don't brush your teeth, the Noble House will get you', 'obey your parents or Noble House will hear of it'... things like that."

She paused, "That is where historians get the impression that perhaps the Noble House was a religious sect within Caprician society. Which is strange because Capricians are not religious but perhaps over a thousand years ago this was not true. Perhaps Capricians overthrew their religious leaders and learned to be self reliant. But that is just speculation."


"In any event, the Noble House was reported destroyed by Molinjar, the Nas Visician... which maans 'Destroyer of the Noble House' in the old tongue. Now if this Noble House was the same as what was written before, I do not know. It does seem that there was 'someone' who claimed the name, that Molinjar seemed to have defeated before the Clans asended to Caprician leadership."

She stopped at the end of the hall and released Kaneda to move over to a rear corner where her desk was located. On top was a tray of some small cakes. "Oh dear.. .it seems Val has not brought my drinks yet." She turned, holding out the tray, "Would you like a cake while I looking up something some? I do not know if it will help you but," she shrugged, "you never know."