|
|
 
|
Chapter 40 Cha-Lee was growing obsessed with the young male Caminee he had seen in the future. Katrina and Xenritha were growing tired of seeing him when the three merged powers but Cha-Lee was adamant about watching, examining the man. The exact same scene played out around the Zanespots over, and over, and over again. The ship’s engine was making worrisome sounds and the man cursed it in a language Katrina did not know but somehow understood. He physically assaulted the screen before him and all righted itself. Occasionally his words would change or more time was needed for the problem to disappear, but the end was always the same. The Caminee always passed the Zanespots’ home planet without a glance. Cha-Lee grew more and more frustrated and began to pace the scene. He muttered to himself in another language and ignored Xenritha’s offered comfort. Katrina stood away from all three, watching. “You know it can/will be changed if we change it,” Xenritha said in vain. Cha-Lee ignored him. “We will help you.” “Help with what?” Katrina asked at last. “What is wrong?” “This man is needed at the Tri,” Xenritha said shortly before turning to the Caminee. “We will see to it that he arrives there.” Cha-Lee gave up with a sigh and the ship and man faded. Katrina pulled her mind and powers back into her physical body and felt dizzy but not ill. The more they merged the more she could control her reaction to it. Cha-Lee and Xenritha immediately left the room and separated for their perspective wings. Chalee-Siri stood at the office doorway, waiting. “They don’t look happy. What is happening?” “I don’t know. Neither tells me much lately,” the younger girl admitted with a shrug. All your father cares about lately is some Caminee man that will fly over this planet. I don’t know who he is or when he will be here.” Chalee-Siri nodded. Katrina knew she understood far more than her simple words but did not push for answers. Chalee-Siri looked up suddenly and asked, “Want to go check on the Olvecks?” They raced through the common area and out the door to the red wing. Chalee-Siri’s longer legs got her to the pen first but Katrina’s smaller, lighter size had her right behind the Caminee. Both looked into the pen as they fought to catch their breaths. “What are they doing?” Chalee-Siri asked as she watched the two Olvecks studiously sniffing one another. “Mating, I think. I think one’s a boy and the other’s a girl, though I can’t tell which is which. They’ve been sniffing each other a lot since they woke up; I guess its part of their ritual. I figure once it’s out of their system they’ll forget all about it.” “You’ve never seen them do that before?” “Not before they woke from the forced hibernation. I wasn’t there when they woke last time, at the school. I assume this is normal for them.” “I wonder how long it will be before there are baby Olvecks,” Chalee-Siri said wistfully. “If there are any.” “Was he young or old?” Chalee-Siri asked suddenly. “The Caminee my father is interested in, how old is he?” “I don’t know. He was/is/will be shorter than Cha-Lee. I guess he was quite a bit younger but without knowing the exact time period I can’t really guess his age.” “My father wants him to be my husband. There are too few Caminees to pick and choose. If I do not accept him I may not have another chance,” Chalee-Siri sighed. “I wish I knew more about him.” “Oh,” was all Katrina could think to say. As Katrina lay in bed, hours later, she wondered if she could answer her friend’s questions. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, concentrating on what she remembered of the Caminee. Puzzled, Katrina looked around her own room. Some things were different but the location was unmistakable. Vazigo D’Ong and his human wife stood in the sitting area, speaking softly but seriously. “He has known none of his kind since his parents left here, twenty standard years ago. You know how close to extension they are. If she does not come here he may never meet another of his kind.” “But to force a marriage…” “We will not force it. Let them meet and decide. I believe it to be best for them both, but we will let them decide,” Vazigo conceded in his heavily accented Basic. “How long will it be before she arrives?” “Days.” “This Siri will be a good wife to our Caminee?” the woman asked, concerned. “She needs him as much as he needs her. You know Caminees are only attracted to one another but can travel the galaxy without seeing another Caminee. They should meet.” “Yes,” she agreed reluctantly, “they should meet. And they will have their child. Then we will go through this again when the child has a chance at marriage.” “Guardian is sure to be free by then. The Caminees will have gone on their way and we will go on ours. Xenritha will tend to the Tri if he chooses, but we are sure to be gone,” he kissed her nose and she giggled. Katrina felt like an intruder and let her spirit fade from the scene. She advanced in time by mere days and watched from the Tri’s roof as the very young Cha-lee and Siri sat on the grass surrounding the Tri. They were shy with one another but warm and accepting. Katrina let herself slip back into her time and walked into the Hall of Elders. Vazigo watched her enter and sit before him. He still made her uncomfortable but not as much as before. “I’m sorry you were wrong,” she told the unmoving face. Katrina sat back, using her arms to hold her body semi-upright. She stared at the dead Zanespot for several moments before letting her arms slide away. She lay on the cold stone floor and looked at the ceiling. She closed her eyes and signed. Katrina hated the position Chalee-Siri was in but knew that Cha-Lee would not force a man unworthy of her on his daughter. Katrina sighed again and saw her own father’s wrinkled, smirking face appear before her eyes. He was laughing at her and at what he had done. Katrina shivered and opened her eyes. She knew what he had done and why he had done it and was scared of him still. Years had passed since Palpatine’s death and Endor yet he petrified her still. Katrina shook herself and moved to her feet. She would see to her friend’s happiness first, then decide what to do about her own marriage. Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader was still far from being at full health and was a threat to no one. She feared Cha-Lee and Xenritha’s discovery of his life but not enough to allow them to make her decisions for her. “You could have tried to find someone a bit nicer, at least,” she told Vazigo before leaving again for the red wing. |
