A Twi'lek in a stylish red dress sat in front of the camera, her legs crossed and her hands placed casually in her lap.
"Good evening," she said, "And welcome to this special late-night broadcast of the Galactic Herald, your home for breaking stories. Sad news tonight as a fight broke out earlier today in a Naboo shopping mall. Famed journalist Lisabe Hanival was the first to break this story, and new details are emerging every hour. We take you now to reporter Elora Trevino, live in front of the mall where this incident took place. Elora, what can you tell us?"
The camera cut to Elora Trevino, a large shopping mall behind her. Medics hurried in and out of the building, escorting victims on repulsorlift stretchers to ambulances. Local law enforcement stood between the crowd that had gathered and the entrance to the shopping center.
"Well, Selina, it all started when an unidentified female Twi'lek and human male got into an argument over the last special edition Starfun POP! Emryc Thorne figure this afternoon. What ensued next was nothing short of a blood bath, and one eye witness who has requested to remain anonymous described it as 'the most harrowing moment of his life.'
"Countless customers joined the throng, pushing up against one another as they fought for the last remaining figures. Mall security were quick to arrive on the scene but were outnumbered and overwhelmed. The mall's property owner, Elias Whalburg, claims that nothing has ever happened like this in the history of the mall and says that over two thousand credits worth of damage was done in less than half an hour.
"Unfortunately, the altercation took a turn for the worst when a mad gunman tore into the store and tried to take one of the last remaining figures by force. At least seven people have been hospitalized as a result, and three deaths have been confirmed by local law enforcement. As of yet, their identities have not been released."
The camera cut to footage of a large wermal being rolled out of the mall by medics on a stretcher. Blood dripped from her wounds, and the stretcher buckled under her weight. When the camera cut back to Elora Trevino, the Pantoran was doubled over, gagging. The footage had sent her into a coughing fit, memories of her first encounter with this monster flashing through her mind. Only now she had a name to put to the face, and she wished she didn't. She'd dreaded the day she would see that face again. She was it enough in her nightmares.
"Her?" she managed to ask between coughs.
"We're still live!" the camera man whispered through the side of his mouth.
The Pantoran continued to cough, struggling to regain control over her own faculties. Eventually, she found the strength to carry on. "Only seconds ago local law enforcement released the identity of the woman that they claim is a hero and saved countless lives. Pootalina Thorne, President of the Emryc Thorne Fan Club and once rumored to be the President's fiancé, threw caution to the wind when she charged the gunman head on. With no thought for her own personal safety, this brave and selfless woman barreled into the gunman and knocked the deadly blaster from his hands, tackling him to the ground and using her own body weight to keep him pinned down until law enforcement arrived on the scene to roll her away.
"A public relations representative for Starfun POP! has issued a public statement apologizing for the shortage of Emryc Thorne figures and expressing their sorrow over this great tragedy. Starfun POP! applauded Pootalina Thorne's heroics and have promised to gift the local hero with not one but 100 of her very own Emryc Thorne figures as a tolkien of their appreciation.
"Pootalina Thorne sustained three blaster shots to the torso, but doctors expect her to recover. The gunman, however, remains in critical condition. Back to you, Selina."
Elora placed a hand to her stomach and staggered out of the camera's view.
@tags: @lizziie @Sreeya