Star Wars: The Great Awakening (Book I)

Chapter 5 - The Council

Reaching the center of the council chambers, Jolis stopped and looked around. All twenty-eight tribal leaders—each wearing drastically different attire—had fixed their eyes on the young boy.

A voice suddenly broke the silence.

"You stand before the Council of Atophis, young Jolis."

Turning towards the voice, Jolis spotted Emman who was seated between two men. To his left, a man covered in tree limbs, twigs and green leaves which—when woven together—produced an intricate material unfamiliar to Jolis. To his right, a much older man who wore gold and red plated body armor. The armor looked old and more ceremonial than practical. Still, when combined with the man's painted red face and jet black hair, Jolis found that he was unable to hold eye contact with him.

Emman continued. "You have been summoned to answer questions pertaining to the device you have constructed which could potentially be used to contact other civilizations. Do you now, in fealty to the Chieftain of the Opachi tribe, swear to answer any and all questions truthfully and with honesty?"

"I...I do. Yes, sir," replied Jolis. Even as he spoke, he could hear the sound of his own heart beating in his ear.

"The council, being briefed prior to your arrival, will now question you at will."

Immediately, the older man wearing the red and gold armor rose from his seat.

"I am Lord Keszen. Ruler of the Maligi tribe. You have heard of us, yes?"

"Yes, sir. I have," replied Jolis.

"This...device. It can be used to communicate with the stars?"

"Only if someone is listening on the other end," replied Jolis. "Think of it like one of us talking out loud. Unless there's someone around to hear what you're saying, it's just noise filling an otherwise empty space."

"And what will happen if we use this device and someone hears us?" asked Keszen. "What will we say to them? 'Please, come to our world and take our resources? Infect us with plague and pestilence? Leave our lands a desolate and uninhabitable husk?!'"

"Ech'een! Slavi' dechh'e bat'un!" hissed a man from behind Jolis.

Turning around, Jolis was momentary taken aback by the frightful appearance of the man who'd just spoken. Shrouded in shadow, the figure appeared to be nothing more than a silhouette as he wore black material which even the nearby torch could do little to reveal in detail. The only thing Jolis saw of the man was a pair of eyes staring back at him.

"That is Chief Sanu of the Ayoreo tribe," replied Emman.

"What did he say?" asked Jolis.

"Nothing which a boy of your age should hear."

A few chuckles came from the other members of the council.

"Alti'nu cu'ui bat'o! Ing'sa imaldi ve Keszen!" said Sanu.

Turning toward Emman for an answer, his Chieftain nodded.

"He said we should use the device. If only because it scares Keszen."

Several members of the council laughed at the comment.

"Coming from a man who hides in the jungle with his people, his words hold no weight to me," replied Keszen. "This device must be destroyed. It is a simple matter and one which we should vote on immediately."

"We will not vote until all other questions have been answered," replied Emman sharply.

"And what will this child tell us that we do not already know?" shouted Keszen. "That he alone should speak to the stars? No? Who then will do this? I say, no one!"