[IC] A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

[Lord Greshh]

Iwan Starsnow

I don’t budge from where I stand. My eyes are locked on Gendry. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Becca Twilight

My hand slips around Korre’s shoulder, and I pull her close in a protective way as we walk. “Don’t be afraid. He’s cuffed and surrounded by guards. He isn’t going anywhere.” I guide her and Xan's chair towards the door.

Jude Sucal

I tighten my hands around the pummel of my lightsaber as I stalk after the girls. This was obviously not a coincidence. My father knew we were here. Truly, he would stop at nothing to get his hands on this girl and her.... demon baby.

Armond Organa

I can hear the voices in the gallery, many of them no doubt shocked to see one of the galaxies most wanted criminals in person. I also see Jerus having his group towards the exit. I raise from my throne and signal for everyone to remain calm. “What is the meaning of this, Baron Thul?”

Stefan Thul

“Is it not clear? These men... and woman were planning devious actions against you, my Lord. This one in particular you must know. Gendry, they call him, though he insists on being called Darth Hexxus.” Chuckles derisively. “Not very Darth like at all, in my opinion. He surrendered with barely a fight.”

Darth Hexxus

I growl, yanking at the cuffs pinning my arms back. My three companions likewise fidget uncomfortable, trying in vain to escape their bonds. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see people making for the doors, and I can’t help by smile when I recognize who they are.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I key a frequency into my helmet that only Lord Organa can hear. "Put him down and do it fast. He's playing Thul. Look where they delivered him."

[Lord Greshh]

Armond Organa

I hear what Jerus says, though I don't say anything back, nor do I show any change on my face. I remain as passive as possible as I look down upon the four would-be assassins. "Thank you for bringing them before me, Baron Thul. I do indeed wish to deal with them personally."

Ursa Lin

The pale woman cracks a smile. "Oooh. You hear that? Lord Organa is gonna kill us himself!"

Zee Shondu

The dark skinned does not look in Ursa's direction. "Lords like him don't get their hands dirty. They let their lackeys do it for them."

Stefan Thul

"Silence!" Waves a hand to a guard, who then proceeds to bash both Ursa and Zee in the back of their heads. "Do not speak unless spoken to, plebeians! You are lucky my father didn't have you executed as soon as he caught you!"

Darth Hexxus

Smiles at Ursa and Zee's pain. "Yes, lucky." Looks up at Lord Organa, daring him to give the execution order. I can sense Jerus Je'and nearby, though he is out of my field of vision at the moment.

Armond Organa

I take a moment to collect my thoughts. Finally, after sweeping my eyes over the onlookers in the gallery, the Thuls who are hoping for my approval, and the criminals at their feet, I make my decision. "You four... will be put on trial and, if found guilty, will be executed." I glance in Jerus' direction briefly. "Alderaan is a planet well known for it's traditions, and paramount among them is our rule of law. You, Gendry, are well known for your numerous crimes against the Republic, and I'm sure no one would bat an eye if I simply ended your life now for that... but we are not in the Republic. Alderaan is independent, and therefore, I can only hold your most recent of crimes against you."

Iwan Starsnow

I want to step forward, but I remain behind Jerus. I hiss angrily, "What the hell is Organa thinking? This scum is too dangerous to stand trial. These nobles are playing right into his hands.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"Or he's playing into ours. We'll have to wait and see what happens." I turn to Iwan. "But DON'T go looking for a confrontation. He's counting on someone slipping up and I'll be damned if it's a Hunter."

[Lord Greshh]

Armond Organa

I signal my guards, and they lift the four to their feet. “I require time to assemble a judicial council to oversee your trial. For the time begin, you will be placed in holding cells in the castle dungeon...”

Darth Hexxus

“Why waste time?” I pull away from the guard as he tries to escort me away. “You say rule of law is an important tradition? Well... I took the time to research Alderaanian customs before I arrived, and there was one passage I found incredibly interesting: Trial by Combat!”

Stefan Thul

“You have no right to make such a request! Ignore him, Lord Organa!”

Darth Hexxus

“The ancient laws say it clear. The accused may stand trial, or he may fight his accuser in ritual combat. That is my right, if you still honor the old traditions as you claim to.”

Armond Organa

I keep from showing any emotion on my face, but underneath I was cursing. “The laws... permit Trial by Combat, though it has gone out of fashion.” I take another contemplative pause before giving my final answer. “I am bound by tradition to allow this request, but I would be a fool to let a well known Sith lose in my castle. You can not be trusted to fight fairly.”

Darth Hexxus

“All is fair when you are fighting for your life, my Lord! Or are you so afraid that will seek to handicap me?”

Armond Organa

“Even handicapped, you are more than a match for any man on my guard. You will not fight today.”

Darth Hexxus

“One of my companions then? Stoic Zee, perhaps? Or manic little Ursa? Either of them would be more than happy...”

Armond Organa

“The Devaronian. He hasn’t spoken a word since he arrived; the only one to not mouth off like a child. AND your least favorite, I can tell. He will be your champion. All your hopes, rest on his shoulders.”

Darth Hexxus

Frowns. “You can’t choose my champion for me! Pykeon isn’t...” I catch myself. “And... who will be your proxy, pray tell?”

Armond Organa

“No one.” I step down from my throne. “I will fight for myself.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"With all due respect, Lord Organa, I object. Gendry is more than a bit manipulative and he's agreed to this far too quickly. He already got House Thul to bring him here, even if it wasn't how he planned, don't fall pray to his games as well." I was walking through the crowd towards where the group was. "He's got something planned, I have no doubts about that."

[Lord Greshh]

Stefan Thul

“Are you implying we’ve been tricked? Who is this man?”

Armond Organa

“Jerus Je’and, and old friend of mine. And I agree with him that this is a trick... but I cannot deny the request for Trial by Combat. It is my duty as Lord of House Organa to carry out the judgement.”

Darth Hexxus

“Maybe you should fight me yourself, Jerus. You’ve wanted to for a while. I can tell. So come on! Nominate yourself as Organa’s proxy and fight me!”

Iwan Starsnow

“No!” Steps out from the crowd. “If anime is going to put you down, it will be me.”

Darth Hexxus

My eyes widen with genuine confusion. “What the hell is this?! You CLONED me?!”

Iwan Starsnow

In a burst of anger, I push past the guards and look Gendry in the face. “YOU are the clone! Not me, you!!” The guards grab me and pull me away from him.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"Not even the Mando'ade would grant a man such as Gendry a trial, Lord Organa, and they are nothing if not honorable." I stop next to Iwan, who's fuming visibly. "You, training field. NOW." Approaching Lord Organa, I speak so that only he and the guards near us can hear. "This is a man who's favorite thing to do is play on an opponent's honor and traditions, use them as weapons to break them down and kill them. I know that I ultimately can't stop you or sway your decision, but I also don't want to see you die because of him. Consider that before fighting him yourself."

[Lord Greshh]

Armond Organa

I consider Jerus’ words for a moment before saying “Take the four of them to the dungeons for the time being. I need time to consider, and make preparations for either a trial or a combat.” I wave the guards off, and they grab the four criminals and begin to drag them away.

Darth Hexxus

As I am dragged toward the doors, I am able to catch Iwan’s eye. My own eyes reflected back at me. Despite myself, I feel like the wind has totally been taken out of my sails, and for the first time in a while... I am caught off guard. “See you around, clone.”

Ursa Lin

Once we are out of the audience chamber, and it of earshot, I whisper, “So, whose it gonna be?”

Lee Shondu

“Rock, paper, scissors for it?”

Pykeon

The Devaronian simply smiles a broad, sharp toothed smile.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Once they were out of the room, I turn back to Armond. "I need to speak with Iwan. By your leave, Lord Organa." Bowing before I go, I head after Iwan, who is waiting exactly where I told him to go. "What happened?"

[Lord Greshh]

Iwan Starsnow

“I told you and Zar’kun I wasn’t going to hesitate if I saw Gendry! He ruined my chances of a normal life, he’s a threat to everything we love, and he NEEDS to die! I thought you agreed!”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"And I told you that we aren't able to handle him on our terms here in Castle Organa. If they'd been caught outside the base, Organa wouldn't question what we do with him, but this isn't our base. Unless all hell breaks loose, Iwan, we. Play. NICE." The last three words were firm and harsh. "You lash out at him, you give him an out, a way to get free and get to Korre. You want that on your conscious?"

I let the last sentence ring for a moment before I drop one of my hilt's free from it's hidden compartment, the orange blade springing to life. "Saber out, now."

[Lord Greshh]

Iwan Starsnow

"Seriously?" I pull my lightsaber off my belt and activate the acid green blade. "You know the Organa soldiers are watching, right?"

Korre

I sit by the window of my room, looking out at the training grounds below. Becca and Jude guarding the door, though from what I hear, the threat has passed. They are still extremely cautious though, and where Gendry is concerned, I don't argue.

Down below, I spot Jerus and Iwan enter the sparring circle, and I lean in to get a better view.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I adopt a ready stance, my saber in front of me. "Don't worry about Organa's soldiers, because this isn't about them. You and me."

[Lord Greshh]

Iwan Starsnow

I take up the Form 1 ready stance. "Well, if you insist." Putting what Zar'kun taught me to use, I take a quick moment to study Jerus' stance and position before advancing.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Before he can finish his study, I lance forwards, a thrust leading my charge. However, before he can parry it, I arrest my momentum and spin, instead aiming a kick at his gut.

[Lord Greshh]

Iwan Starsnow

I quickly pivot to the side to avoid the kick, bringing my lightsaber around to catch his as it also comes around. I take a few steps back to get some distance before coming back in with a shoulder level strike.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I catch his blade and deflect it with a flick of my wrist before slamming my fist forwards, enhancing my strength with the Force. While the blow wouldn't cause serious harm, it would hopefully serve as a wake up if it connects with his chest.

[Lord Greshh]

Iwan Starsnow

Though I can not dodge completely, I am about to angle myself in such a way that the blow does not hurt as much as it should. I slid back across the stone floor and immediately raise my lightsaber to defend should Jerus chose to follow up attack.

Ursa Lin

Elsewhere in the castle, we four are sitting in a holding cell. Zee and eye have our backs to each other, throwing up the hand signs. “Rock, paper, scissors, SHOOT!” I throw paper, and as I glance over my shoulder, I see Zee threw rock. “Ha! I win!”

Zee Shondu

Frowns. “Best two out of three!”

Darth Hexxus

“No time for that, I’m afraid. You will be remembered.” I motion towards the cell doors. “Do it.”

Zee Shondu

“But I... that’s not...” I look at Hexxus for a few seconds before finally accepting my fate and walking to the bars of the cell. Through the Force, Hexxus triggers the device hidden inside me. Almost immediately, I collapse and begin to moan from an intense pain in my stomach. The guards come running to see what is the matter. Meanwhile, my three companions move in the opposite direction, as far away from me as possible.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I don't follow up, but I do circle around him carefully. "No matter how much you hate that clone, you have to keep your cool, Iwan."