F.K.N.S.          SZANTH/STAR WARS 


     Lusa waited by the landing field on Yavin 4. She mentally
reviewed the message she'd recieved from home. It was from her
cousin, Charo (pronounced Ka-roe, a as in cat). She was coming to
tell Lusa some bad news. She'd also said she wouldn't be alone.
     That was two days ago. She would arrive any moment now.
Indeed, she saw a small ship on final approach. It was brand new,
which was not surprising. She shifted impatiently. She noticed
that it was very late. Most of the students at the Jedi Academy
were asleep; which she was very glad of.
     The ship landing with a quiet whoosh. It had the name
"Underprice" painted on the side. The door opened and a figure
came out. Like Lusa she was a centaur, but she had pure white
glossy flanks while Lusa had rich cinnomen color flanks. Her hair
was also pure white while Lusa's was the cinnomen color. The real
differences were still to come. Lusa had a translucent horn on
her forehead, Charo did not. The last difference was hardly
noticeable. If you looked closely you could see the outline of
pure white wings.
     Charo smiled at her cousin. Lusa frowned and looked around.
"Here it is custom to where clothing. I think it would cause
trouble for you not to."
     Charo looked down at her bare front and sighed. "I suppose I
could, for now. I brought something. How are you?"
     Lusa shrugged. "Better. You recieved my last message?"
     Charo nodded. "Com sent me the message. You said there was a
boy here you favored. When do I get to meet him?"
     "Just like girls," they heard. A young human male stepped
out. "You act as if nothing important has happened."
     Charo rolled her eyes. "We are practicing the art of small
talk. I'll get to that soon."
     Lusa's nervousness increased. "What has happened? You've
never needed to go of planet for help. If things are bad enough
you can go to the Hieght."
     Another voice entered the conversation; it was firm and
authoritative. "The Hieght has been destroyed. Faith and her
people evacuated, but there was at least one death. I don't know
who." The voice belonged to a senior adult centaur. "I know you
don't think much of us, but Magician Humphry has said you and
those you chose are needed to save Szanth."
     Lusa shrugged. "Tell me what has befallen our befuddled
planet then."
     Charo nodded, strain now showing in her tan face. "If we
could find someplace to rest, it's an involved story."
                                 *
     They sat near the edge of the forest. First, Charo
introduced the human. "This is Einyn. He has the talent that what
he draws becomes real. He drew the ship we came in." She took a
deep breath. "Several weeks ago, another Wave struck." Lusa
gasped, but Charo continued. "They came in space ships. They call
themselves the Empire. I knew of them only from you. Our methods
aren't as useful against them as with the previous Waves. We've
lost a lot of ground. Many have gone into hiding. One of the
largest ships, I think you call them Star Destroyers, fired on
the Hieght. The EU's teleported out, but as we said, at least one
was killed. King Dolph sent Einyn, Kohc, and I. Humphry says you
and six companions will be one of the two groups to save us."
     "Two groups?" Lusa asked.
     Einyn answered. "I believe the second group to be the posse
taking vengeance for their friend's death. Hopefully, for Admiral
Reir, this person was not of the Fa IUB."
     "Admiral Reir?" Lusa asked, that was almost as bad as the
last Wave leader, Hasbinbad.
     Einyn nodded. "Yes, Admiral Lars Reir. He is leading the
takeover."
     Lusa saw that it was morning. "Everyone will be up soon.
Charo, get dressed."
                *                              *
     As the Academy woke up they came out of the temple. Jedi
Master Luke Skywalker was the first to greet the visitors. He
still looked like a farmboy, but their was depth in his eyes that
indicated experience. "Welcome, you must be Lusa's friends."
     Charo nodded. "Indeed, we are. I like this planet. It's not
too civilized and magic is not denied."
     "We don't use magic, the Force..." Luke began
     Lusa stopped him. "You can't win in an argument with a
centaur."
     "Alicentaur." Charo stated with a glare at Kohc, the
centaur.
     "Magic and the Force are the same to them. You'd have to
visit home to understand." Lusa finished.
     Someone called Luke and he left after apologizing to the
visitors. A few moments later a group of five youths walked over.
"Good Morning, Lusa." one with brown hair said, Jason, Charo
learned. His twin with longer brown hair, Jaina stood beside him.
On his other side was a girl in lizard skin armour, with red hair
in many braids, and without half of one of her arms. Her name was
Tenel Ka. Behind her was a large furry creature. He had a small
translater droid strapped around his waist (Em Teedee). His name
was Lowie. The last was a youth with blonde hair.
     Charo smiled at her cousin. "This must be Raynar then."
     Lusa blushed. "Yes, he is."
     "Is it common for your species to have such differences?" Em
Teedee asked in what Charo found to be his usual blunt manner.
     Kohc spoke first. "They are not centaurs."
     "Indeed?" Tenel Ka asked. "You are then?"
     He nodded. "They are crossbreeds."
     Charo fluffed her wings out to full size. Most of the group
hadn't noticed them and it was a surprise. "If these set me apart
and make me less than you so be it. You'll never fly." She turned
to the young Jedi Knights. "I was crossbred with a winged horse."
     "I was crossbred with a unicorn." Lusa said defensively.
Charo settled her wings and Lusa quickly changed the subject. She
had figured out what she needed to do. "I need your help." she
said and explained.
                                *
     The next day they met at the landing field. Charo, Lusa,
Kohc, and Einyn. Jaina, Jacen, Lowie, Raynar, and Tenel Ka had
agreed and been given permission to do some minor espionage.
     Charo shook her head. "We can't leave yet."
     "Why?" Lusa asked.
     Charo gestured towards the young Jedi Knights. "You only
have five companions."
     Lusa remembered. "Humphry said to bring six."
     "You are acting as if we can't possibly win unless we have
every little thing he says."
     "Yes," Charo said. "We trust him. He is .....gifted."
     A small ship came into sight and landed. A young man came
out. Jaina ran over to him and gave him a hug. "Zekk! How was
your trip?"
     "Boring." he stated. "No more vacations for me."
     Jacen smiled. "We have just the thing to make up for it."
                             *******