USH'S GAME EPISODE V- 'MAUSOLEUM'- DARK SIDE AREA

"Yeah Galder, you dumbass," Wraith says, punching Galder in the shoulder. He picks up a rifle himself, slinging it over his back.

"What are these things?"

Galder plants a solid punch in Wraith's jaw.

"Sorry Kuylen," Galder says, lowering the rifle. "So...what the hell are these guys?"

"Their the natives," says Kuylen. "The Zeitonians. Aren;t you?" he says to hos captive. "Hmm?"

Wraith, you think you know what this gun is. Your clue was when yuo could see no visile bolt. It doesn;t work on a ballistic principle.

It is a kinetic energy weapon. It transfers energy from the weapon to the target- so, not unlike being smahsed by an iron bar carried by Chion. The force behind this gun can easily maim or kill.

But. That seems odd. This gun is HIGHLY sophisticated. All this effort... simply to create a weapon with the same range and efficiency as a laser rifle... but slightly less actual killing power. Why bother?

Except... you can only think of one reason, and it disturbs you.

"Zeitonians? They look like giant frogs if you ask me..." Galder says, looking their leader straight in the eyes. "And why did this guy have a lightsaber?"

Well now, no need to be speiciesist, Rex, all sorts in Star Wars...

"Well, why do YOU have a lightsabre?" asks Kuylen. "And YOU," he says to his captive. I know you understand me. Talk!"

The leader speaks- with a very odd accent, but, unmistakably, in Standard.

"Who... who are you?" He looks between you all.

(How am I doing? I'm not too badly hurt am I?)

You count as wounded for a while, which gives -1 to all your skills until you get patched up (tip- don't duel).

"You know what we are..." says Kuylen.

"Impossible!" says the leader. "Where have you come from? Where did you get those weapons?"

"what weapons?" asks Takuan approaching the guy.

He indicates- best as he can with a sabre at his throat- towards your lightsabre.

"These?" asks Takuan a bit surprised. "how did you get yours for that matter?"

Getting up and shaking himself off Rah says "I guess these folk dont get around republic space often then, huh!"

"We built them, you dumbass. Or stole them," Galder says. "It is more interesting to us about where you got your's."

"No-one can build a lightsabre," he says. "It is not possible. And get around WHAT space, was that?"

"I got news for ya, frog boy," Galder says. He ignites his blue lightsaber to show the Zeitonian. "I built this one." He turns it off and clips it to his belt again. "And that space be the Galactic Republic. Bunch of losers who think they own the galaxy with a democracy that doesn't work."

"Hey you guys...these guns are anti-Jedi weaponry!" Wraith announces, studying the gun a bit.

"Excellent!" Rah says suddnely feeling a little brighter. "They ought to be good, that blast really knocked about!"

"i got a feeling these guyz got a special education. Things appear to be hidden from them..on purpose, i'd say" says Takuan. "but someone higher than him might provide interesting insight. Who's your superior, frog?"

Wraith has it. The only reason for anyone to use these weapons- is because lightsabres are totally ineffective against them.

"Galactic Republic, what are you talking about?" says the leader. "There is no life in the Galaxy; the radiation belts make it uninhabitable. Every child knows that.

"And it so happens that I am on the Zeitonian ruling Council!" he says, indignantly. "Only the Elder of our Council is superior to me!"

Kuylen smiles.

"Somehow I knew you would get to the heart of the matter, Takuan," he says. "Yes... someone here knows... and even YOU know, don't you?" he sas to his captive. "You just won't believe it. But tell me, how do you know Standard?"

"I should ask you that! I is the ancient language of our court..." But Kuylen is just laughing.

"Why fight it?" he says. "You KNOW what is going on. Because you feel it is true." The captive remains silent. "What is your name?"

"Shi'haia."

"Well then, Shi'haia. How many others are there like you on your Council?"

"Twenty five," he says.

"And let me guess, that is the same number as there are lightsabres?" Shi'Haia nods. "Yes... well then. We will need to speak with this Elder of yours. But," says Kuylen, raising a finger. "Not yet. First I want you to take us to a place of safety, on your authority. If you do not, do not think I will hesitate to kill you or your men, or if I cannot, then I shall yell loudly how you invited the Sith to this world, to all that will hear me."

Kuylen accentuates the word Sith- and the disarmed guards in the room take a step back in panic. You feel another wave of fear come over you.

"No!" says Shi'Haia. "I can take you... to the deeper tunnels. No-one goes there."

"Good," says Kuylen. "If you obey me well, I may even let you keep your sabre."

"Come with me," says Shi'Haia." You have to file ot through the doorway a couple at a time- or one Chion at a time. Chion seems to be following some of the guards a little too closely.

"Leave them alone, Chion," says Kuylen.

"I think Kuylen is right about these people," says Saar to you, Takuan.

"Stupid frogs..." says Jolanta, massaging her ribs as she wals out.

Wraith (again- handy you guys have an Executor here at last!), something else is bothering you.

Hyper-evolved Frogs. Ok, you have no trouble with that- there are all sorts in the Galaxy. Even weirdly ignorant frogs, though you cannot think why, considering how sophisticated their technology must be.

But underground frogs? No, that's just silly. And there is something even more fundamental than that aboutn this set-up but you cannot put your finger on it.

(Can the frog use the Force?)

Galder walks closer to Kuylen. "Care to tell me the history of their planet?"

"Knowledge has to be acquired, it cannot be given," says Kuylen. "What do you think happened here, Galder?"