Lord Greshh

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

HJ Twilight

I fly the Rancor’s Den down towards Castle Organa, expecting a warm welcome from Iwan and Jude. I had a story or two for them to hear about my adventures at the Foundry.

As I draw closer, I pick up on the emergency signals coming from the castle, and the planetary security ships all headed to that same location. I frown as I look at Hank seated next to me. “Did we miss something?”

END OF SCENE

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Xanthippe Naberrie

I nod. “That might work. I’ll leave the message up to you. I have some... preparations I need to make if we are going to hunt down Jude and get Korre to safety.” I give Jerus a look. “Feel free to observe me, if you don’t trust me. I... don’t have the strength to play games anymore. I just want to make things right.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Xanthippe Naberrie

“If the Tempest Eye is hidden in The Maw, how do you expect to make contact? Signals that far out of range are impossible.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Xanthippe Naberrie

Looks off in the direction Becca went. “Not should you have to...” I murmur. I take a moment to steel myself, then with a determined look in my eye, I begin to sit up. There are a series of cracks and pops as the muscles and joints I haven’t used in days are suddenly forced back into motion. It hurts, but I keep going. With effort, I manage to slowly push myself to my feet, swaying unsteadily. “I’m ready to leave this place.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Xanthippe Naberrie

"I did." I whisper. "I wanted to stop it... I could have stopped it... but I didn't." Exhales a ragged breath and close my eyes, a tear leaking from the corner of my eye.

Becca Twilight

"But you can still make it right. After everything that's happened, Korre never gave up on you. She insisted we help you escape the castle even though she knew it would slow us down and put her at risk. But when the time came to repay her loyalty, you let her go. There is still a chance to save her though. You OWE it to her to get up and go after her."

Xanthippe Naberrie

"I... can't."

Becca Twilight

Something snaps in me, and I grab Naberrie, hauling her up by the collar. "Listen to me right now! I've chased my delinquent of a daughter from one end of this fucking galaxy to the other! I've watched her make stupid decision after stupid decision, falling farther and farther from the path of right, and all the while, I have endured humiliation, pain, suffering, near death of multiple occasions, and worst of all, YOUR meddling! But in spite of all of that, I never gave up on her! I never sat back and decided enough was enough, and that it was no longer worth the effort to save her! Yet here you are, a little bruised and cut up, and you've completely fallen apart?! Korre is your surrogate daughter! She trusted you to keep her safe and you willingly failed her! You have a responsibility and you FAILED, all because why? You're sad your constant schemes finally landed you at the wrong end of an ass kicking? I'm sorry, but GROW UP, Senator! People lose sometimes! It happens! I've lost more than you can imagine! I lost my fucking leg to a zombie Wampa when I was a third of your age!!!" I poke her in the stomach. "And DON'T try to blame this on your shitty father! He poisoned you and made you barren? I had my uterus ripped open by a Sith Witch! You aren't the only one who whose been through trauma! So stop acting like a victim, stop inflicting yourself upon everyone around you, and BE A FUCKING WOMAN!!!" I release her and throw her back down. "Because I'm going after Korre with or without you! I will NOT let this girl suffer as I suffered at the hands of Sith! She will NOT be torn apart and put back together like I was! Korre deserves better then that!" Sneers dismissively. "She deserves better then you."

I look at Jerus, breathing heavily. It wasn't often I showed this much emotions. Usually I was the rock and Jakito was the emotional wreck. With nothing further to say, I stalk off towards where Iwan's body is. I'd rather deal with that bloody mess than Xan right now.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Becca Twilight

"Jerus," I say, but I don't go further. I can't discourage him from saying these things because he is right. As harsh as his word are, they are true. And honestly, I was beginning to doubt Xan's state was entirely Zar'kun's fault. In fact... I could sense that most of it was psychosomatic.

Xanthippe Naberrie

My eyes shift from the sky to Jerus. I don't say anything or more. I just stare at him.

Becca Twilight

I sigh. "Get up, Xan. Yeah... you've made a lot of mistakes, and you are the cause of a lot of our problems... but shutting down isn't going to solve any of them. You used to fight so hard to protect Korre, and now you've just let her get taken away and didn't do anything about it. Honestly, I liked you better when you were scheming every step of the way. Now... you're just useless."

Xanthippe Naberrie

Continues to stare at Jerus and Becca for a long time before finally, my dry lips part and I say in a hoarse voice. "Failed... I failed her."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Becca Twilight

I stand up, and my heart sinks. “No... Hayden promised she’d stay out of trouble. The only reason Jakito and I didn’t drag her back to Dantooine last time was because she asked for some time to reflect on her decisions.” I pace away, looking towards mountains. “Caalin was supposed to keep her out of trouble! Why would she join back up with Jude, and what does she want with Korre?” Even as I say it, I know the likely answer. I just don’t want to think about it.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Becca Twilight

"Right near the east courtyard, just outside the Jedi Sanctuary. Not far from you." I can see Jerus already, and I start to jog through the grass towards him. As I get near, I step on something and nearly trip. I look down, and lying on her back is Xanthippe Naberrie, just staring up at the sky. "Oh sh..." I raise my comm, but then decide I am close enough to him to just shout. "Jerus! I found Xan! Jude left her behind!" I kneel down and check her pulse. She is alive, but catatonic as ever. "Damn it..."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Becca Twilight

I run outside just in time to catch the last glint of a ship leaving the atmosphere. I can sense Jude aboard, and my squeeze my commlink so hard that it nearly breaks. I am snapped back to reality when I hear Jerus ping me, and my mood quickly changes from anger to sadness when he relays the news. “Not another death, and so young...” I lower my head for a moment, silently reciting the final verse of the Jedi Code to myself. I then head off in the direction Jerus’s signal is coming from. “Jude’s gone. He escaped with Korre, but he isn’t headed back to base. He’s just... leaving.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

P.S.

Ursa Lin

After the ship had taken off, I appeared from my hiding spot and rushed to where Darth Hexxus and his doppelganger lay together. I push the one bleeding out from his neck aside and grab my master's nearly lifeless body. Channeling as much Force power as I can, I am able to preform a trick Darth Trayus taught me; opening up a small portal to envelop the both of us, vanishing us from the scene and leaving only Iwan alone behind.

END OF MINI SCENE