Kota Terress

Kota: look at me. Remember who you are. Remember all those nights watching the stars and planning on which ones to visit. You don't need the darkness you don't need hate they won't love you like I will. You can fight this and when you do you we can be happy again. Remember how nice that was.?

Kota watches her struggle. 

Kota: Stay on this line I'm gonna need you to tell me where you are. 

He motions to Hartik and Josh.

Kota: Get the ship ready.

Kota: (To Larial) Lari, listen it's going to be ok I'm coming to get you and I'm going to take you home.

Kota: Hey hey, I'm alive. I'm not dead. I didn't leave you. You can still come home to me and Kenlar. Just the three of us like before. Listen to me He's not good for you. He doesn't care about you. He only cares about himself. No one could care about you as much as I do. Just come home forget all that evil. 

He stands in the middle of a landing platform on his holo. Hartik, Shaia and some armed guards watch as Kota pleas with Larial.

Kota: I need you, sweetheart.

Kota: Sweetheart, I am alive. No one killed me. It was all a plot by Richards. I'm a little bumped and bruised but I'm ok. Look I know I haven't seen you in awhile but telling me about two guys kissing you probably isn't the best. 

Kota sees her in her darkness and pain and just wants to help her.

Kota: Hey Lari.....come home.

Kota is lead outside to a ship. He is dressed in his regular clothes and takes out his holo. He sighs and tries to call her assuming it won’t work.

Kota: Know her? Yea you could say I know her. Look There is no time to rest let’s get a move a move on.

Hartik: Kota maybe you should rest a little.

Kota: You tell me how much resting you want to do when your love is in danger and you can save her!

Hartik takes in the snap but he knows Kota is right.

Hartik: Go.

Kota feels a calling out to him but he can’t grasp where it’s coming from. Its clouded in ager and hate and makes him feel uneasy.

Hartik: Richards had you sent to prison for dating a sith. That’s a serious thing in the military and with his connections he had you sent here. He knew you’d never stay permanently because the Jedi would clear things up with Larial and you’d be released. So what he did was had some guards beat you up and take some pictures. Then he presented this to Larial , hoping she’d fall-

Kota: -And make it all true. Make it so I was dating a sith. Did she?

Hartik: She killed Richards. Actually officially we don’t know who killed Richards but I figured out his plan before he was killed so I’m assuming Larial did it. Here’s the problem. This sith (An image of Dark Larial comes from Hartik’s holo) has been causing a mess of trouble. She’s been on a killing spree, killing mostly Republic senators and legal officials. She’s been seen with the Emperor and is almost definitely pregnant with his child.

Kota doesn’t really recognize the sith.

Hartik: I know Richards pushed Larial over the edge, I know this sith popped up out of nowhere just after Larial disappeared, and I know she’s been targeting people just like Richards, but I’m the only one who knows this.

Kota looks at the image of the sith. He looks deep into her eyes.

Kota: No you’re not, that’s Larial.

Shaia puts her hand to her mouth in disbelief.

Hartik: I’ve arranged for you to be let out of here temporarily.

Kota: Why?

Hartik: She needs to be stopped and you’re the only one who can do it.

Kota: I won’t kill her.

Hartik: You don’t have to. If you can get her back the council said they’ll take it from there. She won’t be punished they just need her to be stopped.

Kota: When do we start?

Shaia leads Kota down a hall lined with armed guards. She stops at two doors.

Shaia: He’s in there.

She points to one of the doors. Kota nods and Shaia enters the other door leaving  Kota alone.

Kota opens the door and steps into a small mostly empty room. There is a table two chairs and a two way mirror. Hartik sits in one chair.

Kota: Oh, my hero.

Hartik: Kota, its good to see you.

Kota: Yea? Does prison suit me well? You know I’ve had a lot of time to do some thinking. And you know what I came up with while I was doing all this thinking? I came to the conclusion that none of this would have ever happened if you hadn’t tried to convince me to go back to the military. Isn’t that funny?

Shaia watches form behind the mirror.

Hartik: Ahh yes but then you would have never met Larial, so in a way I’m kind of like your wingman.

Kota: Screw you, you had nothing to do with that. How’d you even know about that?

Hartik: Because Richards used it to put you here and keep you here. She thinks you’re dead!

Kota: Yea I saw that.

Hartik: And we think she’s pregnant with the Emperor’s child.

Kota: She’s what!?!?!?

Kota makes for the door in a fit of rage.

Kota: I’m gonna kill this guy.

Hartik: Kota Stop!
Kota: All someone had to do was tell her I was alive not sleep with her, how hard could that be?

Hartik: To not sleep with her? I don’t know have you seen her?

Kota: Hey watch it Pal, you’re already on my short list. But this guy took the cake I’m going after him.

Hartik: Did you hear what I said? It’s the Emperor’s child.

Kota: But that means…… No no no no no. Larial you didn’t. What happened?

Hartik: Sit down.

Kota sits all alone in a cell. He had been in solitary for awhile now due to him being targeted most of the prisoners.

He should have been left alone and available to prisoners but an old war friend he met when he was briefly stationed on belsavis helped him out and got him moved. Shaia made sure he wasn't killed and it was thanks to her he was alive.

The guards still hate him and the prisoners still try to kill him but as long as he doesn't let that get to him his days aren't so bad. The nights are though.

Larial's message plays over in his dreams.

He hopes every night that someone calmed her down and told her the truth. The elaborate plot that Richards had set up never crossed his mind.

The cell door slid open. Shaia stands in the doorway. Her brown hair rests on her armor nicely.

Kota: you should've called I would have freshened up.

Shaia: let's go.

Kota: Oh come on I didn't do anything.

Shaia: get up and let's go.

Kota: seriously, I've been good. I haven't insulted anyone's mother or made of someone's facial structure.

Shaia: you have a visitor.

Kota: a what?

Kota is tossed over the edge of the railing into the courtyard of his building from his second floor cell.

He gets to his feet dusting himself off.

Kota: come on guys, come on. Do you honestly think I'd be here if I wasn't an enemy to the Republic?

Inmate1: you're probably the reason we're all here!

Crowd : Yea!

Kota: that seems unlikely because there are about 20 of you right here and I couldn't possibly have, I mean logically-

More prisoners gather around and the crowd proceeds down to the courtyard surrounding Kota.

Kota: come on guys we're all in the same boat here.

The prisoners go at him. He blocks a punch and swings a counter. One inmate down. Blocks another punch but no time to counter only time to block. A kick, a punch, some dirt, someone's shoe?, another punch.

Then BAM right in the pride which is located in the stomach.

A large alien leg ends kota's streak. He coughs d falls to all fours. There was no hope after the beating he took from the guards. He looks ahead. Knees and legs block his view but though them all he sees the exit to his cell block. It's something, it's just enough.

Kota: Larial, don't do anything stupid please, I'm coming.

Kicks come up from angles and the droids step in. The surround Kota rifles drawn and aimed. The prisoners back off slowly. Kota stumbles to his feet. The prisoners look passed the droids to Kota who wears a large smirk.

He grabs one droids shoulder and pulls it down to the ground disarming it and crushing it's head with his foot. He cocks the rifle.

He guns down the droids in a quick flawless recession.

He stands in the middle of all the prisoners.

Kota: alright which one of you clowns kicked me first?

The prisoners remain silent and back away from a tall alien who now stands alone.

Kota: now we're getting somewhere.

He cocks the rifle again. In a flash armed soldiers rush into the cell blocks their ranks laced with droids of all sizes.

Soldier: all of you drop all your weapons and get down on the ground, gave down, hands on your heads.

Kota: Damn it, come on.

The soldiers move in and apprehend Kota and lead him away from the cell block to a speeder.

Kota lays on the ground staring straight up into the sky. His face is bruised and he is cut up. Standing over him are two guards holding electrostaffs. They look to one another then turn to walk away.

Kota: is that all you got?

Kota stands tall behind them holding one of his shoulders. He raises his hands to fists. His breathing is heavy.

The two guards ready their weapons. Kota fakes a lunge at the left guard and grabs the right guard's staff. He twirls it and knocks that guard down. The other guard jumps back.

Security droids spring to life from all around blasters trained on kota's head. Kota stares down the guard. He reluctantly gives in and drops the staff.

The road they are standing on is in front of one of the cell blocks in the 600 sector of Belsavis. The other prisoners in the building have gathered around to watch the fight.

Guard1: everyone back to your cells shows over.

The prisoners all disband and the droids return to their posts. Kota walks back into his building and to his cell.

All the cells remain open during open hours but droids and guards are always around.

All of a sudden larial message displays for the whole prison.

Kota stands stunned at the message. He looks to his bed which has a holo image of he and larial in bed all curled up together.

He hears the message conclude and his mind races until -

Inmate 1: captain?

Kota turns around seeing a mob of prisoners gathered at his cell.

Inmate2: that wouldn't happen to be a Republic armed forces rank would it?

Kota: oh for the love of.... Thanks a lot honey.

The prisoners close in.

The Secretary runs out of the office with with larial and the Republic forces rush in. The head into the office and see Richards lying on the floor. his body slashed and his face pale. He wears a look of satisfaction. Not because was glad to die but his death meant that he won.

The soldiers switch from seize mode to patrol mode and over the next couple of hours the scene dies down.

Richards covers at her might. Regret fills him but his arrogance prevails.

Richards: killing me won't bring him back. But by all means show us, show us that we were right. Show us how evil you really are!

Republic forces outside the Senate building converge on the entrance and jedi filter into their ranks. Dropships and fighters hover above the walkway.

Richards: you don't have have to believe me.

He activates his holo and an image of Kota Springs up. He is bruised and cut and lying on the ground not moving. His eyes stare straight up into the sky.

As Larial looks at it Richards subtly activates his intercom.

Richards: I didn't kill him. You have to know this wasn't my fault. But if you kill me, if you even try to kill me you won't make it out of here with your life. Do you know how many soldiers and Jedi there are here?

Richards: well then right to the point. I noticed you trying to contact me but I had no idea why until I found our you were a sort of companion to Mr terress.... So I thought you'd want to be the first to know the information I just received. After my attempt to Kota a fair trial I found out he was killed, in prison this morning.

Secretary: excellent he's in his office.

The door slide open and Richards stands do against the far wall.

As larial enters he sits at his desk.

Richards: have a seat. I'm one of the lead prosecutors for the Republic and forces.

Secretary: are you going to go to her?

Richards: yes right the idea is to push her over the edge, I'm not risking that without tons of security around.

The Secretary nods unapprovingly. She makes her way back to her desk and Richards stands at the window.

The Secretary calls larial on holo.

Secretary: hello. Prosecutor Richards requests your presence for a meeting at the Senate Plaza at your early convenience.

She ends the holo and looks up to Richards.

Richards: this is how the galaxy works. if you don't so far yourself, no one will.

The door to Larial's ship hisses open. There are locks on the landing gear and the hangar is closed.

Kota jumps to his feet as Republic officers rush in. Everything is in slow motion. Kota looks to Kenlar.

Kenlar's eyes show fear and confusion. 

Kota looks to Larial.

She too looks confused. 

Kota: It's alright, don't worry.

The officers handcuff Kota's hands behind his back. They lead him down the ship's ramp holding his shoulders. Kota struggles a little but he knows it's useless. 

More soldiers crowd the hangar. Richards stands at the head of them watching with complete contempt. 

Kota is taken out of the hangar.

There is no trial this time. No one defends Kota. Everything is done swiftly and Kota is shipped of to Cell 624 on Belsavis before anyone even notices. 

*Richards Office*

Richards sits at his desk with the door open. His secretary is busy on her computer. An SIS agent, Hartik, bursts in. He rushes passed the secretary who doesn't bother to stop him at this point.

Hartik (To Richards) Are you out of your mind? 

Richards stands up.

Richards: Who are you?

Hartik: I'm SIS agent Hartik.

Richards: Alright, now I'm not the one stroming into someone else's office shouting, so why out of teh two of us, would you think I'm insane?

Hartik: You sent Kota to Belsavis! That's a death penalty and you know it! 

Richards: Everything I did is completely legal and in my power.

Hartik: How about ethical?

Richards: That's funny coming from and SIS agent.

Hartik: I honestly don't know how Kota didn't kill you.

Richards: Ok, I;m not going to stand here and let you threaten me, so you can leave now.

Hartik: I'm getting him out. That girl isn't a sith. 

Richards: I will be proving that in enough time for Kota to be stuck there for quite awhile. 

Hartik: You don't need him tere for life, just long enough for him to get killed.

Richards: You have had more of my time than you deserve.

Hartik: I won't let you prove she's a sith, you can't she's be a steady jedi for some time now.

Richards: Get out! 

Hartik scoffs and storms out of the office. He stands in the Senate Plaza letting the planet pass him by.

Hartik: Hang in the, Kota.

Kota smiles as she kisses him. He gives one last glance to where he sat when he wrote his letter and then back to Larial. They all walk out together.

*Richard's Office*

RIchards sits at his desk reviewing his holo when his secretary walks in.

Secretary: I'm going to pack up and head out is there anything else you need?

Richards: No, I'm going to be heading out soon too.

A message pops up on his holo as the secretary leaves the room. It's from Kota. He opens and begins to read. 

"Dear Counselor,

I'm writing this to you as my official resignation from the Republic Armed Forces. I trust you will file this and take all the appropriate steps to ensure this goes through, hell you may even mount a copy on your wall. I have decided that I will not give you the satisfaction of destroying someone else's life to get back at me. So I won't fight you anymore, but if you think I won't fight the empire, you're wrong, I just won't be doing it for the Republic. You may regret this down the road but I'm sure you'll count this as a win. Enjoy it while you can, because now I have no rank to protect and nothing you can hold over me. You'd be wise to keep that in mind.

 Regards,

Former Captain Kota Terress."

Richards: (To secretary) Don't leave! ....we have work to do.

Kota and Larial go on dating for the next couple of months. 

Kota: just catching up on a message I forgot to send.

He smiles at her and watches the flower as she moves around, mesmerized.

As larial leaves the room. Kota takes the time to write a letter. As larial gets ready Kota composes his letter. Larial walks in and Kota looks up.

Kota: whoa, you look amazing.

Kota gets up and grabs larial waist looking her up and down.

Kota: how about this nice little restaurant downtown?

He moves away from her and sends the letter than moves right back to larial.

Kota: why don't we take Kenny out for dinner?

He says to her hoping to get to spend more time with the two of them that night.

Kota smiles at her words. Realizing how serious this was and how dangerous this had become Kota didn't want to fall but it was too late.

Kota: I think I love you too.

Kota wasn't expecting the kiss and it almost knocked him over.

Kota: you promise?