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(7.16) Innocents
(7.16) Innocents
Cargo Bay Six
The Republic Cruiser Marauder
Tempered Wastes, Lehon system,
5th August, 1938
“The great huntress Tess moves through the wilderness stalking her pray.” Tess softly whispered as she moved through the darkened aisles of the Storage bay. Her face painted up in traditional style for a hunter. The sounds of a very live and activity jungle echo around her. The sounds however were coming from her small droid friend, Kataryla. Both small creatures wore face paint and ribbons which told all that saw them of the serous hunt that they were on. Both carried small spears that had been fashioned from scrape metal and wood found in the recycling plant. It was Tess's very first time being allowed out of her room without Sha's direct supervision. “Sisters, no Blood Sisters” Tess whispered to the small life like droid who smiled and nodded, “We hunt the very fierce and monstrous, the legendary Nod'Kullosh. Devourer of entire villages and the object of fear and mystery.” she said with a very serous look on her face. The four Marines working in the area took notice of the two little hunters moving between the boxes and nodded as they decided to work somewhere else.
The noises of the jungle continued as the two little hunters moved between the boxes as they sought their pray. Tess looked to Kataryla as they paused their hunt, “Did you hear that? It sounded like a scream for help! Hurry sister!” Tess said as they rushed down the path. Tess leaped over boxes as Kataryla took flight. Faster they run, “Hury Tess, I see them. It is Sha! The Nod'Kullosh has her cornered!” Kataryla said as she climbed higher to get a better view.
The pair rushed to the aid of their elder sister Sha, “Kataryla do something! Help her!” Tess yelled as she leaped over a small group of boxes that had been staged in her path. Faster Tess pushed her self to rush down the line of boxes. Above Kataryla swooped in from above together with spears in hand they rushed to the rescue.
Kataryla hurled her spear over a group of boxes as she yelled out, “Take that you monster!”
Tess leaped over the boxes to see the horror of the battle. Boxes lay tossed about with sprays of red all over the place. Tess dropped her spear and rushed over to the body laying on the deck. “NO!” she cried out as she picked up the Marine uniform that had been sown together and dripped with red liquid. The stuffing of the body was squeezed out as Tess held the body close to her, “NO SHA!” she cried as Kataryla swooped down and joined the morning of the defeated warrior. “Sha! Sister, I shall avenge you. The Nod'Kullosh, WILL Pay for this. I PROMISE THIS!” Tess stood up and grabbed her spear. She waved the wooden and metal spear in the air, “YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS, Nod'Kullosh!”
Kataryla leaned over and licked the wounds of the stuffed uniform. Tess looked to her, “We don't eat our dead!” Tess commanded, “We are not savages like the Nod'Kullosh”
“But, we made the blood so yummy!” Kataryla protested with reddish blood across her face.
Tess took an knee next to Kataryla and licked the blood of their fallen Sha, “Yes sister, you are right. Sha was a brave warrior.” Tess said in a bit of morning, “Clearly the spirits have offered us Sha's blood so that we may share her strength and courage” Tess said as she too continued to lick up the sweet red liquid that they had made from the kitchen earlier today. The two little hunters enjoyed their feast as the memories of the Nod'Kullosh slipped from their minds.
However as the last of the reddish liquid was licked up the two hunters picked up their spears once more and headed out on the hunt. Tess looked around, “Sister we must seek higher ground if we are to find the demon monster Nod'Kullosh.”
Kataryla nodded as she looked around, “There!” she said pointing to a large stack of boxes with a rope hanging from it. The rope was painted green as if it were a vine.
Tess nodded, “Good eyes sister” she said as she rushed to the base of the pile of boxes. “We shall climb up this ro....vine and reach the summit of the grand mountain.” Tess explained as she took hold of the rope. She started to work her way up the stack of large boxes while Kataryla used her wings and hovered next to Tess. “This mountain must surely have been created to test only most brave and courageous hunters, Sister.” Tess continued to climb as she cleared the top of the boxes around her. The boxes were very stable thanks to the work done by the Marines in preparing this artificial jungle for Tess and Kataryla. A point of disagreement between Second Platoon and the ships cargo master that would be going before the Captain in a few day. Still, Tess climbed her way to the top of the box mountain using the green rope. Her little body shook as pulled herself up over the edge of the last box. Tess let out a might roar as she stood up and waved her spear. “I have conquered the greatest mountain on this world!” She said as her spear tip waved very close to the ceiling. The members of second platoon were keeping a watchful eye of the hunt as it continued. Tess might think that she was alone, but she was never without someone watching over her.
Kataryla landed next to Tess as Tess continued to celebrate her victory over the mountain. Tess was filled with so much energy, “Not even the might Lut Sha could reach the heights of Spirit Mountain” She said to Kataryla as she named the mountain which had caused so much problems in the cargo bay. Recruiting the help of the Marines for such a dangerous hunt was nearly impossible till Kataryla had an idea. They asked the Marines if they would like to be part of the glorious hunt for the mighty Nod'Kullosh. Kataryla and Tess had promised the Marines a portion of the wealth and riches from the beast's lair which it had stolen from local villages. Kataryla translated for Tess as Tess explained how menacing this monster was. And that if they did not best the monster that it was only a matter of time before it turned its monstrous eyes on their village in the Departure Bay. The even invoked the power of the Spirits as the two little hunters explained the destruction of what the monster was capable of. They showed detailed (hand colored) holo images taken by the most advanced Republic warships (large color paper, drawings) of the paths of destruction that Nod'Kullosh had laid to other worlds. They begged the Marines for their help in stopping this monster before another world were to fall.
Tess and Kataryla looked from the peak of the mountain and saw the crew members below moving crates around as needed supplies were being moved to the repair areas. “Look Sister, Those poor villagers don't even know how much danger they are in. Nod'Kullosh must be close. I can smell the monster on the wind.”
Kataryla nodded and asked, “Should we warn them?” Kataryla dropped to all fours as her wings folded behind her back and she crawled up next to Tess and watched the crew members at work. “What shall we do?”
Tess shook her head, “No Sister, if we warn them of the monster, they will surely panic and laugh at us. Like before. No, we can not risk tipping the Nod'Kullosh off that we are getting close. Sha's death will not be in vane. I will avenge her!”
Kataryla nodded as her thick tail waved behind her. “Okay, so if I were a monster where would I be lurking.” She pointed out over to the far side of the bay, “Oh there! Maybe there?”
Tess shook her head and pointed to the large moving exo-loader operated by one of the crew members. “No Sister. See the Skul'oush.” she said speaking of the exo-loader, “That is a natural predator of the Nod'Kullosh. No, the beast would not lurk there. Though I would not be surprised if the beast would be stalking that large beast as an attempt to slay it before it can slay the Nod'Kullosh. Tess searched the cargo bay once more, “There, I am sure of it.” she said pointing to a large pile of trash that had been moved in to the bay, (Against the requests and orders of the Cargo Master) “If the beast is anywhere.” Tess said, “Its there!” Tess looked around to form her plan to finish this very dangerous hunt. She knew that failure would mean both of their deaths at the claws of such a powerful foe. She saw all that she needed to, to form her plan. “We will take that vine” she said pointing to a rope bridge that looked like a group of vines with leafs tied to it. The bridge lead to a large stack of boxes next to the trash heap. “Then find a place along that low mountain” she said pointing to another stack of boxes. “Then we shall sneak up on the beast and slay it!” Tess said holding her little spear, “We will take its head back to the Republic Senate and be hailed heroes of the Republic.”
Kataryla clapped her hands in excitement, “Do you think they will give up sweets and, and, and let us meet the Chancellor?”
Tess smiled as she rested a hand on Kataryla's shoulder, “Oh, there will be sweets” Tess said softly with determination in her voice and glimmer in her eyes. “So many sweets that all young hunters like us will never want for sweets again. The Senate will pass a law, they shall call it Tess' Law. Sweets for all hunters young and old. And as for the Chancellor, He will bring us Sweets personally. And more importantly than that. He will give us that hot...um....sweet.....what was it that our Marine allies gave us before the hunt? You remember at the fire just before the hunt. What was it called?”
“Um, On...yeah that was SOOOO Yummy! Um...what did they call it. Oh I remember, cocco. They called that drink, Hot Cocco. Will the Chancellor bring us Hot Cocco?”
Tess nodded, “Yes Sister, the Chancellor will bring us this drink of the spirits, this Hot Cocco. And we shall be hailed heroes for slaying the mighty Nod'Kullosh.” Tess turned to the trash heap and lowered her voice, “But we must, Sister, We must slay that monster first. We must bring peace and safety to those poor unaware villagers. For we are hunters, and hunting is what we do. We hunt monsters.”
Kataryla laughed, “Oh and the hunting is soo good.....which leads to sweets” she couldn't contain her excitement from her words as she spoke of sweets.
Tess took her spear and tied it to her back and made sure that it was secured. Kataryla moved to take flight but Tess stopped her, “No sister. We have to do this the hard way. We can not afford to tip the beast off that we are coming.”
“You are right” Kataryla said nodded as she did the same with her spear.
The two little hunters started down the rope bridge that had been set for them by the Marines. Slowly they moved down the bridge high above the crew members working below them. The two hunters could feel their fears raising but they had a goal and they would not stop till they reached that goal. Slowly and surely they continued down the rope bridge till Tess loss her footing and slipped through the spans between the bridge's supports. She let out a cry as Kataryla grabbed her. While Kataryla's wings flapped as per her programming, her repulsers were dialed up to pick up the added weight of Tess' body. Far below them, neither of them saw the two Marines acting with out pause to toss a net under Tess should she fall. With Kataryla's help, Tess was able to recover her footing once more and stabilize herself. The moment had passed with more tension and fear than actual risk of injury. Still Tess and Kataryla played out their hunt as if all around them was in fact their little world.
“Are you ok?” Kataryla asked as Tess stopped to catch her breath.
Tess' heart raced, “Yes....” she said trying to catch her breath, “I am...thank you, Sister.” Tess took a moment to catch her breath as she looked down to the deck below. The Marines had vanished as fast as they had appeared. Tess' and Katarlya illusion was still intact as Tess nodded, “This is a dangerous hunt” Tess commented as she started to make her way down the rope bridge. “This might be the most dangerous hunt of our lives” Tess added as she looked back to Kataryla.
Kataryla nodded, “Yes I agree.” She placed a hand on Tess' shoulder, “Think of the sweets and Hot Cocco. We must remember what is at the end of this hunt.”
Tess nodded as she was reassured of what they were doing. “Yes sister, the Hot Cocco. But we must not forget the innocent villagers that we are protecting from them monster, Nod'Kullosh” the pair continued down the rope bridge without further issues. The climb was hard for them but together, the little hunters finally reached the bottom of the bridge and the safety of the Crate mountain. They took a moment to look back over the massive span they had crossed. Tess nodded as she pulled her spear, “Lets finish this hunt Sister. Then we shall enjoy Hot Cocco and Sweets.”
Kataryla, “Oh I can't wait. Oh the sweets....” With spears at the ready the pair slipped to their bellies and started to crawl towards the edge of the large stack of boxes. They were as silent as possible so not the alert the Nod'Kullosh of their location. “There I see the monster. Feeding on its latest victim.” Kataryla said as she pointed towards the trash heap.
Tess shook her head with great sadness, “A brave man, he surely was. This monster must be stopped. Get your net ready. On my command Sister, leap down there and toss your net over the beast. At the same time, I will leap from that ledge and land to its side. If we work together, you will render the monster helpless, and I shall slay it.”
Kataryla nodded with excitement, “And then we shall have sweet and Hot Cocco delivered by the Chancellor himself!” She pulled out her net and made it ready.
Tess turned to her with all the serous of her heart and mind, “Yes Sister” she said with confidence. “We shall have our sweets and Hot Cocco delivered to us by the Chancellor. We will be hailed as the greatest hunters of all the Republic!” Tess smiled as she could taste the end of the hunt at hand. “Go over there, Sister. Wait for my signal.” As Kataryla started to move Tess stopped her, “Not before I give the signal!”
Kataryla nodded her understanding as she turned and moved silently to her position. Tess also moved to her position. The pair moved together like a well oiled team of hunters. Below was their pray waiting to for the finally act of this hunt to play out. Tess watched the beast with her own eyes as it ripped its latest victim apart. She felt a great sense of sadness over the needless loss of life. One more innocent man had fallen before the Nod'Kullosh. “It is time for your evil reign of terror to come to an end.” Tess whispered as not to alert the monster. She noticed the signal from her sister and Tess nodded back that she too was ready as well. Tess took in a deep breath as to clear her mind and to prepare for the battle that was to come. Tess said a soft prayer to the spirits asking for Sha's spirit to be with her during this moment of truth. “I shall avenge you Sha” Tess whispered as she slowly rose up to start her attack. She waved to her sister and gave the signal as both little hunters leaped down from the creates screaming their battle cries! “FOR THE SWEETS!”
Kataryla swooped down with grace and speed while she tossed her net out wide over the trash heap. Nod let out a little cry in alarm as the two larger hunters leap out at her. She grabbed a mealworm in both of her little claws. Nods small frame and skill made it more than easy for her to fly through the large openings in the net and to the safety of the air. Nod had her little wiggling delights and a pair for eating later, she knew it was time to leave. She watched Tess land and swing the large spear point at her. Once more Nod easily dodged the attack as Tess cried out once more her battle cry which Nod didn't understand. Kataryla attempted once more to catch Nod under the large net though only catching Tess instead. Nod puffed herself up and flapped her tiny wings for a moment as if to impress the two little hunters of her might and terror of what she can bring. With mealworms in both hands Nod turned to fly away. Half way from the door, Nod turned back towards both little Hunters and stuck her tongue out at their failed hunt.
Tess cried out, “NO!” she was helpless from under the net to stop the monster from fleeing. “Stop the beast, Sister!”
Kataryla attempted to give chase but Nod was simply too fast and more agile than the larger Kataryla. Moments later Kataryla landed next to Tess who had managed to free herself from the net. The disappointment was thick in the air. “No Sweets and Hot Cocco?” she asked as she freed the last of the net from Tess' tail.
Tess turned to her sister, “Oh, the hunt is not over Sister. The beast has bested us this time. But the Republic is counting on us to defeat this monster. We can not let the Republic down. We have to remember those who have fallen here today. And yes Sister, there will be Sweets and Hot Cocco before this hunt is over. That beast will pay for this defeat.” Tess said standing up slowly she waved a fist at the long gone Nod, “Nod'Kullosh you have won this hunt, But we will not give up till the Republic is free from your evil!”
With the safe return of the two little hunters, the Marines of Second Platoon through a grand feast in honor of the two returning hunters. There was much sweets and the Hot Cocco flowed like a great river in Tess' and Kataryla's honor. It was the Twi'lek Lieutenant Tol Distombe who raised his mug of Hot Coccor, “While not all missions end the way we hope. When we return home to our families, than all can consider that a successful mission.” It was Lieutenant Distombe's idea to help the pair on their hunt. He is the Commanding Officer of the Second Platoon and much like a father figure to the rag tag team of misfits. He added, “To the honor of our hunters, Tess and Kataryla. May your next hunt be as successful and rewarding as this one was.”
An hour later Tess and Kataryla found themselves walking back to their room. Their little bellies full of sweets and Hot Cocco. They had made new friends, enjoyed a grand adventure together. And more importantly, they have faced off with the monster known as, Nod'Kullosh and have survived where others had fallen. In all, it was a very eventful and fun day outside of the room. Kataryla ask before they opened the door, “SO what do we do tomorrow?”
Tess stopped and turned to her adopted Sister, “Tomorrow Sister? Have you not heard? The vile pirate Nod has been raiding Republic supply ships. We have to stop this pirate at all costs!”
The two were laughing as they walked in to the room to see Sha waiting on them. “So what have you two been up to?”
The pair looked at each other and smiled as they gave slight little nods. Sha noticed the unspoken gestures. They looked back to Sha and laughed, “Nothing much” as they skipped past the much larger Sha. It was time to plan out their mission to stop the vile pirate Nod.
Narrator's Note: Innocents is a beautiful thing. The Innocents of children is what keeps this world and our culture young. I wish and hope that each of you will find and hang on to that innocent over the next few days. I want to wish each of you a Marry Christmas.......
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