Northern Yarcu

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"So, you decieved young Aven about your plans for the Kievet? How did he react when he learned the truth."

Brought back fully to the present by the sound of Qui-Gon's voice, Pohl breathed deeply before replying, "Aven? Well, Jedi, he was considerably older by then----I think...hmm..aye, he was a young adult by the time Matek and I returned with K'tay. By then he had lost many of his Unakan illusions about just what Science is for."

"You mean, helping yourselves as opposed to helping the creatures you capture?" Jinn commented with just a trace of mockery. It pained the soft-hearted Jedi Master to think about how many creatures must have suffered unnecessarily at this and the other Anarans' hands. Death may be a part of Life---but it was the Dark Side in men's souls that made it crueler than need be. "It must have been quite a shock."

"Oh, he was very upset for awhile. But he managed to work his mind around it."

"By becoming a botanist? Sounds more like he avoided the issue of treating animals with respect."

Pohl scowled. Jinn had hit a sore spot in his relationship with his adopted son. "Nonsense. I told you, Aven always loved to study plants---kindly do naught insult my son with your insinuations, Jedi. I will not tolerate it!" Pohl snapped. He took another swig of wine to collect himself, staring grimly into the flask's opening. "Aven was actually a great help to me. He made sure that all my herbivorous specimens were feeding properly and were naught lacking for the proper nutrients in their diets."

"Then, Aven tended the Kievet captives as well?"

"Of course. Daily, in fact. Why do you ask?"

"I merely got the impressions that he had developed an aversion to them." Jinn replied evenly, seeing the suspicion come into the other's eyes.

"Aversion?" Pohl snorted in amusement at the very idea. "He practically *doted* on them. I even caught him in an emotional state once when they first began mysteriously dying off...Ah----now I see." Pohl's expression darkened. "He told you about K'yer. I will have to have a talk with him when I get back."

Sensing the other's rising anger, Qui-Gon quickly added, "Do not get upset, Director. Aven merely mentioned that that Kievet's actions put your life in danger."

"So it did. But that is naught something I care to share with anyone." He glared impatiently at the exit, wishing to change the subject. "What by Anar is keeping that fool, Tarvin? It shouldna take this long to--"

But Qui-Gon was no longer listening to the angry Tanaken. Instead, he was concentrating on a tiny tingle from his Force sense that was climbing in intensity. Something was wrong.

Obi-Wan came forward then, frowning as tried to comfort one trembling Kievet while urging a quiet Nick to help calm the little island native. Nick, however, appeared lost in another world, his expession vacant even as Kenobi gave him an occasional Force nudge to keep the two together.

"Master," Obi-Wan turned worry-filled green eyes at his teacher. "I'm sensing a disturbance in the Force. Even this one is troubled by it." He indicated the Kievet whose head he was petting in an effort to soothe its small cries---to no avail.

"Unayarek.." The small being whined softly, pressing itself tightly against the padawan, starting to curl into a ball. " Ayth...Unayarek..."

That seemed to get at least part of Nick's attention, for the Jedi heard him mutter something that sounded like: "By the pricking of my thumbs...something wicked this way comes..." before he bared his his teeth at the door, purple eyes glinting with eager anticipation. Or were they *purple* exactly?

Obi-Wan tried to lean over to get a better look, but was interrupted by no ises coming from outside. Angry voices were approaching, one was Matek's, one Tarvin's, but their were several others as well. The door was thrown back roughly as Tarvin rushed in, half infuriated, half frightened.

"Get out there and stop them!" he snarled at the Jedi Master. "They're *your* sect! If they must fight---tell 'em to take it *outside* the Yarcu! Or at least to a more open area! Idiots! They knaw better than to do this *here*!" The Farmer scrambled to find some tool with which to defend himself."

"Do *what* here?" Pohl demanded, already striding to the open door.

"Challenge Matek, whaddya think?!" Turvin spat, grabbing hold of a pole with a nasty looking hook attached to one end.

"Challenge?!" Pohl tensed. "Why?"

"One of Rakin's cronies spied your pets and got them all in an uproar---Matek shoulda knawn better'n to buy from a thief! The agitated Farmer cursed. Stupid, fighting Hunters didn't care what they broke while they battled amongst themselves!

Swearing, Pohl ran outside. He immediately ducked back inside just in time to avoid the deadly swipe of a long knife---which was immediately followed up by a sweating Matek grappling hand to hand with another Hunter somewhat shorter than he, but considerably younger. Both men were bloodied and panting as they eyed each other over the wicked-looking hunting knives they each held. The barn's previous occupants hastily backed up out of the way as the combatants slashed at each other, the doorway (and only escape route, Obi-Wan thought grimly) now blocked by other Hunters avidly pushing at each other to get inside and pay witness to the struggle. Cheers and jibes were gleefully tossed at both the fighters. Turvin, who had looked like he was about to protest the probable destruction of at least part of the barn's innards, opted instead to hide behind some storage containers.

Obi-Wan kept his eyes on the Anarans, while questioning Jinn for direction, using their bond to be heard over the catcalls of the Hunters.

[[ Master, what should we do? ]] his hand automatically moving to where his lightsaber was hidden. He was confident that, if need be, he and his Master could put force a quick cessation of whatever was going on before any innocent bystanders got hurt.

++ Nothing as yet, Padawan. Remember, we are merely Unakens traveling with Matek. We mustn't reveal that we are outworlders lest they turn their ire on us. ++

[[ But if we *are* supposed to be kin to Matek..? ]]

++ Once a Challenge is called, Obi-Wan, it can not be countered by kin or any other *Unaken* ++ Qui-Gon returned, emphasizing the last.

"STOP!"

The Hunters froze as Pohl drew out his pistol and fired into the air. A few grumbled out loud, but quieted as the Tanaken shot them a cold glare.

"Matek Aka Unaken is currently under *my* Directorship!" he informed the surly group. "You,"---Pohl casually pointed the barrel of his gun at Matek's opponent----"will explain yourself to me---*now*."

The indicated Hunter spat a wad of bloody saliva on the floor, angry eyes still locked on Matek's. "This Sharak dung beetle who thinks himself a Director, laid claim to what rightly belongs to me and my family." His opponent said nothing, keeping his own fighting stance at the ready, ignoring the blood dripping from a gash in his left arm.

Not getting anything from Matek, Pohl questioned the other again. "And you would be...?"

"Rakin Ter Unaka----next Director of the Hunters." Equally loud cheers and insults greeted that remark.

"Don't claim what you havena yet earned, Rakin." Matek hissed softly, indicating his challenger's own, deep wounds where Matek's hard-won experience had proved itself against the other's reckless energy.

Rakin chose that moment to notice Obi-Wan and his two furry companions. "See! There's the blue-eyed Kievet he stole from me!"

The disguised Jedi Knights moved to place themselves between K' Ishti and Rakin's people.

Jinn laid a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "The Kievet belongs to my younger brother." Qui-Gon calmly told the crowd, carefully using as much Force as he thought he could get away with to influence their thoughts. "He...won ownership rights after battling a Ruenam thief for its possession."

Schooling his features to reflect that of a battle-hardened Unaken, Obi-Wan glared confidently at the mob. Apparently it was a good imitation, as the Ter Hunters started to gumble amongst themselves.

Matek smirked at his adversary. "I see your perceptions are the same as ever, Ter Unaka---*lousy*. If you had any decent tracking ability, you'd have known that it was Raider, and not I, who took your prize out from under your bulbous nose. As finder, that Kievet belongs to my kin."

"So *you* say!" Rakin spat again. "Before the day is set, *Ruenam* spawn!" He flicked the hand holding the knife, making the blade flash in the dim light.

If Rakin had hoped to provoke Matek into attacking, he was disappointed. The big Hunter merely shifted his own grip on his weapon. Waiting.

Watching the turn of events through slitted eyelids, Pohl debated whether stopping the blood-feuding pair was worth his getting embroiled in Matek's affairs. The Unaken leader would not appreciate his continued interference if Rakin was dead set on the Challenge. Better to face the man now than chance being stabbed by him later when the odds were more in the younger fighter's favor. He lowered his gun, nodding in deference to the Unaken's tradition of ascendancy.

Seeing the move out of the corner of his eye, Matek gave an infitismal nod back.

Obi-Wan felt the rising anxiety from the little Kievet curled against him and bent down to hold it. As he did so, he noticed that Nick was staring at the bloody liquid the Hunter had twice ejected onto the ground.

"Nick?" he asked uneasily. The alien's eyes turned toward him, and now he could clearly see that they had shifted from purple to scarlet. Kenobi felt the uneasiness that had settled in his stomach increase another notch.

{{ Oh, Sith Hells...not now! }} [[ Master! ]]

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Having sensed the turmoil in its alter self, the Vampire wasted no time taking advantage of the Other's emotional distress in order to obtain dominance. Oh, 'Nick' had fought him once he felt the takeover coming on, but his subconsious defenses were in too much of a disarray to stop his subtle advance. The only bad thing was that he could sense the sunlight outside; however, that seemed to be waning and for structure he was currently inside of was affording him adequate protection from its killing rays.

He was very curious know just how he had escaped being turned to ashes earlier---no doubt the mortal with the absurd hair cut had something to do with it---he would question the strange human later. Right now, far more interesting things were going on.

Like fresh blood scent aplenty.

Nicholas avidly sniffed the tantalizing aroma. A pity it was so unjustly unpalatable to his stomach---no matter how much a part of him was drawn to it. But that was not what had called the predator from the dark recesses of Nick's mind...no, it was the smell of conflict, mingled with the sense of fear coming from his nearest kind---not to mention food source! He had to protect the small one. And besides---Nicholas grinned eagerly at the scene before him---he'd always loved a good brawl...

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End of Episode Two: Part 12