In one of the lower rooms of the Mandalorian hotel base, Jude and I are setting up our supplies. “The girl can take the bed. I’ll take the pullout couch. Jude, you get the floor.”
I sit on the bed, glaring at Hayden. “You keep calling me ‘the girl’ or ‘the vessel’. Is it because saying my name makes me a person? Saying my name makes you realize I’m not just some object, but a human that you have kidnapped and are threatening?”
“Who’s being threatened? I gave you the comfortable bed, didn’t I? I’m kept you safe. I’m just not pampering you like my family did.” Behind me, the door open, and I turn to see a Mandalorian standing there. “Can we help you?”
I step into the room. “I heard Cosen had recruited the famous Hayden Twilight. I had to see for myself.” I look her up and down. “You look nothing like the holos.”
“It’s the hair, I’m sure. Had it cut a while ago, and still waiting for it to grow back.”
“I see.” It wasn’t just the hair though. Hayden looked a lot older than the wanted holograms showed. She’s clearly been through a lot in the last year and a half. My eyes quickly glance over the teenage boy I assume to be Jude Sucal, and then I notice the girl on the bed. “And who is that?”
“She’s our business. We are meeting with Cosen and Gavin later to talk about what to do with her.”
“So she’s a prisoner then?”
“It’s for her own safety and the safety of the Galaxy. Your boss, Temari, agreed to our terms.”
“She also made it clear that we had to keep you in line. Cosen and Gavin are on our side, but they are still under heavy watch. You two we trust even less, and I find this whole idea extremely dishonorable. The Mandalorians should have no part in threatening people who can’t defend themselves.”
“She is far from defenseless, I assure you. The child she carries is extremely dangerous.”
“He is not! You are only speculating out of fear of what you don’t know!”
I sigh heavily. Not this stupid argument again. “Don’t you understand that it can never have a normal life? Why are you so keen to protect it when you know it can only lead to more problems?”
“Because I know that HE isn’t a threat. My son will not be born evil. That isn’t how it works. No matter how much of a monster this Sith Emperor was, he wasn’t born like that.”
“I don’t know about that. I’ve heard stories. They say he murdered his father and tortured his mother as a toddler, and conquered his home planet as a young child.” I give Korre a look. “The way I see it, that baby already has a head start on Vitiate, seeing as how it killed Ryder before it was even born.”
My heart drop. “Wait... what did you say?”
“This ‘defenseless’ girl killed Ryder Twilight. He learned that this baby was intended to be the reborn Sith Emperor, whom he defeated during the war. He tried to stop it, so it lashed out and killed him on the spot. Already, it’s too powerful to control.”
“Ryder tried to kill me first! My son was just trying to protect us! He’s not evil!”
I step back, bracing myself against the doorway. I’m afraid that if I don’t, I’ll fall over. My head is rushing, and so many emotions are bubbling to the surface. “You.... My fa.... You did wha....?” My hand gropes for the door controls, and I eventually manage to shut down. Barely keeping my emotions in check, I stalk off down the hall towards my quarters.
I cock an eyebrow. “Huh. What’s his problem?”
END OF SCENE
