The Final Call of the Clan

The final call of the clan, that sensation alone, tugged at the Sith Lord’s heart. Would she answer a call that could end her life? Or deal with their taunting threats to end hers? The day had come for Paislee to leave her family and pursue her mother, Nemai. It was a tough decision but one that needed to be made. She didn’t know the actual cost of heading to Eshan, but her longing to unite her family stirred up the courage to confront them once and for all.  The day had arrived as Paislee had dressed up in her tribal armor suit and strapped a gray belt around her mid-waist. Her intentions were clear as her saber was left behind, stationed on the nightstand. Drace swaddled their son with one arm as she watched. Paislee slicked her hair to the side. She faced her family before she headed out—a tender kiss for Drace and one last hug for Arlan.

“I’ll have a crew for this mission. They have specific orders. Drace. I love you.”

“I love you too. Be safe.” 

“I’ll try my best.”

Heading out on her fury interceptor, she met half of her crew, a few trusted soldiers from House Thul, her finest. Once she arrived at the hangar, a small meeting before leaving for the planet, Eshan was held.

“Soldiers of House Thul. Front and center.”

 

It was too early to lose heart; however, this was necessary. The men marched in a row front and center. Paislee gave a firm glance which they returned a resounding expression but allowed her to continue.

“You all are aware of your objective. I’m not going to give a speech about failure. There will be no seeds of doubt.”Paislee nodded as her eyes landed on the youngest soldier, Hawkins.

Hawkins, top of the scientific research class, received a personal invitation to serve as Queen Singh’s medical physician. It was Hawkins’ first mission with the royal princess at age 27. The two of them had run-ins together at House Thul while she dated Janos. Now he was under her command and played a significant part as her medic. Hawkins raised his hand to his forehead as the other stood ready to salute her. Paislee grinned. The speech, though simple, inspired them to be alert in case anything was to go majorly wrong, Hawkins, especially. Paislee fastened a small communicator disguised as a classic piece of jewelry to reach her main ship in orbit. Hawkins took the pilot seat next to Paislee, and the other troopers headed to their shuttle.

Both ships hyper-jumped to the Inner Rim territories, a few parsecs from the Eshan star system. With that, Hawkins flew her shuttle down to the planet’s surface. The turbulence of the ship landed in a forest not far from the city of Eshan. Paislee held a small holovid of Arlan and Drace. She hit play, and an image of Drace and their son, Arlan, appeared before her. Arlan held onto Drace’s finger. Paislee glared at the two and the budding bond. She stopped the holovid and put it on the dashboard, looking at Hawkins.

"We'll go our separate ways but stay in range."

"I'll check your temperature and vitals using this bioscanner. It should send me a warning sign. We've tested it out."

"I will send the coordinates of Bithrai’s location once I’ve received them. Let's go."

Hsss. The shuttle door lifted open as Paislee stepped against the forest terrain. Hawkins took the far east end, and she trailed north. The gravel crunched against her boots as she made her way closer to town. The birds screeched and flocked off a nearby tree. In the distance, not far, is a roaring waterfall. Her pendant helped her blend in somewhat, but the townspeople stared and whispered as she made her way through the marketplace. Paislee’s slightly olive skin tone was the only thing that labeled her different from the pale-skinned people. She walked out of sight, or so she thought. Paislee kept a keen eye but contacted her mother as soon as possible.

 

“Paislee!” Nemai cried.

“Mother, it’s me. I came to see you.”

“It’s not safe where you are; come to these coordinates.” Nemai ended the call.

Coordinates beep on Paislee’s comm as she peered through the alleyway. Paislee made it the rest of her way to her mother. The town was full of talk about this new estranged visitor. Zeth and Fuli, Bithrai’s councilwomen, walked inside the merchant’s tent to acquire more armor per their master’s request. Two women conversed nearby them.

“Greetings, Slsalo.” (Sister)

“Slsalo.” Zeth and Fuli returned the greeting.

“Did you see the new visitor we have today?” They giggled.

“What is this speech of a new visitor?”

“She looks familiar, eh? Looks like Nemai's daughter.” Paislee’s image came up on holo.

"That's not Jaria!"

"Then who is it?" The women conversed with each other.

Zeth nudged Fuli and whispered into her ear. They paid for the armor and rushed back to Bithrai’s palace. 

Meanwhile, Nemai held Paislee so tight before letting her go. Each one of them at a time, Tazal and Jaria, did the same. However, their looks grew cold after a while. Not that they weren’t happy to see her, it was the danger of her just being there alone that put despair into their hearts. Tazal stepped away with Jaria.

 

“We will bring some food. You must be hungry. Come along, Jaria.”

Paislee grinned as Tazal and Jaria left the room. Nemai grinned and cupped Paislee’s hands together with her own.

“My child, why come to find me? It’s not safe here. Think about your son, your family.”

 

“Mom. It was in my son’s best interest that I came to find you. We can't be together, and I'm going to change that.” Paislee squeezed her mother’s hands tighter.

“I’ve failed you, Paislee,” she sniffled.

“Your great grandfather, Aerosi. He died at the hands of Echani. I don’t want that for you. You must leave now and never come back.” She stood to guide her outside.

“No. I’m not leaving you! I had no choice but to let you leave me back home on Alderaan. I don’t care what the Echani believe. Life without you has been so difficult. I’m not going to leave you.” She hugged her mother.

Nemai’s heart sank to her gut. It still felt foreign to hold onto her firstborn daughter after so many years. Paislee's determination to stay by her mother’s side was fierce. Tazal and Jaria talked in the kitchen amongst each other.

“What are we going to do?” Jaria chopped some fennel and herbs.

“I don’t know, but it won’t be long before Bithrai finds out.” Tazal pounded the mallet against the meat.

“Maybe I could teach her some Echani.” She shrugged.“That’s a good idea.” He sauteed the meat.

The two of them finished a classic meal of Paislee served with tea. The china rattled as Jaria stepped into the room with a serving tray. Her face beamed as the scent of herbed chicken-like meat wafted through the room. Tazal followed behind her with the meal. Nemai and Paislee glanced over at them.

 

“Let’s eat.” Tazal beckoned all to the dining area.

After dinner, Jaria and Paislee watched the night's sky. The two conversed after a while. 

"You're not ready." Jaria kicked the pebbles.

"Jaria, this is my battle," Paislee replied.

"I don't want you to die!" Jaria sniffled, "Let me train you before it's too late."

The determination in Jaria's eyes beamed as intense as the moonlight of Eshan. Both took defensive stances several feet away from the house. The last time Jaria faced Paislee was when they first met on Manaan. The tension rose between them. Jaria froze up like a deer-in-headlights. Paislee had only taken a step closer and then dropped her arms. Jaria blinked twice with her head tilted to the side. Seeing that Paislee had given up, she rushed at her out of frustration. Paislee crouched down and slammed her down into a pin. Jaria’s heart thumped in her tiny chest. She winced from the sudden takedown then smirked. It seemed that Paislee wasn’t ultimately a lost cause. Tazal grinned from the window as he watched the two of them pinning each other. However, his heart grew dim as he knew how dangerous the tribal council of Bithrai was. 

"Jaria, enough." Paislee huffed.

Paislee got shoved from behind to the ground again. Why wasn't Jaria listening to her? She called out again to cease as she attempted to get up. However, her muscles waned from a forceful blow to the back. Paislee winced as the punch was not from Jaria at all. Assuming the opponent will strike in the same manner, Paislee whipped around to dodge the next incoming blow. Her shaky hands caught her mother's fist. Nemai sprung her free hand towards her side. Paislee knelt towards the right then freed her stance to counter. Being timid not to harm her mother, Paislee held back from attacking rather than blocking.

"Don't hold back, Pais." Nemai landed a right hook and left hook to her midsection.

Paislee flipped back; sweat dripped from her forehead. She kept her fist high and stomach tight. It was as if she sensed every nerve, cell, muscle and the sound of her blood in her body. Paislee rushed at her, but Nemai sidestepped and grabbed Paislee from behind. Another hit at Paislee’s inflamed back from her mother's knee. She rolled with the impact and hopped up. Paislee held a loose stance.

"Mom, I'm not going- to fight you."

"Then, I will."

Nemai flipped her again harder, this time as pain was the motivation that kept her fighting.  Paislee lunged forward to meet her, jabbing her fist towards her stomach. Nemai dodged her nimbly. A sudden and forceful thrust sent Paislee sprawling on all fours. The kick to the back wasn't pleasant. Emotions were high. Paislee grimacing from another kick to the side and another. Over and over again. 

"Was her mother trying to kill her? Or maybe she is overreacting? Was it because she missed out on my life?" She thought. Either way, Paislee curled up tighter, but the kicks grew forceful. 

"Fight back! Fight back! C'mon!" Nemai shouted.

The turmoil that Tazal heard and saw caused him to dart from the kitchen sink and outside. He yanked Nemai up mid-air as she shrieked. She swung and kicked despite his grip on her waist.

"That's enough," Tazal stated.

"Let me...GO!!!" Nemai jerked from him.

"I said, THAT IS ENOUGH!" Tazal yelled and planted Nemai's body erect on the ground. 

Even the forest grew silent in the dead of the night as Tazal's outburst startled every living thing outdoors. The familiar metallic taste of blood pooled in Paislee's mouth while the sound of her heart thumped into her ears, which made Jaria’s screams deafening. She'd figured out that she was her mother's daughter. They acted so similarly that it was frightening. Nemai finally got a hold of herself.

"You're only hurting your daughter. This is not beneficial."

"Do you think they're going to go easy on her? You know as well as I do that she's good as dead. I have failed her."

"You are telling the truth. However, this will not help our daughter. Get up, Paislee."

 

Paislee's hands gritted against the dirt as she stood sluggishly. Her heavy eyes shifted between her mother and stepfather. The night howled, and the moon beamed before them. They shared stares amongst each other, but all eyes landed back on Paislee. She wiped the coagulated blood from her face. Nemai looked down, ashamed of her actions.

"Paislee, I was only-" Nemai blurted out.

She raised a hand towards her mother and then stumbled past her family. Her determination to train waned significantly. Nemai reached out to console Paislee, but she kept walking, not acknowledging her. Tazal understood Paislee a lot better. He, no doubt, saw that fight in his stepdaughter, and it was similar to his wife. Jaria ran after her sister leaving Tazal and Nemai under the night sky. 

"Paislee can handle herself. I can sense it, but you need to have faith in her."

"But I don't think she's ready."

"She doesn't have a choice, and I think she knows that."

The following day Paislee got dressed in some of her mother's war tribal clothes. Jaria helped prepare her stepsister for the ultimate showdown against the tribe of Bithrai. Stripes of paint were stroked along her cheekbones and on her forehead. Hair slicked back with her bangs pinned around. Nemai and Tazal made a hearty breakfast in hopes of talking about last night. However, when called for breakfast, Paislee walked out with Jaria behind her. Nemai covered her mouth. Tazal stood from the table and gave a fist-to-fist bow. Jaria did the same as her father. Their eyes fell onto Nemai awaiting her response. She gave away to tears but ascended, offering the same notion. Not a moment later, they were headed out towards Bithrai’s campgrounds. They arrived in its inner dwelling. Guards saluted and allowed them to reach the throne room, ornate with torn banners of Bithrai’s symbol on them. The room engulfed them as they walked where Bithrai, Zeth, and Fuli waited for them.

“Bre’thro Bithrai.”

“Bre’thro Tazal. It seems we meet again. If it isn’t the Sith that was in your care earlier.”

“We’ll settle this for good. My daughter will prove her alliance in the trial of death.”

“Daughter?!” Bithrai’s expression drew back, unsurprised.

“She'll never be one of us.”

Paislee clenched her fist tightly and looked over the other two women beside him. A tender expression painted Paislee and her mother’s faces briefly while Bithrai looked at Fuli. The contrast between their physical appearance wasn’t too far off, but it was clear that Fuli was more tone than Paislee’s supply build. 

“Fuli will enter the ring with your disgrace of a daughter.”

 

Tribal instruments, drums, pots clanging, and chants blared outdoors as the two clan members and speculators gathered in the open seats around the ring. Two members dragged sticks in a circle that marked the arena. Paislee walked out towards the center of the ring as there was a mixture of boos and cheers. Fuli entered from the other side. The referee came in between the two as the councilmen spoke. 

“Our death trial will be commenced by the tribe of Tazal versus the tribe of Bithrai. Half-bred stepdaughter, Paislee of Nemai versus Bithrai’s tribal head councilwoman, Fuli. Paislee’s death will result in the exile of Tazal’s clan and riddance of the half-bred Echani.”

The same gem that Jaria had back on Manaan caused her to beam brightly, causing temporary weakness when held over Paislee's head. However, it did nothing to the full-blooded Echani warrior. A force suppression collar was in place for a fair fight. The trial of death results in being beaten to death by hand and then slit on to bleed dry. 

The councilwomen of Tazal grabbed metal hooks, and scalpels and led Paislee to the side over for scarification and to be branded. They set them ablaze over a raging fire pit. Once they glowed, they were ready. They etched Tazal's symbol on the back of her neck and her torso. Upon her face with a hot round-tipped rod. Lines were stripped down with dots on her face and in front of her throat. Paislee hissed at the pressure and cringed at the smell of her skin burning. She was ready to reenter the ring. The two circled each other, and occasionally Paislee hopped in place, flicking her hand. Fuli swung with a right punch and left punch at her, but Paislee deflected them, swiping away each blow. Fuli grabbed onto both of Paislee's forearms. 

Paislee didn't resist the pull but followed it with a shove. Fuli released her grip to catch her balance as her opponent hunkered down into a low kick behind her knee. Dust ascended from the ground as Fuli landed on her back. With a quick recovery, she shifted her weight and kicked Paislee’s rib cage. Crack. Paislee staggered back, placing a shorthand on her side. Fuli extended her leg into a higher kick. However, Paislee reached out and twisted her leg into a spin. Wasting no time, she took a couple of powerful kicks at her downed opponent's head and side. Fuli rolled into a sore stance; she shook her head from side to side. 

Paislee paced in a circle before she took an open hit to her torso. Fuli flipped Paislee by the arm, taking her down in a shoulder throw. Her rib bone cracked again. Fuli grappled her from behind, slinging her over her head and down to the ground. Paislee screamed from the further dislocation of her broken bones. Straddling over Paislee's waist, Fuli attempted to headbutt her but failed to secure Paislee’s hands down. She slapped with the right and struck Fuli’s cheeks with the left. The two separated from each other again. Paislee's sweat beaded down her temples. Her breathing, was scarce as she circled yet again. Fuli faked her with a punch to her upper chest but kicked Paislee in the chin. Paislee fell back into a kneel, cupping her mouth as dark blood dribbled over her hands. Another kick to the same rib caused Paislee to shriek out in pain. Fuli smirked as she went an uppercut towards her chin and then a jab in her guts. With her jaw dislocated and her broken bones scraping against her organs, Paislee fell over on her side, clenching onto her ribs. The referee waved around his red tarnished flag, which signaled the death challenge.

 

“Paislee!! Get up!!!” Nemai screamed. Tazal pulled back on Nemai as Jaria did the same, trying to calm her mother. Fuli chucked the two short sword blades down against the terrain. Paislee slithered over towards the blade and picked it up. With some difficulty, she stood up, eyes focused on Fuli. With arched shoulders, they circled again. Her slow-motion wasn’t helpful as Fuli stepped forwards and shanked at her opponent in the mid-waist. Blood squirted out pelting against the dusty terrain Paislee staggered back a little before she swung out lethargically at Fuli. Her opponent's blade shanked into Paislee’s stomach again and again. With a turning kick from Fuli, Paislee's body thudded against the ground. The sword fell from the grip of her hand. Blood painted her body.

"Bre’thro, Sisalo. This is why half-breed Echani will always prove inferior. By order of Bithrai, from our forefathers of Eshan. We will get rid of their exist-"

Paislee slit the blade across Fuli’s neck. She gasped with her hands snug around her neck. Another slit across severed her throat open, then a stab in the chest. Paislee shoved her down but collapsed herself. Impeccable timing, Hawkins came rushing through to Paislee to get hold of her. Two soldiers followed behind and stood armed at the other Echani until Hawkins and an assistant scurried away with Paislee on a gurney out of the ring. Nemai rushed to follow them, as did Jaria and Tazal. Hawkins set up sight not far from the location where Paislee had been fighting. He secured the wound to stop the bleeding from seeping. 

“Quick, her pulse is fading.” Nemai squeezed her hands.  

Instead of pacing around, she kneeled by Hawkins’ side, analyzing the situation. 

“Your Highness!” He bowed and moved over some.

“She's lost too much blood. We need to act now.” Nemai looked at the greenery for a quick growth colony or fungi.

Jaria went to find what was needed in a hurry as Nemai and Hawkins prepped for minor surgery on Paislee’s organ, which they were now aware of her kidney. Hawkins mixed a concoction to induce a coma as Paislee slowly faded into unconsciousness. He kept firm pressure enough to keep more blood inside of her. Nemai found the hemosponge and cut it down to size to insert the opening inside her kidney to slow the bleeding down. Doing this caused her to shift from the insertion. Jaria returned with the quick growth colony, fresh medicinal goo, and potent Keena berries to produce a higher blood count. They injected the mixture into her veins. It wasn’t a quick fix, but it was a good enough start. Hawkins needed a better setup, but she was stable under the former Queen, Nemai's provisions for now.

 

“What now?” Nemai shifted her eyes over Hawkins.

“I can perform surgery in a few days. I have to return to camp.”

“Jaria. Go with him and make sure he is okay.” Nemai ordered.

“Your Highness. I can handle this with my men.”

Nemai nodded before looking back over to Paislee. She laid there still covered in her blood. Her heart was a heavy rock resting in the pit of her soul. Nemai kneeled, kissing her on the forehead before Tazal and the crew came to take her back to their home. In a few days, Hawkins had completed the surgery while suggesting to let Paislee come out of the coma herself while leaving her immersed inside a kolto tank.

 

“Shouldn't we remove the force suppression collar, ma’am?” The nurse asked.

“No,” Nemai shook her head. “If she is anything like me, she’ll only fight the help.” 

Fin.