Lord Greshh

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Korré

I walk through the gardens outside Organa Palace, admiring the well manicured topiary and flower beds. I hold my belly, trying to feel the baby still growing inside me. He’s been quiet ever since we left Dantooine. I can’t decide if I should be happy or concerned by that.

Iwan Starsnow

I am patrolling outside, mostly trying to kill time, when I notice Korre by the garden. After a moments hesitation, I approach her. “Hey, Korre!” I wave, trying to look as non-frightening as possible.

Korré

I smile and wave back. “Oh, hello Iwan. I was just taking a short walk. Care to join me?”

Iwan Starsnow

My heart quickens a little. “Really? I mean, I wouldn’t want to disturb you...”

Korré

“Nonsense. I welcome company.” I continue on my walk. I’ve been trying to remain active, despite the increasing aches and pains brought on by my pregnancy. I guess I’m just stubborn that way. Defiantly, I walk towards a set of stairs that lead into the hedge path.

Iwan Starsnow

“Those look a little steep. Let me help you.” I offer a hand to help her down the steps.

Korré

I instinctively pull away at first, then offer an apologetic smile and take his hand. “Thank you. I probably shouldn’t even be out here; my ankles are hurting me badly. But I just can’t stand to stay indoors all day.”

Iwan Starsnow

“I spent most of my life indoors. Myrkr isn’t the type of place you go wondering around.” I reach the bottom of the stairs, then help Korre down. “Now that I’ve seen what the rest of the Galaxy has to offer, I can’t imagine staying in one place for so long.”

Korré

Once I’ve reached even ground, I lead Iwan into the hedge path. “Do you like it here on Alderaan?”

Iwan Starsnow

“Oh yes. I love the wide open fields and valleys, and the mountains in the distance. And the sky... I could never see the sky through he tree tops back home. Too dense, you know?” I take a couple more steps before asking “Do... you like Alderaan?”

Korré

“I do. Very peaceful and beautiful. I couldn’t have picked a better place to hide away....But, there is one thing I don’t like. The nights are far too dark. My homeworld, Naboo, has three moons that always keep even the darkness the night bright. But, Alderaan has no moon, so the nights are pretty black. And it’s also too quiet. Back home, I’d open my window and listen to the crickets and frogs as I went to sleep. But here, I can’t hear anything except the wind.”

Iwan Starsnow

I crack a smile. “You aren’t saying your afraid of the dark, are you?”

Korré

“No, of course not! It’s just... mild Nyctophobia. It’s a real serious condition. Ask anyone!”

Iwan Starsnow

I laugh out loud. “Right. Whatever you say, my lady.”

Korré

Iwan’s laugh is an unashamed snorty cackle. It’s a such a ridiculous sound that I can’t help but laugh too. For a few minutes, we stand there in the garden, laughing like idiots. The longer it goes, the more historical it becomes. Then, without warning, I feel a kick. My heart leaps as my son finally makes himself known again. “There you are! Did you think it was funny too?”

Iwan Starsnow

The humor drains out of me, and is replaced by astonishment. “Is that... the baby?”

Korré

I can feel the child moving more. “Yes. He hasn’t been this active in a long while.” I take Iwan’s hand and press it to my belly. “Here, feel.”

Iwan Starsnow

I am reluctant at first, but then I feel the child lightly punch at my palm. I can also feel through the Force the raw energy coming from it, even without having to reach out with my sense. In fact, it might be more accurate to say that the child was reaching out to me. “That is... amazing.”

Korré

“I think he likes you.” Let Iwan remove his hand, and I give a slight frown of guilt. “Iwan... I think I should apologize. For how I reacted when I first saw you...”

Iwan Starsnow

“You screamed and nearly fainted.” I say, feeling a bit awkward. “It’s okay. I understand...”

Korré

“No, it’s not okay. I shouldn’t have over reacted like that. What’s worse, I spent the first couple of days here purposely avoiding you. I judged you before I got a chance to know you, and that wasn’t fair.”

Iwan Starsnow

“I can’t exactly blame you. My mad clone has been hounding you for so long, it’s only natural you’d hate this face.”

Korré

“I do not hate your face! What an awful thing to believe.” I look him in the eye. “It’s a nice face. Don’t be ashamed of it.” I try to look reassuring. “When the Sith Hunters are finished saving the Galaxy, you will have plenty of time to make everyone love your face. You’ll make them all forget Gendry, and get to know the real Iwan Starsnow.”

Iwan Starsnow

I feel a swell of emotions, though I try to hide it behind a smile. “Thanks you... You have a nice face too.”

Korré

Giggles. “Thanks.” I don’t move to return to walking, even though I probably should. Instead, I remain looking into his eyes. They are a beautiful shade of blue, my favorite color. I don’t realize it at first, but Iwan is leaning closer. I let him, and a moment later, his lips are pressed against mine. Iwan wraps his arms around me, and I allow myself to be pulled into the embrace. Closing my eyes, I give myself fully to this very sudden, yet extremely passionate,l moment.

Then, as our lips parted and my eyes opened, I found myself staring into the grinning face of Darth Hexxus. My mood suddenly swinging to panic, I swat his arms away and scream, “STOP!!!”

Iwan Starsnow

I feel something hit me square in the chest; an invisible blast of conclusive energy that sends me flying back into the hedges behind me. I collapse in a heap of branches and twigs, dazed and very much confused.

Korré

I grab the spot on my belly where my baby had just kicked hard, and I take a moment to steady myself. I almost fall to my knees, but I am able to keep on my feet. Still breathing heavily with dissolving panic, I look down at Iwan. My face reddens with shame. “I’m sorry. I... I have to go. I’m so sorry.” Picking up the hem of my dress, I run as fast as my swollen ankles will carry me, back towards the castle.

Iwan Starsnow

I watch her leave, wanting to go after her but knowing it might only make things worse. This wasn’t my fault, I know. It as Gendry’s fault. Darth Hexxus’ fault. I can feel the anger and hatred filling my heart, and I allow it. When I finally meet up with him, and I know I will one day soon, I’m going to make him pay.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Koraline Okarr

The Redshifter drops out of hyperspace at the edge of the Maw. The front viewport is completely blacked out, with not a star showing in space. “Alright everyone. It’s gonna be a bit slow going from here. All nonessentials please stick to the main hold and bunks. Everyone with a job, get to it.” I turn to Luci in the copilot seat. “We’re gonna take it nice and easy. The engines are strong enough not to get us swept into a hole, but if we fly directly into one, ain’t much I can do.” I look over my shoulder at the navigator. “Watch that screen closely! I don’t want us getting lost here.” The ship flies into the dark splotch that is the Maw, heading blindly into the unknown.

END OF SCENE

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Jorg Sucal

I sit in my office in Presidential Palace, looking through the massive window at the Coruscant cityscape. The shield over the Senate District is still holding, but everything around it is in chaos. I can see the smoke even from here.

Senator Pasture

“Chancellor, are you even listening to me?” I sit on the other side of the chancellor’s desk, a panicked look on my face. “I said the Eastern District has completely fallen! The Mandalorians have set up a command hub out of the old durasteel mill, and they’ve cleared a landing zone for their drop ships!”

Jorg Sucal

I do not turn around. “Our reinforcements will arrive soon. They will deal with these brutes.”

Senator Pasture

“Planetary security is holding, but it will only be a matter of time before they are overwhelmed. If you would just deploy the Sith Hunter droids...”

Jorg Sucal

“I will not! They are the last line of defense if the Mandalorians pass through the ray shields!”

Senate Pasture

“And whole you sit here, protected by droids and shields, Coruscant burns!”

Jorg Sucal

I turn and signal my guards. “Get the Senator our of my sight! This meeting is over!” I put my elbows up on my desk and bury my face into my hands.

Carice Malori

I step out behind Sucal and drape my arms around his shoulders. “Calm yourself, my lord. This is but a minor setback in our plan.” I lean down to look in his face. “Does the Mother Of Wisdom have any words?”

Jorg Sucal

“She is silent, as usual.” I grind my teeth in frustration. “This has gotten far out of hand. I should have killed that HJ brat on Ilum when I had the chance.”

Carice Malori

“You could not have known he would mate the Mand’alor. That mistake can still be rectified though.”

Jorg Sucal

“I’ve worked too hard to allow my plans to be undone by... Mandalorians.” I say the last word contemptuously.

Carice Malori

“At least we know that the Vessel yet lives. Xanthippe Naberrie’s deception was clever, but short lived. Can you sense where the girl has gone?”

Jorg Sucal

I shake my head. “She’s disappeared again. Last time I sensed her was on....” I pause, then straighten up in my chair. “Where is Darth Hexxus? I need him.”

Carice Malori

“Terrorizing a village in Salucami. Quite far away to render help any time soon. In the meantime, why not make use of my latest creation?”

Jorg Sucal

Oh yes, I think to myself. Draxxal. What Malori affectionately calls ‘Gendry 2.0’, and improved version of her previous clone attempts, hopefully with less side effect of insanity. “Send him into the field. Let him carve a path through these Mandalorians, and root out any resistance from the underground.”

Carice Malori

“He will not fail you, my lord.” I cross to the front of the desk so that I can look directly at Sucal. “Once we have the vessel, nothing else will matter. The Tempest Eye is almost ours. Let Coruscant burn.”

Jorg Sucal

I shake my head. “No... one other thing matters; my son. I want him found and brought back to me.”

Carice Malori

“Jude has chosen his path, my lord. He is a rebel...”

Jorg Sucal

“He is MY SON!!” I pound the desk. “He is young and foolish, but he is still mine, and he will obey his father in the end.” I sit back in my chair. “He is on Alderaan... with the Vessel. She is hidden from me, but I can sense Jude with ease... and I will have them both before this is over.”

END OF SCENE

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

I lead Temari outside. “We will have to travel though the works. The Hidden Place... it refers to the ruins of the Jedi Temple. We used to meet in the sub levels. It will be the fitting spot to stage our new Revolution from.” The two of us head down the street, keeping an eye out for patrols.

Lord Stoneheart

I watch Cosen Greshh and her Mandalorian companion as they sneak down the street. In the apartment nearby, the 7 Revolution compatriots still linger, preparing to return to their individual groups. My fist clenches in barely contained anger.

Traitors.

END OF SCENE

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Revolution

The construction worker: "And once the fighting is done? If we help the Mandalorians, can they promise that OUR demands will be met?"

the woman: "We've been fighting for our rights for years. First through peaceful protest, then demonstration, then through terrorism. None of these have worked. What makes you think anarchy will be the answer?"

Cosen Greshh

"Because my rising up, you are showing that you are not gone, and that the rich can not simply forget about you! You are showing that you are still angry, and that you refuse to stay hidden away under layers of duracrete and steel. And maybe when the fight is over, you won't be any better off than you were before, but I know the Mandalorians, despite all their flaws, are people of their word. They respect people who stand and fight for their convictions. If you do stand with us, take up arms against the corrupt leaders of the Republic one last time, then I know Mand'alor won't forget about you."

Billie

They all exchange glaces, some whispering to each other. Billie moves to join in the huddled discussion, and after a minute, the seven separate. "We agrrrrree that you make a strong point. Let us conveeeeeene with the rest of our cells. We will meeeeeet you in the Hidden Place when the time is rrrrrright."

Cosen Greshh

I nod my head, not sure if I should be excited or disappointed. "Okay. That's better than a straight no, I guess. The Hidden Place, it is." I look at Temari. "Looks like we have another ways to go. Probably a good idea we don't stay in one place too long. If there are patrols about searching for Revolution meeting spots, we'll need to keep moving if we don't want to be found out too soon."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

There is a long silence that follows Temari's display. Finally, I come up with something to break the tension. "Look... I know things have gotten bad. Worse even than they were before. But we can't just hide down here and accept defeat. We need to fight for what we believe in. What my father believed in!"

Revolution

The woman speaks again. "Your father used us! Before he came along, we only do protests and public demonstrations, then he came and turned us into a terrorist group! He was a good man, and I believe he believed his goals were just, but we caused way more harm than good!"

A Rodian with a missing antenna speaks up. "We are hunted now. There is no place for us anymore. The traitor Gendry gave away all of our meeting spots, and the Republic chases us night and day."

An Ugnuaght sequels something about his tribe being rounded up and imprisoned for their involvement in the Revolution.

The construction worker speaks again. "It ain't just common troopers anymore either. Sucal has put together special squads of elite soldiers to drive us out of hiding. He's got this new enforcer, a Rattataki named High Justice Draxxal." He shutters. "They've nicknamed him Gendry Two."

Cosen Greshh

I look around. "That is exactly why we need to fight! If they are hunting you anyways, than you might as well give them a good hunt! Fight back and show them you aren't going to go quietly into the darkness! When my father was still around, you all agreed that drastic action needed to be taken in order to make your voices heard! He might be gone now, but I'm still here, and Gavin is too! And Hayden Twilight is alive, and so is Jude Sucal! The Chancellor's own son is still fighting because he knows that to go home and accept defeat would be a greater tragedy than dying in the streets!"

Revolution

The old man: "The Chancellor's boy is still fighting? I heard he'd given up. I saw holonet video of him home with his father."

An alien covered in so much cheap cybernetics that it is hard to tell what exactly it is: "My channels have all broadcast conflicting reports on that. I heard he was on Naboo with senator Naberrie, then on Alderaan..."

The woman: "I heard Hayden Twilight was killed. Varho Ogg smashed her skull in!"

The Rodian: "No, she killed him on Alaris Prime, along with Draggo the Black!"

The woman: "Hayden was a twig! Draggo would have snapped her in half with one claw!"

The Ugnaught confirms he also heard Draggo was dead.

Cosen Greshh

I raise my hands. "I don't know anything about that! My brother and I were injured on Dxun shortly after my father was fatally wounded. We missed a lot. The Mandalorians have not had time to update me on the details, but I too have heard rumors. I do not believe Hayden is dead. I would have sensed that. And as for Jude, I heard that he was under some hide control that forced him to obey his father. He would never willingly submit. He knows what kind of monster Jorg Sucal is."

Billie

He steps forward at last, having taken much of what has been said into consideration. "Enough speeeeeculation. What do the Maaaandalorians want us to do?"

Cosen Greshh

"Rise up. Start riots in the streets. Let those big wigs in the senate know that the people of Coruscant will not be silent. That they would rather welcome Mandalorian rule than suffer another day under the tyranny of men like Sucal." I look at Temari. "Was that basically it?"

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

That... wasn't the response I was expecting. "Hmm. You aren't as unreasonable as I thought." I turn and walk down the hall to the main room. Seated awkwardly on chairs and sofas are half a dozen people, all looking like they don't want to be there.

Billie

Lazily motions to the six gathered in his living room. "Theeeese are all that is left of the Revolution's leeeadership. Everyone else is either dead or unwiiiiiling to come."

Cosen Greshh

I look at each of the gathered people. These were my father's lieutenants, each one representing a different cell of the Revolution. Perhaps if I convinced them to join me, the rest of their cells would follow. It couldn't just be the six of them.... could it?

I step forward. "Thank you all for coming..."

Revolution

An ugly man with a construction uniform on stands up. "Just so we're clear, we aren't jumping at the chance to get ourselves killed. Billie told us the daughter of Sal Greshh wanted to talk, and out of respect for our old leader, we came to hear you out. But after everything that's happened, I hope you aren't about to suggest what I think you're about to suggest."

Billie

"She is. She wants us to riiiiise up and fight the Republic... again." All six attendees man sounds of annoyance and disinterest. They start shouting all at once, their voices all mixing together in a way that is hard to understand, but the overall idea is clear; they don't want any part of it.

Cosen Greshh

I try to shout over them. "I understand you're reluctance, but you won't be alone! The Mandalorians are here to finally stop Jorg Sucal! They just need your help!"

Revolution

A woman in a torn jacket narrows her eyes. "What do they want us for? To distract the soldiers so they can have a clear run at the capital building? We aren't stupid! Even Greshh wasn't that bold!"

An older man glares at Temari. "And why would we want Mandalorian help anyways? They're no better than Sucal and the fat cat politicians in the senate! They don't care about us!"

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

I wait until Billie is out of ear shot before I hiss back “I told Ava - Mand’alor - that the Revolution wouldn’t come running to help her. I don’t even k ow if they’ll help me. My father and brother was always a better leader than me, but they aren’t here, are they?” I look Temari in the eye. “And what if they say no? I’ve gathered them here, but if they decide your crusade isn’t worth it, what are you gonna do? Kill me for trying my best?”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

“Whatever you say.” I take a quick look around to make sure the coast is clear, then I sneak across the street into a run down apartment complex. Making sure Tamari is behind me, I knock on the door. A few seconds later, the door opens a crack and a Gotal sticks his head out.

Billie

“Whatchu want?”

Cosen Greshh

“I fly the scarlet and obsidian flag of Revolution.” I whisper.

Billie

“The Rrrevolution is dead.” He begins to close the door once again.

Cosen Greshh

I hold the door open and say “Not as long as the people hold the truth in their hearts, and the small voices are joined to create loud words.”

Billie

Sighs, then opens the door to let them in. “It is good to see you alive. Wwwhen I heard about what happen...” he looks up at Temari. “And Wwwwho is this?”

Cosen Greshh

“She is my... ally.” I flash Temari a look. “We are working together to bring an end to Sucal once and for all. But her people need our help.”

Billie

Huffs and waves a dismissive hand. “Caaaan’t do anything. Wwwe are not fighters. We set traps, planted bombs, but weeee never did no fighting. That was the mercenaries, aaaand they are all on Gendry’s side now, and Gendry is on Sucal’s side.” He walls down the hall. “I called the others, but veeeery few of them came. Hope is llllost.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Cosen Greshh

I pull away and turn to glare at Temari. "He didn't want a power base! He wanted to save the Galaxy AGAIN!" I know shouting at the person who could literally kill me with the press of a button was unwise, but I did it anyways. "He knew Jorg Sucal was plotting something long before anyone else did, but the Jedi Council had grown into self centered zealots who refused to even listen to what he had to say! He gathered the down trodden because they were the only ones who could see things for what they truly were!" I take a breath and force myself to calm. "I have nothing more to say to you about my father... you would never understand." I nod my head to the side. "My contact isn't far. We should keep moving."