After the last of the dead
from the Inheritor Revolt were given proper burials and all the damage had been
repaired twenty years later, Orono called an end to all conflict during the
annual Life Day celebration. Now was a time for healing and happiness...
In the streets of Dras Edoc’sil...
Fresh snowflakes and a
brisk, cold breeze followed Orono during his walk back to his spacious home. He
couldn’t help but grin at excited children running past him, grabbing
snowflakes to show their parents, making angels, or just reveling in the winter
weather. This was the reason for one of his moral principles: never mess with
children. While Orono was ready to fight and kill grown men and women if
necessary, children were precious, and their happiness was sacred, something to
be preserved. But today was no place for such dark thoughts. He had to get
home, and prepare the Zoiji holiday banquet. A short while later, he reached
the front door, opened and closed it despite the frost in the hinges and went
inside.
“Nadia, I’m home,” he said
after brushing off the snow from his robes.
“In here, honey,” came a melodious
voice from the kitchen.
“Give me a second to put
on some covers and I’ll be right there to help.” Orono replied.
After changing into
clothes befitting a cook at an upscale restaurant, Orono entered the kitchen to
find his wife busy at work. Four bottles of homemade mulled wine sat on the
table, Sarkhaian sweet cakes, golden brown with a chocolate-caramel glaze were
steaming on a tray, fresh from the oven. Nestled by them were hefty oval spiced
plums with Naboo-style calamari, filled with her signature nutmeg-ginger sauce.
Taking in this delicious sight Orono said,
“This looks amazing.”
“Thanks. I know they’re
your favorites.” Nadia said with a happy smile.
“Yes, all prepared by a
fantastic chef,” Orono replied. “I just hope I can do the same for you and
everyone else.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Nadia
said reassuringly. “If you need me, I’ll be stoking the fire, putting up the
tree and the ornaments all right?”
“Good luck.” Orono said
after giving his wife a kiss on the cheek. Flashing another of her famous
smiles, she was off, and he started cooking for the family. Thankfully the
Force came in handy where that was concerned.
First was Celgo: a mug of
Kashyykan ale, fried colo clawfish with red wine sauce, greens with tomatoes
and finally stuffed clams.
Next was Novon: Hoth
chocolate with Tauntaun milk and nutmeg, violet mashed potato, two helpings of stuffed
Opee sea killer steak and Corellian fried ice cream.
Next was Vyrkana: Weequayan
long noodle stir-fry with chives, rootleaf and red peppers, steamed purple
cabbage with a dark chocolate mousse and honeyed milk for dessert, a childhood
favorite.
For Xhulon and Korgo,
spiced Kaminoan prawns with caprese salad and a glass of Kaasian Bloodshot, an
old vintage wine from the Sith Empire Orono had been cultivating just for the
occasion, and on and on and on...
Several meals later...
After finally finishing
and exchanging his sweaty, flour caked chef’s clothing for a tuxedo, Orono
gazed at the feast, and couldn’t help but feel his mouth water. The chime of
his doorbell quickly snapped him back to attention. Smiling broadly, he
welcomed in his family as they entered, but became quietly concerned when his
granddaughter Viquina and her husband Zoken passed by. While she looked
stunning in her red-black sleeveless dress, he couldn’t help but notice a
significant bulge in her stomach, or the fact that Zoken was nearly cradling
her as they walked to the table. With a subtle tap on his wrist communicator,
he told the Zoiji medical team: Tharan Cedrax, Eckard Lokin, Talos
Drellik, Archiban Kimble, and at least forty assistants to be ready when he
gave the signal. It was in the middle of the family dinner that Viquina nearly
fell off her chair, howling in pain. All she could say was,
“They’re coming!”
In a flash, a platoon of
family doctors was one the scene. Tharan Cedrax was the head of this delicate
operation.
“Contraction rate?”
“Every fifteen seconds,
doctor,” his assistant answered.
“Oxygen level?”
“Stable for the moment,
but we haven’t much time before it could hurt the babies,” Doctor Lokin said
urgently.
“Babies?” Viquina managed
in a soft whisper.
“Yes,” Talos Drellik said
soothingly. “You’re carrying triplets.”
Much later...
“Alright, Viquina. One
more time,” said Archiban Kimble.
She weakly nodded.
“PUSH!”
With one final effort, the
last of the three scarlet-skinned babies was out.
“Congratulations,” Doctor
Lokin said warmly. “Three beautiful children, all girls.”
One after the other each
was given their name: Ixvya, Erys and Zeleste. Having regained enough strength,
their mother held them close and washed away their cries with a soft whisper
and a warm lullaby. Then, for Viquina’s sake, everyone else retired for the
evening, leaving Orono to stand vigil over his great-grandchildren. Even though
they were still infants, he could see the great deeds ahead of them and the
remarkable women they would become...
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| Talos Drellik, medic to Xhulon Zoiji |
 |
| Eckard Lokin medic to Vorgen Cyphon |
 |
| Tharan Cedrax, medic to Orono Zoiji |
 |
| Archiban Kimble, medic to Kozin Zoiji |
