Note to Reader: Parts 11 are all flashbacks to well before the coming of Nick and the Jedi to Anara. If you are reading this soley for those characters, feel free to skip these interludes.--kyer

Northern Yarcu [ 42 Anaran Years previous ]

__________________________________________________________________

Aven took the visitor to Persel, the Domestic Head, then went to take care of his quad. Unlike the Hunters, it stood patiently while he groomed, watered and fed it, which Aven was thankful for. Making sure it was secure in a clean stable, he ran back to the living bunks and peeked inside his father's room window. Persel was just finishing changing the linens. She left without even glancing at the suitcases the Scientist was unpacking. Tanaken business was not Unakan business. Aven, however, was not a normal Unakan. He strained to see what the man had. Clothing clean and pressed were filed into drawers. He methodically brushed his jacket and hat before setting them aside, neat and orderly. Ah! Now he was opening the big, tan suitcase. This had to be the one with all the scientific marvels! He hitched himself up higher.

"You'd better come in before someone sees you or you fall and hurt yourself." The Scientist said as he unzipped the case.

Aven flushed, but eagerly hauled himself the rest of the way into the room. Once in, though, he froze, embarrassed at his audicity. {{ This was an important Tanaken! }} The doctor gestured for him to come over, then looked him straight in the eye.

"Mind explaining why you've been hanging from the window so long?"

Gulping hard, Aven avoided the piercing quality of the Tanaken's slightly red-tinged pupils, his own ochre eyes straying toward the tantalizingly close case. Pohl followed his gaze.

"Can I see your science stuff if I'm quiet and donah touch anything?" the boy screwed up his courage to ask.

The zoologists face softened just a tad. "Aven, wasnah it? Well, Aven, I'm afraid you wonah make any sense of my things. 'Science stuff'--- as you put it--- is a tad bit more complicated than sowing and harvesting. What would you want to see my things for, anyway?"

"I had a looking glass once." Aven confessed. He saw the Tanaken's eyebrows go up and quickly explained in practically a single breath:. "I didnah steal it, I found it with some other things I was going to give it back! But Savin found them and smashed the whole lot so please donah be angry with me And I didnah do anything bad either Just looked at plants and made a few sketches of things." He cast a defensive look at the surprised man. "Anyway, Savin burned up most of those too."

Pohl leaned back in the desk chair after the hurried recital was finished and absently scratched his chin, a slight smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "Most?" Aven hesitated, then brought out a carefully folded piece of paper--- the only drawing that had escaped his father's wrath. The zoologist took the sheet and opened it up expecting to see a simple, childlike picture. Instead, the paper held a fairly good likeness of a broad-leaf with part of the vein system magnified. "You drew this?" Aven nodded. Pohl refolded the drawing and handed it back. "Well.. you have a bit of talent for a Yarcu boy. But seeing my instruments isnah going to help you farm."

"Please." Aven begged. "I know something special you can study with them."

Chuckling, Pohl considered the youth. The boy was amusing if nothing else. Certainly he was not like the other Unakan riff-raff. He had curiousity---and some gumption. Pohl appreciated both qualities. "Do you now? Tell me, is it rainbow colored with feathers and scales? Or maybe a Rapar with wings? Na? I know! You have a fish-faced dog." He playfully ribbed the small Unakan just to see the boy's reaction. Most Unakan were afraid of him just by virtue of his House name.

Aven crossed his arms and pouted. His awe was fast evaporating into disappointment. Tanakens were supposed to be smarter than Hunters, yet this know-it-all only made fun like Traven's group. "Na, it isnah like any of those. It's black and white, and its got green eyes, and it wears clothes and has claws. I locked it up in the beer barn!" Aven snapped as the man began to laugh.

"All right, little Unaka, all right. Lets go see this pet of yours. I'm getting thirsty anyway." Getting up, Pohl half-mockingly bowed and gestured for the other to lead the way. {{ How did such a soil scraper as Savin get such a fine youngster? It wasnah fair, considering... }}

If Nature had intelligence it must surely be snarked at him for something.

Aven led the Tanaken to the drink storage barn and unbolted the door. "It likes the grape water. And its na really my pet. I just kind of saw it in here." He hesitated before opening the entrance. "I donah *think* its dangerous. I mean, it didnah attack me or anything." The young face looked dubiously at the door as if rethinking the wisdom of his plan.

Pohl nodded absently, not really paying the kid's talk much attention. Chances are it had been a rat or some such, and the boy's overactive imagination had blown it up into something big and mysterious. He really just wanted to get a good drink before retiring for the night. Tommorrow he planned on questioning the finder of those odd follicles and hiring a scout to help him track down the hair's owners. They had unique properties to them that did not match anything in the Science library. To say the least, they had caught his attention since his Journeyman had brought them to his desk. Unfortunately, credit-eyed Tarsh was working on the financial figures which meant that any requests for an expedition were taboo. So, he had come by himself instead of assembling a team.

Certainly, he was due a vacation.

It had been many years since he had been out of New Anar Port. So far, the adventure was only mildly interesting. He preferred the neat orderliness of the Tanaken Sector to this more primitive Unakan country. However, there were some compensations. He took a whiff from one of the flasks and smiled appreciatively. Bound for some Qwanaten table probably. It really should be tested for quality..

"Sir?"

"What is it now?" Pohl took another appraising sip and froze. Something was growling. He turned his head about slowly, not wanting to alarm the source while trying to detect where it was coming from. At least it didnah sound like a Rapar. That would have been bad---especially since he had left his rifle in the room. Stupid thing to do, he realized belatedly, but he hadnah really expected to find more than rodentia, if that. Unfortunately, this didnah sound like any growl he had heard before so it might well be a predator even if not one of the fearsome Rapar. "You did say it left you alone?" Aven nodded then went over to the grape water vat and swished the contents with one finger.

"Here, Kievet thing. Come here and get the nice drink."

Pohl was about to chide the boy--- if whatever it was had been thirsty it would have drank before they got there. Nonetheless, the growling *did* stop. And *something* was coming out of the shadows. A dark, fairly upright shape the zoologist judged to be just over 3 feet tall--- maybe. Definitely not a rat. He *really* should not have forgotten his gun...

Aven was scared but he kept his voice low and friendly as the shape got closer. Someone had told him that animals could sense your fear, but liked a calm voice. Boy, must he ever be giving out mixed signals! He kept waiting for the Tanaken to do or say something, but the man just stood there watching as the creature came within 15 feet of him whining in a pleading tone. It glanced past him and tensed.

Mesmerized by the fact that the thing was undeniably wearing clothing, yet clearly had fur, Pohl didnah decipher its change in stance until it was too late.

{{ THE EXIT! }}

As it bolted for the door he had carelessly left open he tried a flying tackle, but missed it by mere inches as it sped past him and out to freedom.

"Xyloantho excretment!" Cursing, the thwarted zoologist rammed the floor with his clenched fist before propelling himself out the exit. A moment later he came back in and emitted another colorful phrase of frustration. Aven said nothing, sensing that now was not the time to point out that he had *told* the man. Pohl grabbed his arms.

"You got a good look at it. Describe it for me." Aven repeated what he had said earlier. Pohl nodded as the description matched what he had seen. So he wasn't hallucinating from drink or illness. "Do you think you could draw it? He searched his pockets for a pencil and paper and thrust the items in Aven's hands. Then he lit two lamps, set one down by the boy while taking the other to search the surroundings. All he found were a few dark and light hairs and a small pile of dung. Producing specimen bags, he gathered the items up. "Come on, Aven, you can finish that in my room. I've got specimens to study."

Savin was waiting for them outside his quarters, but the doctor waved him off while ushering the boy into the room. "My assistant."

"Your *assistant*?!" Savin mentally sighed. Now how was he going to get his son to concentrate on farming! "Sir," He interrupted before his own door could be slammed in his face. "Tonight our hunt for the grain thief or thieves goes on. Would you like to participate?"

The redish-yellow eyes started to glare at him, then became excited instead

"A hunt?"

"Aye, sir."

"Perfect. I will call for your Sect Head when I am finished here. Under na circumstances is he to start the hunt without my approval."

This was more than Savin had bargained for. "Excuse me? Do you mean to supervise?"

"Very astute of you. Now--- I have work."

Savin backed away as the heavy door slammed shut. A pity they couldn't just stage an 'accident' to get rid of the Tanaken, but the death of such a Higher would definitely cause them even more entanglements. Best to help him find this stupid animal as quickly as possible and hope he went back to the city--- post haste.

Aven finished working the sketch while glancing as much as he dared at what the man was doing. At last he took his drawing over to the desk and cleared his throat. "There you are, sir. Do you wish me to do anything else?"

Pohl looked up from his petrie dishes and microscope as if he had forgotten the boy was there. He had. Taking up the paper, he studied it. The creature stared back at him--- a frontal view. Pohl had only seen a tad more than a side one. Aye. It was very possible. He would have to get a better look at it without the odd get up to compare with the old sketch--- just to be sure. Although, if it wasnah one of creatures the log page described, it certainly was a close relation. He unconsciously smiled. A 400-year old species-turned-myth come to life. This little holiday was beginning to surpass his wildest dreams. Looking up at the boy his face resumed its somber look. "Do you know what this is?"

"Sure. Its a Kievet That's the sound it made: Kee-vet."

"Its a *presumed* Kievet," Pohl corrected him. "We will need to prove that hypothesis. Seeing as my regular work staff is unavailable to me at the moment, *you* will assist me in carrying that out."

Face lit up like a lightbulb, Aven exclaimed joyously, "Me! I'm a scientist!"

Pohl smirked and handed him the a petrie dish of dried dung along with a slender pick. "Of a temporary, assistant-type sort. Here is your first assignment---in which you can make good use of your Unakan heritage. Sort through this and list down anything you recognize. I want to know what this animal consumes on a regular basis."

---------------------------o-------------------------------

Traven looked annoyed as he waited impatiently.

{{ Time was *wasting*, damned Tanaken! }}

The damned Tanaken in question came into view accompanied by Aven. He reached into his jacket pocket and flipped something at the Hunter. Traven grabbed the small missle in mid air. A gold coin. He smiled wolfishly and decided he might come to like the fellow after all--- as long as he didnah interfere. "North Boundary Hunters at your direction, sir. I am Traven, Sect Head." He proferred a hand, not really expecting the other to take it. He was not disappointed.

Pohl showed the disreputable looking group the picture Aven had drawn. "This is your quarry. I want it alive and as undamaged as possible. Kill or maim it and the gold Qwan I was going to give each of you will dwindle down to standard specimen payment. Clear?"

Traven looked at the picture and laughed. "Is this a joke? This cannah exist. And, in case you havenah heard, I have a grain thief to capture. Been driving Savin crazy don'cha know?"

His temporary supervisor continued, unfazed by the Hunter's scornful declaration. "Its about 3 feet tall and bipedal, black and white with green eyes and wearing some sort of clothing."

Eyes narrowed, Traven glared at Aven. "Hold on, that sounds like this dirt whelp's imaginary intruder. If that's your source of information, I should warn you that even Savin has disowned this useless whelp as untrustworthy." Traven leaned forward and whispered conspiratorally, "Caught him with stuff not Unakan, he did."

"So I've been told." Pohl replied evenly. "Now, its rather fast on its feet--- at least in spurts--- but it hasnah shown true aggrression so far--" Pohl went on ignoring the looks of consternation while Aven gave the flustered Hunter a smug smile. "likely it's a shy herbivore thats partial to bread goods and grape water."

Kicking himself for not listening to the kid when he could have, Traven grunted, finally taking them seriously. "Quads will sniff it out, *whatever* it is, once they get its scent." Pohl handed him the samples he had been studying. The Hunter grimaced when he recognized them as they same purplish- black ones that Sarvin had sent to New Anar Port. They had already tried tracking with them to utter failure. "Your beastie is a smart one. That wonah help."

"It will once the animal's spotted. It wonah have time to camaflouge its scent before your 'friends' are on it."

"And you have plan for making it 'spottable'?" Trask growled. If this thing continued to elude him the unwanted visitor would be there a long time and his 'business partners' were already getting nervous.

"Oh, aye. I have already given some thought on what bait to use." Pohl laid a hand on Aven. The boy gave him a quizzical look.

=========================================

End of Episode Two: Part 11b