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Author	Topic: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
Commander-DWH Registered: Nov '03	Date Posted: 6/6/06 1:18pm Subject: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge) - Date Edited: 6/6/06 3:48pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Commander-DWH
	Title: For A Herd of Holy Herbivores Author: DWH Characters: Kylan Sheffield, Leiraya Moran, Gavyn Benet, Marcus Dakra Timeframe: Mandalorian Wars Genre: Angst, silly laws with nasty consequences Summary: Kylan Sheffield is a darned good soldier, but should probably read up on local laws before planning an attack. Notes: Written for the OC Dueling Challenge #n, where n is the current challenge number. Excerpt in italics towards the end is from Mobius. Also, I am of the school of thought which holds that Revan and Malak are Sith names, i.e. names they took for themselves after turning to the Dark Side. So Gavyn is Revan, and Marcus is Malak. Just for reference. “You know how I feel about this war, Kylan. Why are you telling me this?” Kylan Sheffield sighed heavily. He had known from the outset that she wasn’t going to like this. Even if she knew in her head how strongly he felt about his responsibility to help, he knew that her heart wouldn’t accept it. “I’m telling you because I thought we were friends,” he shot back. “I thought maybe you’d be able to see past our differences for ten seconds and wish me well or something.” “Kylan,” Leiraya’s hazel eyes were full of sorrow and regret. “You know I care about you. But I can’t support you in this fight. You know I can’t support you in any sort of fighting.” “People are dying, Leiraya. Innocent people. And not even people like you and me- people who can’t protect themselves. Isn’t it our duty to help those who can’t help themselves?” “Has anyone tried an option that doesn’t involve killing people?” She crossed her arms stubbornly. “I may not think much of what the Selonians are doing, but that doesn’t mean I think we should go out and kill them.” “Well, what do you propose, then? An Eastern Corellian tea ceremony, followed by a nice chat in the garden?” Kylan mirrored her pose angrily. “You know as well as I do that it won’t work. Your idealism isn’t helping anyone.” “Fine.” She practically spat the word. “Go. Be a hero. Save the entire galaxy, why don’t you?” The two glared at each other for several long seconds before Kylan’s gaze finally softened. “Listen, I didn’t come here for a fight.” “I know.” She sighed. “I just... I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Too many lives have already been lost.” “Hey, you ought to know that nobody’s going to hurt me,” he grinned. “As my sparring partner, you’ve made sure I’m prepared for whatever comes at me, right?” Leiraya smirked. “I wouldn’t count on it, but I hope I’ve been a little helpful. I don’t suppose there’s going to be any changing your mind, is there?” Kylan shook his head. “Not a chance. But I will promise, just for you, that I won’t kill anyone unless I absolutely have to.” “I can hold you to that, right?” “Always.” Kylan Sheffield blinked at the ceiling above his bunk. It had been more than a year since he left Corellia to fight in the Mandalorian Wars, and several years since his involvement in the Selonian Conflict, but dreams like this one kept surfacing. They mostly involved memories of just before he left, of Leiraya giving him one of any million reasons why he shouldn’t be fighting. He’d always argued with her, told her it was a noble cause. And he knew that he still believed that. But there were days when he wondered if maybe what she had to say had some amount of merit. He rolled out of bed, rubbing his temples. He remembered when he first joined the Republic military effort. He’d been a complete unknown, and many of the Jedi had looked down on him simply because he was Corellian. They would make snide references about the non-traditional teaching methods and the wildly pacifistic streak that seemed to be the norm. It wasn’t strictly true; few people were as staunchly anti-violence as Leiraya, but he couldn’t really argue with a lot of what they had to say. He hadn’t been raised as a traditional Jedi. He lived with his family, which was unheard of outside Corellia. His combat training had involved dance lessons. His robes, while cut traditionally, where emerald green in direct contrast to the earthy tones the other Jedi seemed to favour. And even if he didn’t agree with Leiraya, he didn’t like the sound of people mocking her beliefs. She may have had some strange ideas, but she could at least back them up, and he found it to be somewhat criminal that they’d never had the benefit of knowing a reasonable person who was anti-war. All they had to reference was the Jedi Council, whose reasons were more along the lines of, “We don’t know what to do, so we recommend doing nothing.” At least, that was what he gathered from the other Jedi. If the truth were to be told, he missed her more than he cared to admit. `This, of course, did not explain why these memories kept playing over and over in his dreams. He would have imagined that if there was a time for guilt, it would have been right after he took off. Kylan was not exactly proud of the way he left her, being that she was the only person he hadn’t informed personally of his departure. He’d left her with a message, but somehow he doubted she’d been impressed. What would surprise him is if she ever talked to him again. Shaking his head, he put on his robes and pulled his boots over his feet. Dwelling on past mistakes was not going to help, and Gavyn Benet was a tough taskmaster. He felt lucky to be working for the master tactician, and the last thing he wanted was to have his sorry tail transferred back to Corellia. Stationed on the Leviathan, Kylan was with some of the best fighters in the Republic. He made his way towards the bridge to report for his morning duties, trying to shake the memories off. It was so different back home, he reflected. I wonder if I’d look at it the same way if I went back now. Marcus Dakra was already pacing the bridge when he arrived. Standing seven feet tall, Marcus could be intimidating as he pleased, but anyone who knew him was familiar with his easy smile. “Good morning, Kylan,” Marcus greeted him. “Morning, Marcus. Has Gavyn arrived yet?” “No, he wanted to check on a few things before coming to the bridge. Heard about some ruckus back on the planet, I think having to do with yesterday’s mission.” “Really?” Kylan frowned. “I thought that all went through cleanly.” “Should have,” Marcus shrugged. “I thought the Mandalorians were dealt with quite handily. Apparently something went at least somewhat not right, though.” The mission the day before had been a relatively simple one- Agamar was a small outpost of farmers, and seemed to be of little military importance, but Gavyn had insisted it was key. Agamar, while underpopulated, was in such a position that it would make it easier for the Mandalorians to get to Ithor, which would be devastated by such attacks, and would let them closer to Dantooine, which held a sizeable enclave of Jedi. The Mandalorians had not anticipated such a great response from the Republic and the Jedi, and thus they were completely underprepared for the battle. It had been relatively simple to drive them back, and they made it out without any civilian losses. Well, unless one wished to count a field of grazing herbivores used to draw the Mandalorians away from the settlers. All things considered, it was a rousing success. “I can’t imagine what they’re complaining about,” Kylan commented as he pulled out his datapad, looking to see if maybe he missed some details in the final report. “Maybe they thought it was high-handed,” Marcus suggested. “Right. So terrible of us to defend them from the people who have been destroying settlements across the Rim.” Kylan shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense.” “No, it doesn’t.” Everyone’s head snapped up as Gavyn irritably strode on to the bridge. At average height, he looked quite small next to his towering partner, but his presence more than made up for that. With dark brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and an engaging manner, he commanded attention wherever he went. “Gavyn, what’s all this we’ve been hearing about planetside?” Marcus inquired. “Nobody’s been willing to give us any details.” “Knight Sheffield, might I have a word with you?” Gavyn nodded towards Kylan. Kylan, taken somewhat aback by the sudden formality, nodded stiffly. “Yes, sir.” They made their way to a small conference room just down the hallway. Gavyn closed the door and looked pointedly at Kylan. “You, my friend, are in a world of trouble.” “I... what?” Kylan had to work to keep his jaw from hanging open. “Why?” “I don’t know how this happened, or what precisely is going on, but the locals are out for blood. Yesterday, during the attack, you showed ingenious tactics by drawing the Mandalorian forces to a field away from the citizens, making them think that the bovines grazing there were, in fact, the actual farmers.” “Well... yes.” Kylan nodded. It had been a crazy idea, but it had worked. “Surely you don’t disapprove?” “I don’t disapprove at all,” Gavyn shrugged. “I thought it was brilliant planning. The locals, however, do not.” “Do you mind my asking why?” “There’s some sort of religious connotations to that particular species of bovines. It was why they were pastured so far away from the citizens in the first place, something about keeping them pure or some such.” Gavyn sighed. “By killing that herd, they think you’ve incited divine wrath, and they insist that if we do not deal with you accordingly, then they’ll take matters into their own hands.” “You mean they’d rather we leave them to die at the hands of the Mandalorians than kill a herd of bovines?” Kylan looked skeptically at Gavyn. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” “I’m not,” Gavyn shook his head. “And by Republic law, we have to do something about this.” This time, Kylan was unable to keep his jaw under control. “You mean... I’m actually being punished for this?” “It’s trickier than that. The law dictates that you should be handed over to the local courts for justice.” “And the problem with this is...?” “Kylan, they want to offer you up as a sacrifice to appease their gods.” Silence hung between the two men for several seconds. “So... what does Republic law say about that?” Gavyn sighed. “It doesn’t. It’s very shady as to where the line is drawn in local customs. Personally, I think it’s barbaric. But I’m not in a position to say no.” “You can’t be seriously telling me you’re going to let them turn me into a human sacrifice.” “I’m not,” Gavyn replied. “I can give you another way. But I’m not sure it’s any better.” “And that would be?” “You disappear. Take on a new name, find a new profession, something. I hate to lose you, but I can’t keep you. And I’d rather not see you dead.” “I can’t just leave this war now. I came to help people.” “People,” Gavyn stated emphatically, “seem to be more concerned with their crop of holy bovines than they do about being protected. And the only way I can protect you is to give you a chance to run. You’re a good enough soldier that I can convince people you escaped without any help from me.” “Well.” Kylan looked at his boots. So, that was it, then. Kill a herd of holy herbivores, and you’re done. He may have promised Leiraya he wouldn’t kill people without good cause, but he was sure that the small band of vegetarians back at the enclave on Corellia would be laughing if they could hear this now. Not that he could go back to Corellia, as the Republic would be able to find him there. “I’m sorry, Kylan.” Gavyn looked sympathetically at him. “I’d offer you protection if I could, but I can’t.” “I appreciate the thought,” he smiled weakly. “Give me a call if the rules change, right?” “Just don’t bury yourself too badly, and I’ll find you wherever you may roam.” Gavyn clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ve been a good fighter, Sheffield. I’m sorry to lose you.” “Yeah.” Kylan heaved a sigh as they left the conference room. “Me too.” * * * Kylan scanned the waterfront. “I think I liked your hair better when it was its actual colour.” “You know, there’s a reason I didn’t ask for your input before I did it.” Leiraya ran her hands through her hair, recently dyed a deep aqua. “Besides, I happen to like my hair this colour, and Karalina, let go of that buoy! You know you’re not supposed to hang on it!” As was common with their on-duty conversations, she had to break off mid-thought to shout some instruction or another to whoever was breaking a rule at the time, accompanying it with a flurry of hand signals that only the Waterfront Safety Patrol could actually understand. It was probably a good thing, too, else Karalina might have been confused as to why she was too tall to dive off the pier wearing water shoes. “Still practicing your hand signals, I see.” “Your input is entirely unnecessary. See why I don’t ask for it?” “I might be talked into keeping my so-called ‘unnecessary’ comments to myself, you know.” Leiraya laughed briefly. “That’s a good one. And what would be your price?” “I’ll stop making unnecessary comments about subjects such as your hair and your hand signal technique when you stop making unnecessary comments about the war.” “I thought we’d agreed to close that subject.” “So had I, but you keep making veiled comments.” “I don’t make veiled comments.” “Of course you do, Norman, if you dive off that pier, you’re going to be sitting on the beach for a week!” Norman looked up innocently. “I wasn’t gonna!” “Do we look like we were dragged into the Enclave yesterday?” Kylan maintained a completely unimpressed air. “Feet first entry only!” “I dunno how you two still catch everything,” Norman mumbled. “You’re always fighting.” “Train hard enough, and you can multitask, too,” Leiraya replied easily. “Now just follow the rules so we can go back to our argument.” Grumbling something about grown-ups being no fun, Norman turned to jump off the pier in the correct manner. Leiraya was grinning, but Kylan still looked quite serious. “People are dying, Leiraya.” The smile dropped from her face. “I know. But how many more will die trying to fight them? And will the Mandalorians be tempted to push even harder? Has anyone even tried talking to them?” “You don’t just talk to Mandalorians.” “And there you go, perpetuating a bias that is probably only half true, if that.” She crossed her arms. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe you’re wrong?” “Did you ever stop to think that maybe you’re wrong?” An uncomfortable silence hung between them for a few minutes. Leiraya, of course, liked to think she had considered the idea that she was wrong. And perhaps on an intellectual level, she had. But there was a part of her, deep in her gut, that refused to believe anything else. Kylan finally broke the silence. “Let’s talk about something else.” The waterfront on Borleias reminded him all too much of the waterfront on Corellia. Looking over the watery expanse, he wondered if maybe he should have listened to Leiraya before leaving. Glancing at his right hand, he observed the sun reflecting off the delicate mobius band around his ring finger. He’d given one just like it to her, at least, he hoped she had found it. It would have been better, he imagined, if he’d taken the time to do it himself. But you can’t go back and change the past. His lightsaber and Jedi robes were safely hidden in the freighter Gavyn had provided him, and he had traded them for yet another water safety uniform. It felt good to be around the water again, but it wasn’t the same. Part of the joy of working the waterfront had been his banter with Leiraya, debating the hot issues of the day, or just teasing her for whatever her latest crazy stunt was. He wondered briefly if her hair was still blue, and if she’d listen to him if he sent her a message. Not that he could, of course. If she caught wind of where he was, she might make the trip out specifically to yell at him. He smiled at the thought, but knew he couldn’t allow it. All for a herd of bovines, he shook his head ruefully as he scanned the gleaming waters. Up until a few days ago, he would have said leaving was more than worth it. Now, he wasn’t so sure. -----signature----- Complements (KOTOR)- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/21177927/ Luminosity- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27900517/ Barefoot hippie in the OC revolution Master of the lovely and talented SoA
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Layren Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 6/7/06 9:41am Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	“Well, what do you propose, then? An Eastern Corellian tea ceremony, followed by a nice chat in the garden?” Kylan mirrored her pose angrily. “You know as well as I do that it won’t work. Your idealism isn’t helping anyone.” “Fine.” She practically spat the word. “Go. Be a hero. Save the entire galaxy, why don’t you?” Awwwww he just wanted to help, and people are stupid thinking the animals are more important than their own lives, but I guess in religion. Had to laugh at the title though I thought it might end up being a humor. You surprised me with the angst, excellent job even if I know nothing about KOTOR I was able to enjoy the vig -----signature----- Proud Master to Ara-gon The Triad Chronicles http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/25934993/p1/?177 (OC's) Into Another Day http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27926050/p1/?0 2008 Dear Diary Challenge I am Jinngerbread.
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Meredith_Kenobi Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 6/7/06 7:37pm Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	wow, what a unique answer to the challenge! That was brilliant. Stinkin' holy herbivores. -----signature----- Proud to be ZaraValinor's Padawan Delighted to be brodiew's Master
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Rogue_Pilot_2347 Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 6/8/06 10:02am Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	Wow. That was beautiful. I really love the stories about Kylan and Leiraya (Sp?) It's really amazing that you managed to turn such a funny title into such a serious story. Great job! -----signature----- The Ultimate poetry Challenge: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=26190468&brd=10304&replies=6 Two Halves of the Same Whole: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=27517831&brd=10476&replies=0 *For the 2nd drabble challenge
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Winged_Jedi Registered: Feb '03	Date Posted: 6/11/06 11:44am Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	This was great. Quite moving at the end. The Mandalorian Wars are a great setting for the story, because of the conflict within the Jedi Order that existed at the time. I also love it in SW when we see the different cultures/traditions of other planets, and particularly when it actually has a major effect on the story, as it did here. -----signature----- "The Wire"- the smartest show ever made.
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Healer_Leona Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 6/12/06 3:32am Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	Most unique and well done story. IRonic in his fight to help he must compeltely change his life. -----signature----- Any way youll never know The many ways I've tried
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Commander-DWH Registered: Nov '03	Date Posted: 6/14/06 2:37pm Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	Thank you all for reading! I feel like Kylan definitely needed some love, and I'm happy he was well-recieved. Layren: I'm glad you were able to follow it. As much as I like all of my stories to tie together, it's nice to see they can stand alone, too. Meredith_Kenobi: thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Rogue_Pilot: And Kylan and Leiraya love you back. Winged_Jedi: Thanks! I love this period so much, it allows me a lot of freedom and has some of the most interesting dymamics to work with. Glad you enjoyed! Healer_Leona: Irony seems to be the story of Kylan Sheffield's life. But more on that in later stories. -----signature----- Complements (KOTOR)- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/21177927/ Luminosity- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27900517/ Barefoot hippie in the OC revolution Master of the lovely and talented SoA
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Lovely-in-Orange Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 6/16/06 6:38pm Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	And even if he didn’t agree with Leiraya, he didn’t like the sound of people mocking her beliefs. She may have had some strange ideas, but she could at least back them up, and he found it to be somewhat criminal that they’d never had the benefit of knowing a reasonable person who was anti-war. I really liked these lines. It's good to have friends you respect with different political/cultural/philosophical views. Great story. I liked how you showed the irony and sense of regret he feels too. But I have to admit there's another irony that I find funny too. If the rumor is true that that the Agamarians are somehow based on the Texas A&M "Aggies," then they're worshiping their rival team's bovine mascot! (The UT Longhorns). Ok maybe I'm just silly for finding that funny. -----signature----- Ties of Loyalty: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/23926858/ - Imperials/OCs/Quinlan/Khaleen A Boy and His Droids: http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=20555406 Proud master to Rogue_Pilot_2347! 1st Runner-up - Ms. Star Wars 2007
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oqidaun Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 6/16/06 11:16pm Subject: RE: For a Herd of Holy Herbivores (KOTOR, response to OC Dueling Challenge)
	Well, they were sacred cows... “There’s some sort of religious connotations to that particular species of bovines. It was why they were pastured so far away from the citizens in the first place, something about keeping them pure or some such.” Gavyn sighed. “By killing that herd, they think you’ve incited divine wrath, and they insist that if we do not deal with you accordingly, then they’ll take matters into their own hands.” That was really a cool story to explain what's happened to Kylan. All for a herd of bovines, he shook his head ruefully as he scanned the gleaming waters. Up until a few days ago, he would have said leaving was more than worth it. Now, he wasn’t so sure. And I love how you wove Mobius into it all. -----signature----- . . . .
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