HoloNet News Eternal Unmasked!

[The Storyteller]

The set of Coruscant Nightly News suddenly came into view. Breaking news scrawling across the screen. A pale twi'lek in a light green suit sat looking into the camera. "Good evening, CNN has just obtained exclusive footage of the true identify of the Sith known as The Eternal. Previously the true identiy of this creature was unknown. We warn our viewers that this footage may be disturbing." The feed cut to security footage of the Battle of Yavin. A zoomed in view showed The Eternal in all its dark glory approaching.

The Sith cutting gruesome swaths through Jedi defenders...truly shocking to see...until the sudden appearance of a mysterious tall figure. That was followed by the miraculous workings of the Force by the Grandmaster. The viewers watched as the tide of the battle change, until eventually, the victors stood looking over the battle field. A young Zabrak Jedi seen looking on. The cams again focused on The Eternal...this time trapped on the ground as the Grandmaster stood over it.

Suddenly the footage shifted to inside a prison cell. Again, the Eternal was seen standing across from the Grandmaster. Slowly, the Mask was removed to reveal the woman the galaxy knew as Anat Asteria. Gasps could be heard from the CNN news room. "We here at CNN have no words for what we are seeing. The Eternal is none other than the CEO of Asteria Industries...Ana Asteria herself! We have tried to reach Ms. Asteria for comment but have been unable to at this time. The legends of The Eternal can curdle blood and here she was on Scientific Galactica! We go now to Jedi Temple on New Alderaan where Grandmaster Voran is addressing the media."

The view shifted to Alex on the Temple steps of New Alderaan. "The Sith came for our home. They slaughter without remorse...they kill without thought. The Empress unleashes her monster on the galaxy...but no more. The Eternal is dead. The girl we knew as Anat Asteria is lost. The Order has rid the galaxy of a black plague...but not without cost. Jedi died to protect Yavin. They threw themselves into the flame. Too many nearly lost their lives to stop this monster...the Empress does not want peace. She has murdered her own Council...she has elevated Raze...a beast who has killed billions. The visage of a peaceful Empire is gone. I hope we all see that now. There will be no peace while the Empress reigns. We stand united with the rest of the galaxy. Jedi will continue to fight and die for you...for freedom...and for the Light."

The cameras cut back. "This is CNN."

 

[Crix Aran]

Crix didn't turn off the news so much as he bolted from his seat to the holocom.

He had come away from the expedition on Kashyyyk to his ship to get some hot food and a decent shower and had thought - hell, why not check on the state of the Galaxy? Of course the Force didn't seem to like the fact that he had taken the mission to Kashyyyk to step away from The Eternal. He had taken the chance for all it was worth to make distance between himself and the creature that had caused him so much pain, who had tortured and broken his mother.

His hate was justifiable and he had clung to it stubbornly for years at this point.

When the mask came off? It was Anat Asteria.

Crix gripped the sides of the projector, knuckles white, as the bile rose in the back of his throat. It was thick, it was bitter and it tasted like burnt coffee beans and he... he loathed it. Grunting in pain, he looked down to his left hand to see that he had smashed it down atop a plate he'd left on the projector from dinner.

The sight of his own blood seemed to galvanize him and he swept the debris from the communicator with a slash of his arm, clearing it entirely and sending the remnants smashing into a nearby wall. He wanted to scream but he refrained. He wanted to rage and rage and he just couldn't stop himself from feeling it.

A writhing, roiling, feeling deep in his gut that made every emotion feel white hot.

The anger.

The betrayal.

The disgust.

The hatred.

It was all real, it was all his own and he couldn't just ignore them. He refused to use them, to bury himself in the emotions that ran wild through him but it was hard. It was so hard because not giving into them hurt on such a visceral level that he felt like he was going to throw up.

Part of him desperately wanted it to be wrong, to be a lie.

The idea of Alex using someone as a scapegoat felt better, sat better, than acknowledging that he had been so cosy with the woman responsible for breaking his mother down so utterly. It was staggering even to himself, even in his state, that he would honestly prefer it if the Jedi Grandmaster proved herself to be corrupt than the truth to be that he had been friends (that he had thought he might try for more than that as well) with The Eternal.

"Lancer - Call Alexandria Voran." he ordered his pilot droid, "Bring the ship up and plot a course for Yavin."

A series of beeps, questioning him, came from the cockpit and Crix's temper flared.

"I don't care what time it is there and I don't care if we've been told to stay here! You get this ship flying or I'll leave you in the jungle and do it my damn self!"

There were no further objections and Crix was left in silence with the most bitter pill stuck in his throat.

@Valen Pelora @GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

A red-headed woman dressed in green, long sleeved silk blouse, black pencil skirt and heels walked across the stage to the podium. She adjusted her glasses as she glanced down to the holo-microphone before her, adjusting it appropriately. Behind her, there was the logo of the lab: Asteria Industries and a few other various beings, some in suits, other in lab coats stood quietly on stage with her. She looked up, her eyes settling on the holocam as it transmitted the live-feed.

"Good Evening, I am Anat Asteria of Asteria Industries. This evening, the Holonet news had a press release with the Jedi Religious Leader, Alexander Voran, who made accusations that are entirely false and in honesty, obscene. This attempt to smear my name, my research, and the hard working scientists and engineers is a tactic of religious extremism that will not be tolerated. We will not be pulled into a crusade by these religious warring factions and be used as scapegoats and pawns." The woman paused, letting her words settle before continuing.

"Shame on CNN for allowing such propaganda be shared with the people. I expected more respectful and fact-based reporting." the woman paused, "We will continue our research here at Asteria Industries, for we believe in the power of science and innovation, and not the faith practices that have hurt so many people in this galaxy. I am grateful for the support that has poured in from so many, and will continue to do what we feel is best in our efforts to expand our ability to understand the unknowns of astro-engineering. Thank you."

The woman stepped away and the holo-feed ended.