Lord Greshh

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Salazar Greshh

I look over my shoulder at the Jedi robe tied there. “Then this was hers.” I carefully hand Val back to his mother before continuing. “I will honor Satele’s legacy then, and see that she did not give her life for nothing.”

Becca Twilight

“She kept saying there was a reason you needed to be brought back. I’m interested to see what that purpose might be.

Salazar Greshh

“As am I. Something to do with helping stop Trayus for good, I imagine... and making up for at least some of my many mistakes.” I give Becca concerned look. “Is Hayden... When they betrayed me on Boz Pity, did she escape?”

Becca Twilight

“She is alive, though she is far from here. When Sucal took flight from Coruscant, she went after him and they both disappeared into a wall of flame. I did not sense her passing, so she has likely gone wherever Sucal has fled to.”

Salazar Greshh

“I will help you find her. She was the best apprentice I have ever trained, and her powers are exactly what Trayus needs to make his goals a reality.” I put an arm around Vette. “I have already lost one of my children, perhaps both. I would do everything in my power to spare you that pain. We WILL get her back.”

Xanthippe Naberrie

“But we don’t even know where she is. Until we can learn more, there is nothing we can do. We should focus first on stopping Sucal. He will in turn lead us to her.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Vette

“She left. I don’t know where she went after she...” I pause, looking nervously at the others. “Okay, this is going to sound bad, but she was upset and blamed Satele for not trying to save Gavin...”

Becca Twilight

I put the unspoken pieces together and realize what’s happened. “Oh no. Vette... don’t tell me it was Cosen.”

Vette

“I... I don’t know! It happened so fast and there wasn’t a body, but... it looked like she did, yeah.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Hunter Ordo

I frown. My father died trying to destroy that child, yet Greshh was embracing it? Ryder Twilight, a Jedi Master, couldn't get past his fear of the Emperor's return, yet Salzar Greshh, a Sith Lord, is willing to accept possible redemption for the most evil being in history? As if things weren't already confusing enough.

Vette

I rush into the room, panting hard. "Damn it! Do you know how many flights of stairs...?!" I stop when I see Sal holding the baby. "Whoa. Is that...?"

Salazar Greshh

I turn to show Vette the cooing boy. "He is a child, Vette. Nothing more." I allow myself a genuine smile.

Vette

I move closer, a bit in awe. Despite being a big, mean looking Sith, one whom I have seen murder hundreds of people over several years, it still amazed me how gentle he could be. Even now, he seemed a natural at cradling the infant in his arms. He looked so... fatherly. "This is a rare sight. Haven't seen anything like this since..."

Salazar Greshh

"Cosen... and Gavin." My smile begins to fade. "My children... I tried to hurt them, didn't I? I attacked Cosen, and..." My eyes widen with realization. "Gavin..."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Hunter Ordo

I wonder which Jerus is referring to. My father spoke of both Vitiate and Greshh, and now both men stand before me in some form. It completely slips my mind that Jerus just revealed he knows who I really am.

Salazar Greshh

I look down at the sleeping boy with extreme curiosity. I can sense the power of the Emperor, yet it couldn't possibly be the same person. Then, perhaps sensing my presence, the boy opens his eyes, and I can see his bright yellow irises. A slight smile comes to my face. "Ah. There you are." The boy looks up at me, and though it is impossible to tell on his newborn face, I feel as though there is recognition. That might just be me projecting, of course. Carefully, I reach out my hands towards the boy, looking up at Korre as I do to make sure she doesn't object. She says nothing, so I pick the child up and hold him.

Jakito Twilight

I lean over and whisper to the others. "This is kinda messed up, if you think about it."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Xanthippe Naberrie

"You want to let him in!? That isn't anywhere close to a good idea!"

Korrè

I raise a hand to Xan. "No... It's okay. Let him in." I go to where Valkorion sleeps and stand close by, ready to receive the visitor.

Salazar Greshh

Xan opens the door, and I step inside. My eyes immediately go to the far side of the room, where Korrè stands. I mean no ill will, yet the sight of this girl does something to me that I was not expecting; it intimidates me. Timidly, I bow by head to her. "My lady. May I approach?" When she gives me her permission in the form of a nod, I slowly walk towards the little bassinet that she guards.

Hunter Ordo

I land on the open windowsill of Korrè's room. I am ready for a fight, but instead, I find everything deathly quiet, and an unspoken tension hovers over the place. When I see Greshh, I look towards Zar'kun and the Twilights and hiss, "What's he doing?!"

Becca Twilight

"It's okay, Hunter. He just wants a look."

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Vette

I look confused. “Wait, that baby... is the Sith Emperor? How is that possible?”

Hunter Ordo

Without further explanation, in rocket off into the sky, headed for Korre’s room window.

Salazar Greshh

At Zar’kun’s touch, I turn around in surprise, but his calm words help me to relax a little. “Zar’kun Je’and... I remember you.” I look past him to the others. “Becca, my dear... and Jakito.” I look at his cybernetic arm. “I gave you that.”

Jakito Twilight

“Yeah, you did. But no hard feelings, I guess. You weren’t fully in control of your actions... were you?”

Salazar Greshh

“No, no I... I wasn’t. I was and I wasn’t. It was like... a bad dream.” I look back at Zar’kun. “In that room... it’s him, isn’t it? My old master. But... he’s different. I can sense it. He’s... just as powerful as before, perhaps even more so.... but the darkness is gone.” I pause, taking a few shaky breaths. “I... I want to see him. Please. I won’t hurt him. I just... after everything... I need to see for myself.”

Becca Twilight

I step forward, and in a very quiet voice, I say, “We aren’t the ones you should ask.”

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Vette

“He’s... awake. I have no idea what happened, but one minute he wasn’t moving, then Satele Shan appeared and... then she died, or disappeared or something. Then the next thing I know, Sal shoots up awake!”

Hunter Ordo

“You sure it was really him though and not Stoneheart? Because rumor has it they’re the same guy.”

Vette

“No, it was him. He recognized me, and said my name. But then... he sensed something in the Force. He said he hadn’t felt it in a long time, and before I could get him to explain, he ran off! Literally ran all the way from the space port to here, and I’ve been chasing him the best I could the whole time. What the hell could he want here?”

Becca Twilight

Jakito, Zar’kun, and I round the corner, and at the far end of the hall, I can see a large Sith Pureblood frantically banging on Korre’s door. I knew immediately it was Salazar Greshh, though he looked much different then the last time I saw him. He looked... healthier. Not like a corpse, but like his old self. He also now wore a Jedi Robe that was several sizes to small around his shoulders like a cape.

No words come to me as I watch the man pound on the door. I didn’t sense any anger in him, though I wasn’t sure if our old Force Bond was still intact.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Hunter Ordo

I peer around through the windows. “I don’t see anything. It looks like they entered through here, but...”

Vette

I come running from the street. “Jerus?! Is that you!?” I catch up to them, out of breath. “I’m glad I ran into you! Maybe you can help. It’s... it’s Salazar...”

Salazar Greshh

I stumble though the halls of the hotel, my mind in a haze. I am disoriented and unsure where I am, but I am following the Force to guide my way. “Where is he? I must... must see.” I come to a door, and I know that whatever is calling me is on the other side. “Open up... Please.” I slump against the door, panting heavily.

Korrè

I can hear the banging at my door and the voice begging to be let in, but I don’t open up. I just look at Xan, who is staying close by. The person on the other side of the door didn’t sound like they were trying to break in, and even like he wanted to hurt anyone. But still... I wasn’t going to let a stranger near my child.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Hunter Ordo

I don’t even notice that Jerus calls me by my real name. I follow him as he does to look around the lower part of the outside perimeter. After only a few minutes, we find a door that looks to have been locked, but has been forced open. “This doesn’t look good.”

Becca Twilight

Upstairs, Jakito, Zar’kun and I head towards Korre’s room. Over the comm, I now speak to Luci. “Any changes?”

Millu’ci’vanda

“No. I can’t pinpoint this intruders current location, but the last security he tripped was on your level.”

Jakito Twilight

“This won’t take too long to sort out then.” We continue down the hall. So far, no sign of the intruder.

A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

Jakito Twilight

“Sure thing, kid. Just don’t start shooting unless we tell you to.” I wave for him to follow us to the shuttle. When we lift off the ground and start heading back to the command center, we find there is little to no sky traffic. “One of the few benefits of having just had a battle; nobody wants to leave their homes for a while.”

We make it back to the command center fairly quickly. Most of the lights are out, and there are no guards to greet us. “They really all went to the celebration, huh? Slackers.”

Becca Twilight

“The battle is over. Guess they feel they don’t need to be as tightly secure anymore.” Thinking of the intruder, I add “Guess they were wrong.” I pull my comm and try to call Xan. “We heard there might be trouble? You guys okay?”

Xanthippe Nabertie

I answer. “For now, but there is definitely someone lurking around. They started off in the lower levels, but I can sense them making their way up to Korre’s room.”