18. Vindicta

                                    

                                          
"The characteristic of a genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic."

Ralph Waldo Emerson









|| Location: Corusca Sector, Coruscant system , Coruscant||
|| Timeline: 6 ABY ||
A year had passed since Kodo's speech, and the galaxy was trembling. Riots had erupted across Coruscant, and the insidious whispers of rebellion grew louder with each passing day. The Krytos virus had driven non-human populations to desperation, and now, the Empire was facing a two-front war: the New Republic on one side, and the swelling ranks of Kodo's supporters on the other.
I sat in the conference chamber, the oppressive weight of my position bearing down on me. The Imperial Ruling Council was assembled, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and anger. In the center of the room, a large holo-image of Zsinj flickered to life, his corpulent figure lounging in his command chair, that damnable moustache twitching with amusement as he surveyed the room.
"Isard," Zsinj began, his voice a mixture of mockery and disdain. "I must say, you've certainly let things spiral out of control on Coruscant. Riots, insurgents, and a rogue warlord rallying the people? It's almost as if you want the New Republic to win."
I glared at his holo-image, my temper flaring. "Spare me your sarcasm, Zsinj. The situation is far more complex than you can comprehend from the safety of your territory. The New Republic is not our only threat. Kodo's message has inspired a level of dissent we haven't seen since the early days of the Rebellion. He's rallied the people against me, against us, and now they rise in numbers that are difficult to contain."
Zsinj's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with mock interest. "So, the mighty Ysanne Isard is finally feeling the heat? How delightful. But tell me, what exactly do you expect me to do about it? You summoned me here, after all."
I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. "I want you to crush Kodo. He has grown too powerful, too influential. The people see him as a savior, a beacon of hope against what they perceive as my tyranny. If we don't act swiftly, we risk losing everything."
Zsinj's expression changed subtly, his amusement fading into something more calculating. "Kodo, Kodo... Now, there's a name that I've been hearing far too often lately. What exactly makes him such a threat to you, Isard? You've dealt with warlords before, and none of them have rattled you quite like this."
I hesitated for a moment, weighing my next words carefully. The truth of Kodo's origins was a closely guarded secret, known to only a few. But Zsinj needed to understand the gravity of the situation, the true stakes at play.
"Kodo was more than just a warlord," I began, my voice cold and precise. "He was to be the next leader, the Empire chosen successor. Palpatine himself saw potential in him, grooming him for a role that none of us were privy to. That is why he is so dangerous, Zsinj. The people see him as the rightful ruler, not me, not any of us."
The room fell into stunned silence, the Council members exchanging uneasy glances. Even Zsinj, for all his bravado, seemed taken aback by the revelation. His usual smirk faltered, replaced by a look of genuine surprise.
"So, the Emperor had a successor in mind all along," Zsinj mused, his tone now devoid of mockery. "And you expect me to go up against this... chosen one? Interesting. But why reveal this now, Isard? Why entrust me with such a dangerous task?"