5BBY AU.

Prologue

It was supposed to be a long day of sitting around the table reading over the newly proposed senate bill. An immaculate 60,000 pages of law written in the ancient language of High Galactic. The 2nd most common language still in use across the entire surface of Chandrilia. Used in everything from economics, business, to politics even to laws. It was a planetary custom to use the ancient language in politics so all political debates, negations and more had to be done in that tongue. A tongue that even the Emperor had a known distaste for. Imperial Governor Grandon Holleck, who held the technical title of 'High Governor' which put him above the planetary governor. Who would be elected by the House of Representatives. The senate bill was dealing with land reform and nature preservation. Most of the bill was centered around an area of Chandrilia not too far outside Hanna city known as the Cursed Forest. Its true origins were unknown, but it had been a long time grooming problem. Governor Holleck sat in the private conference room of the Imperial manor with his aids, a translation droid and planetary Governor Jovive Centi.

A tall woman who towered even over him, wearing a traditional Chandrilian white robe. With brown eyes, curved lips and far younger than him. Centi was entering into her 40s at this point, an immaculate speaker with a growing sense of popularity. An enemy or ally that Holleck had yet to decide on. For her loyalties were questionable even to the perceived enemies of the Empire. Finally after reading through the biggest chunk 90% of all of these were pork-barrel spending. Very little actually revolves around the forest other than declaring it to be a national park under the Gladean State Parks system. This had been an on-going problem for the planet as strange things happened in that forest. From people disappearing, to the fact that every time someone went into the forest they ended up on the outside. It was a never ending mystery that had captured the imagination of so many. Centi sat there quietly looking over her thoughts there was something about this woman he didn't trust. Centi spoke with a cunning tongue and greed limed her ruby lips. "And if this bill passes it will bring in an additional 3 trillion in revenue a year."

"Sounds promising," Holleck said. "I see you've put plenty of time, but what I'm concerned about is not only the length. But I fail to see what a woman like you would gain from this, so…enlighten me ." Centi pursed her lips; she didn't like to be questioned on her decisions and her popularity with the general populace. It was a risky maneuver, but behind closed doors things were different. People were on a far more equal footing; these negotiations required one to have a blaster in hand. Oftentimes discreetly this type of politics was a nasty kind. It made the putrid ways on Coruscant look rather tame in comparison. The two of them sat in the office silently for a moment as Centi collected her thoughts.

"Do you know the ultimate power in the Galaxy? A single power that everyone, every government, every culture, every religion has ever touched. That everyday we touch and use and think about in one way or another. It has the power to move stars, to build things vaster than you can imagine, create technology unlike any other and yet bring despair to the galaxy. Unleash the worst atrocities imaginable, but this power is needed. Everyday we use it, think about it, touch it. This power is a tool that all societies need. And it is that very power in which I worship. All men worship."

"Faith?" Holeck dared to ask.

"Money," the woman spoke with a dark gleam in her eyes. Holeck just looked at the woman as the smell of greed appeared. It had a rubbery smell to it and so much of the woman's motivations was finally being explained. "Can you name a power greater than money? One that can build great empires, great buildings, create vast military yet lead to indescribable horrors. Genocide, war and so much worse. Fascinating to think about the power of such small things. So small, almost invisible, something so few individuals think about and yet it has such power. A power that I worship, a power that all men worship. I just have the calluses to admit it. My goal is simple: I wish to live a great life. To live and work like the Great ones. To see cities field with moral discipline again. I wish to bring my people wealth unseen since those great days and bring with it technology that will forever change the galaxy. And that is why I propose this bill to you today. That is why it must be passed. For the benefit of all the people of Chandrillia. And you could be a part of our great revival."

"And who are the Great ones?" Holleck asked.

"Imagine a single planet more wealthy than the Intergalactic Banking Clan, more powerful than every successful government. A people who influenced and built this very galaxy dozens of times over. Imagine a people whose only limit is the stars themselves. A people who could accomplish anything, could create or buy anything. A moral person that is who I wish to emulate. To copy their successes and suppases them in their flaws. And this bill is what will allow us to do so." The woman smiled and Governor Holleck just looked at the woman.

"I see," he said. "Well then…I do have other things to do then spend hours reading this document and we've been at it for a good…three hours? Perhaps tomorrow?" Centi frowned at this, but she collected herself.

"Of course I'll start working on a smaller bill," with that the woman excused herself and Governor Holleck just stood there silently. Looking at the others in the room as he waited until he was certain she had left the premises.

"She's mad," was his only response. He wasn't even certain half of what she said. Or what her actual goals were, but one thing was for certain she was mad. The women always walked with a stick of superiority to her, but that was even more proof. On top of that he failed to see how this would improve Chandrilias already booming economy. It was hard to improve something that was doing well right now under her leadership. Whether he agreed with the woman or not she was great at building an economy and maintaining it. But this was insane even for her. A god of greed? A people endowed in wealth? It was nothing, but superstitious as far as Holleck was concerned and yet again. He still couldn't tell where the woman's loyalty lies. It wasn't the empire and it definitely wasn't to the people of Chandrillia. Even the security member of ISB was uncertain of what to do other than report it and wait. There was no evidence of anything other than her insanity, potential corruption. Holleck groaned as he carefully filled out the paperwork.

This woman was untouchable and well known that the Imperial senator had a public quarrel with this woman. Her loyalty was to credits? A god of credit? He still had no clue how to interpret the conversation. Everytime he talked with this woman it was just a headache. One day her lucid nature would get the better of her. Centi would fall; it was just a time consuming grind. She was as clever as any. With that it took Holleck about an hour to finish up with all his tasks in the office. Before he could finally retire for the night. He didn't even bother with an escort, just walked out of the Imperial palace onto the streets of Chandrilia. A cold wind, not nature, formed across the capital city of Hanna. One of the few cities across the agriworld; the wind broke through his gray governors uniform. Kissing his skin with winter lips in the middle of a warm summer across the hemisphere. The temperature was only a few degrees above freezing and one could feel the drop as they walked. All around people across the city began to shake from the cold.

Holleck looked around and noticed even more queer things. Wild animals which would often scurry across the city came out to play. They all seemed to look and an uncomfortable silence fell upon the world. Governor Holleck looked around and picked up his com link, "Hello? Anyone there?" He spoke, but not a sound was made. No response and so finally he started to make his way back to the palace. When it started with violent appalse. An earthquake unlike any others occurred across the city. As windows shattered, streets cracked and screams filled the air. Rubble danced and the animals seemed to sing and a moment later it was all over. A silent chaos was forming across the city. What was going on? Holleck was beginning to panic when it appeared in the sky. Giant balls of light yellow in color appeared across the sky; they gathered higher and higher in the sky. Spinning round and round till millions of these lights appeared in the sky. Holleck could not take his eyes off of them as the small balls of light came together. To form a figure in the sky in the shape of a humanoid figure. Almost feminine in appearance wearing a giant robe with wings as bright as gold. Across the beings face they wore a mask. Robes of gray with symbols more ancient than he could imagine drapied the body.

The being appeared with captivating beauty who had caught the attention of everyone around them. Even the people on the streets were in disbelief at the scene unfolding. The being remained for a mere few minutes before flying into the sky. A giant blast of light emerged across the sky. Holleck blocked out the blast and a moment later. A golden glitter fell upon the world. "What?" With that Holleck just knew that his shift had been extended and so the man turned around and walked back through the city streets. Which fell into chaos. One thing was for certain that thing…had appeared in the sky over the cursed forest. Oh how he hated that place with a passion.