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All original characters are the property of Celgress.

Star Wars – Dichotomy: Twins of Light and Darkness – Prologue - Meet Haparion

By

Celgress

4 BBY

Imperial Center (formerly Coruscant)

Fifteen year old Lady Haparion (Hi-Peer-e-on) or Hapari (Hi-Peer-e) to her few close friends hated attending official functions with a passion. Regrettably her Great Uncle Emperor Palpatine insisted she do as many of these pathetic events as possible. He felt it was important to present an engaged public image. She made an elaborate show of her boredom by yawning loudly. She grinned broadly when her disrespectful actions elicited gasps of shock mixed with murmurs of disapproval from those in attendance. Next she pulled out her personal pad and played a rather noisy and flashy video game to kill time while the latest speaker droned on. Haparion couldn't care less about what the unwashed masses thought. They were below her.

Haparion was clad in a medium grey tunic, medium grey pants, polished black boots and a black cape held in place by an ornately crafted gold chain. Her light brown hair was teased up into a mass of loose curls inlayed with evenly spaced gold ringlets. Her makeup was tastefully understated.

While Haparion could best be described, and often was by her many detractors, as a spoiled brat tonight the princess/empress in waiting was in a particularly bad mood. Later in the week she was scheduled to tour a new imperial sponsored terraform complex under construction on Tatooine. Although she'd never had the displeasure of setting foot there, during her all be in short life, from what Haparion had heard of the miserable excuse for a world Tatooine seemed a dreadfully backwards place. It was apparently populated by a motley assortment of semi-employed galactic rejects, thieves, and bounty hunters, most distasteful of all criminal scum like the Hutts ruled more or less unchallenged there. Inwardly she cringed at the thought of such a dust ball planet. Wouldn't it be simpler, and cheaper, to eradicate the whole place after conscripting whatever populations were physically fit into force labor on major Imperial projects elsewhere?

Not for the first time she wondered why her Great Uncle was wasting so many precious resources plus credits, as Banking Clan chief Zilan would only to happily point out, on resuscitating a dead ecosystem in the Outer Rim? The exercise appeared futile. But her Great Uncle never did anything unless he personally or else the Empire benefited from that endeavour. What was his angle this time?

Later at the after party, which took place once Haparion had cut the ribbon officially inaugurating the new antigravity subway line, the young royal milled about once again bored out of her mind. When approached by various high profile guests she indulged them in tedious conversations. One such occurrence however became the highlight of the evening.

Senator Mon Mothma had begun a lengthy oral treatise on the tenants of good governance when she made a miscalculation. One that incurred the wrath of her would be student. "Take the former Jedi Order. Their example teaches us…"

"Jedi," Haparion said venomously. Her dark eyes narrowed. "How dare you mention those traitors little own attempt to hold them up as an example of anything wholesome."

Mon Mothma was taken aback by the intensity of Haparion's words. "Excuse me Lady Haparion. I,,,," She said in disbelief.

"Need I remind you Jedi are an outlawed movement senator?" Haparion hissed.

Everyone other than Haparion's personal detachment of elite Storm Troopers cleared away from the pair. No one wanted to involve themselves unnecessarily in Haparion's impending temper tantrum. Her fits were legendary in their intensity.

"A band of Jedi ambushed and badly injured my Aunt Cyrin then left her to die. If my Great Uncle hadn't have been there she would have died. I hate Jedi!" Haparion said enraged. "Never mention their name again in my presence, understand senator?" She glared hatefully at Mothma. She added with a sly smile. "If I hear you've talked about Jedi again next time I'll tell my Aunt Cyrin or maybe Grand Inquisitor Grievous or maybe even my Great Uncle himself what you've done. You can explain your admiration of the Jedi to one of them. I'm sure any of them would be very interested in hearing your views on those fallen 'heroes' firsthand. On second thought perhaps I should tell them what you said. Traitors shouldn't be tolerated."

The color drained from Mon Mothma's face. She looked ghastly pale. "Please don't, I meant no disrespect." She pleaded.

"Prove it," Haparion said.

"How," Mon Mothma said hesitantly.

"Next time my staff submit an expense request to the Senate don't block it, no matter how high it is." Haparion said crossing her arms over her chest. A smug expression was evident on the teenager's face. "I know you blocked the payment for my last trip, don't try to deny it."

"That excursion was a waste of taxpayer credits." Mon Mothma bristled regaining some of her lost confidence. "An entire month spent in a luxury resort system. In addition your behavior there was shameful."

"Never the less those are my terms." Haparion said. "Besides I needed that vacation. My studies have been very stressful lately."

"I'm sure." Mon Mothma said drily.

"Do it or else." Haparion said. "I'm done here." She turned on her heels and left the richly attired chamber. Her Storm Troopers right behind her.

"Brat," Mon Mothma muttered under her breath.

Haparion left happy a rare experience following such a pointless event. Without intending to do so Haparion had put the despised agitator Mon Mothma in her place. Mothma will think twice before she stepped out of line again. Haparion's family would be proud. This day had been productive after all. Perhaps her trip to Tatooine could also be salvaged in some way if she tried? Surely there must be some fun she could have with the rubes that lived there. If she used her imagination she could surely come up with havoc to wreak. Watch out vagabonds of Tatooine Haparion future empress of the Galaxy and someday before then full-fledged dark lady of the Sith was on her way.

To Be Continued