It was on a clear spring day that Alyosha’s life changed forever. He was on Corellia, his homeworld, enjoying the mobility afforded him by the end of the bounty on his head. At last, he was a free man, able to go where he liked and do as he pleased.
In this instance, though, “doing as he pleased” involved getting a stiff drink. He sat at a bar, sipping the Corellian ale the planet was known for, savoring the taste for the first time in months. Oh yes, it was good to be home…
“Half-breed!”
He looked up, turning toward the sound of a loud voice calling across the bar. Someone was rapidly striding toward him, a tall, fit woman with black hair. She would’ve been attractive, if it weren’t for the look of feral rage and disgust on her face.
Alyosha’s danger sense flared. Leaping out of his chair, he darted away just as she aimed a knockout punch at where he had been sitting.
“What the hell is your problem?” he demanded.
But it seemed his question had already been answered. The woman had called him “half-breed”. The real question was, what made her say that? Who or what exactly did she think he was?
“Listen, I don’t know what this is about—but I think you’ve got the wrong guy,” he said.
His attempts at reasoning with her fell on deaf ears. “You’re a hybrid,” she sneered. “I can smell it on you. K’paur blood mingling with Human filth!”
Growling, the woman lunged at him. Alyosha darted to the side. His hand closed around his glass of ale still sitting on the counter, and as he spun to face her he brought the glass down on her head.
It shattered, stunning her momentarily. By the time she had shaken off the disorientation, he had his Light-Spear out. The long reach of the weapon wasn’t suited to the crowded bar, but most bystanders had already fled the scene of the fight.
The woman snarled as she clambered to her feet. But as she lunged again, Alyosha stretched out and hit her with the staff. Electricity shot through her body upon contact. She screamed, then fell on the floor in a heap.
He checked for a pulse. She was alive; the electricity had merely knocked her out. Since he had no idea who the woman was, he hunted for something that would identify her, eventually finding her ID. It listed her name as Rathina Florescu, and her species as K’paur.
Leaving her behind, Alyosha left the bar in a hurry, determined to lose her. If she could smell his bloodline, well, he’d just have to head into space, where scents didn’t carry.
But the bizarre encounter continued to weigh on his mind, particularly because of the implications. The woman had unwittingly shed light on one of the great mysteries which had hounded Alyosha all his life—the uncertain heritage of his father.
His mother Sinead had been young and foolish. A brief fling with a man whom she knew virtually nothing about had resulted in Alyosha, her first child. Alyosha hadn’t cared who his father was, figuring that if the man was willing to use and abandon his mother like that, he wasn’t worth his time anyway. But part of him had wondered what his father was, especially given some of Alyosha’s more… unusual traits.
And now this bizarre, violent encounter had jolted his curiosity anew. He had never heard of the K’paur, so they must not be a very common species. That might mean his father would be easier to track down, assuming the woman’s sense of smell was accurate.
Oh, hell. He didn’t want this, not right now! Just when he was starting to make something of himself… But once he had a taste of the truth, he couldn’t leave it alone for long. He had to get to the bottom of this mystery, even if it only led to misery.
Returning to his ship, he posted on a Holonet forum, not sure where to turn for more information. He was careful to use an untraceable account, and to make no mention of his real name.
Today I met a woman who told me I was half K’paur. I would like to know more about this species.
I never knew my father. My mother met him on Corellia twenty six years ago. I was the product of their brief fling. He left her before I was born. She apparently didn’t even know his name, or if she did she forgot it by the time I was old enough to start asking.
If anyone has any information on the K’paur, or might know my possible father, message me on this account. I want answers, no matter how bad they might be.
Lucianus Adair
In this instance, though, “doing as he pleased” involved getting a stiff drink. He sat at a bar, sipping the Corellian ale the planet was known for, savoring the taste for the first time in months. Oh yes, it was good to be home…
“Half-breed!”
He looked up, turning toward the sound of a loud voice calling across the bar. Someone was rapidly striding toward him, a tall, fit woman with black hair. She would’ve been attractive, if it weren’t for the look of feral rage and disgust on her face.
Alyosha’s danger sense flared. Leaping out of his chair, he darted away just as she aimed a knockout punch at where he had been sitting.
“What the hell is your problem?” he demanded.
But it seemed his question had already been answered. The woman had called him “half-breed”. The real question was, what made her say that? Who or what exactly did she think he was?
“Listen, I don’t know what this is about—but I think you’ve got the wrong guy,” he said.
His attempts at reasoning with her fell on deaf ears. “You’re a hybrid,” she sneered. “I can smell it on you. K’paur blood mingling with Human filth!”
Growling, the woman lunged at him. Alyosha darted to the side. His hand closed around his glass of ale still sitting on the counter, and as he spun to face her he brought the glass down on her head.
It shattered, stunning her momentarily. By the time she had shaken off the disorientation, he had his Light-Spear out. The long reach of the weapon wasn’t suited to the crowded bar, but most bystanders had already fled the scene of the fight.
The woman snarled as she clambered to her feet. But as she lunged again, Alyosha stretched out and hit her with the staff. Electricity shot through her body upon contact. She screamed, then fell on the floor in a heap.
He checked for a pulse. She was alive; the electricity had merely knocked her out. Since he had no idea who the woman was, he hunted for something that would identify her, eventually finding her ID. It listed her name as Rathina Florescu, and her species as K’paur.
Leaving her behind, Alyosha left the bar in a hurry, determined to lose her. If she could smell his bloodline, well, he’d just have to head into space, where scents didn’t carry.
But the bizarre encounter continued to weigh on his mind, particularly because of the implications. The woman had unwittingly shed light on one of the great mysteries which had hounded Alyosha all his life—the uncertain heritage of his father.
His mother Sinead had been young and foolish. A brief fling with a man whom she knew virtually nothing about had resulted in Alyosha, her first child. Alyosha hadn’t cared who his father was, figuring that if the man was willing to use and abandon his mother like that, he wasn’t worth his time anyway. But part of him had wondered what his father was, especially given some of Alyosha’s more… unusual traits.
And now this bizarre, violent encounter had jolted his curiosity anew. He had never heard of the K’paur, so they must not be a very common species. That might mean his father would be easier to track down, assuming the woman’s sense of smell was accurate.
Oh, hell. He didn’t want this, not right now! Just when he was starting to make something of himself… But once he had a taste of the truth, he couldn’t leave it alone for long. He had to get to the bottom of this mystery, even if it only led to misery.
Returning to his ship, he posted on a Holonet forum, not sure where to turn for more information. He was careful to use an untraceable account, and to make no mention of his real name.
Today I met a woman who told me I was half K’paur. I would like to know more about this species.
I never knew my father. My mother met him on Corellia twenty six years ago. I was the product of their brief fling. He left her before I was born. She apparently didn’t even know his name, or if she did she forgot it by the time I was old enough to start asking.
If anyone has any information on the K’paur, or might know my possible father, message me on this account. I want answers, no matter how bad they might be.
Lucianus Adair
