Lady Holly Talon

""There will be peace, freedom and victory for this alliance if its the last thing I do!""

- Holly speaking at a meeting of The Alliance For Peace. ""I better be payed well for this, or you will be the latest decoration in the collection in the cargo hold of my ship. Understood?""

- Holly 'negotiating' the terms of a bounty she was taking on. ""Rules were made to be broken.""

- Holly Talon, to a police officer who tried to arrest her. Holly Talon was a widely feared Bounty Hunter during the Clone Wars. The Coruscant Police were known to dislike Holly so greatly that they would try to arrest her for setting foot on Coruscant, after a fight she had with the Coruscant Police Chief. Holly was a known criminal, but also a widely respected political leader. Holly is also known for leading the Third and Fourth Dark Nebula Wars, as well as being known for amazing abilties to disguise herself, once going three years without being discovered. ""For me, there has always been only one goal: Eternal peace. And I will do anything, including fight any threat, to achieve that goal.""

- Holly speaking to her brother Sio, who she very close with.

Origins
""That child has talent. One day she will do something for the good of the galaxy.""

- Holly's mother, Akatia, when she found eight month old Holly had escaped from her cot and was eating a bar of chocolate in the kitchen.

Holly Aayla-Maria Talon was born on Mandalore into a poor family consisting of her Mandalorian mother, Akatia Aylana Talon, her Twi'lek father (who met her mother on a visit to Mandalore over twenty years before Holly was born), Nadin Razul Talon, Holly's older brothers Dazz, Sio, Jett, Noa and Zeke her older sisters Zoe, Talonia, Talella, Talanna, Taline, Raskta, Anne and Kate. The youngest member of the family was Holly's twin sister, a Twi'lek called Talina. Holly's parents where killed by Death Watch before Holly was a year old, leading to Holly's life long grudge against the Death Watch.

Living On The Run
===""How dare you speak like that about the way I was brought up!? Just what gives you the right to say things like that!? I admit, my upbringing has been different, but that gives you no right to make rude jokes about my life, just because I haven't been as fortunate as you! Besides, I think it makes me a stronger person.""

- Holly defends the way her brother Dazz brought up herself and Jett to an enemy. ===

When their parents where killed, five year old Dazz took two year old Jett and ten month old Holly with him, thinking that the rest of the family would follow, but headstrong future Jedi Master Talonia had already taken the others the other way, thinking that Anne was looking after Holly, Dazz and Jett. Holly was terrified and confused, having no idea why she was strapped to her older brother's back, while he and another of her brothers ran as fast as they could. Dazz did everything he could for Jett and Holly, often going without food for days on end, so that they could eat. Even though they led a life of crime, Dazz did his best educate Holly and Jett, who payed much more attention when Dazz was teaching them to use weapons than when he was teaching them to read. Even when she was grown up, Holly often didn't know who to pronounce simple words. Mathematics was her strong point, and she was extremely clever, although her favourite lesson was weapons practise! They three children lived in an abandoned military base on Umbara, but one day, just after Holly's first birthday, the base was attacked by a giant Rancor. They ran away but the Rancor pursued them. Dazz had Holly strapped over his jetpack and he was carrying Jett. Jett and Holly were both shooting at the beast which was huge, even for a Rancor. Eventually they escaped from the ravenous beast, but not without wounds. Holly's left arm was broken, as was Jett's right leg, Dazz was bruised quite badly, but had no broken bones. He later stole a shuttle and the family escaped from Umbara.

The Fight With The Anooba
""Holly never speaks of her scars, I do not think she is ashamed of them, I think she hopes they will fade with time.""

- An extract from Talonia's diary, three days after Anne discovered Dazz, Jett and Holly.

When Holly was three, she, Dazz and Jett had been caught stealing from a rich Twi'lek, living in the middle of nowhere on Felucia, the Twi'lek, who was famed for being cruel, decided to feed the children to his pet Anooba. To his immense astonishment, the three children put up a fight, shooting at the creature with blasters he hadn't noticed they had. This only angered the underfed Anooba, which charged at them knocking them flying, it then picked up Holly and Jett in its' mouth and would have eaten them there and then had Dazz not killed it. Holly and Jett where both badly injured, but recovered quickly enough after Dazz had managed to free them all from the Twi'lek's home. Although the injured children recovered they both had scars on their bodies which would never fade.

Death's Doorstep
""Too many times now, I have stared death in the face. I have lived through situations that many adults would have died in when I was just a child. I have to wonder, what will happen to me next, and what will eventually finish me off?""

- Holly talking to her sister Talanna, when she was twenty years old.

When Holly was four, the Twi'lek recaptured the three children and swore to kill them. He kept them in cages, while he decided quite how he would kill them. Unfortuately for him, during this time, he was so happy to have the children that had stolen from him back, that he went insane. Because he was insane, he decided he would use them for target practise. Viro-Blade throwing target practise. He tied each child to steel post, at started to throw Viro-Blades at each of them in turn. At first he ignored Dazz, which was a big mistake as Dazz, then aged nine, was a master at escaping. A Viro-Blade plunged into Holly's head, just above her right ear, it wasn't a hard shot or Holly would have been killed. The Twi'lek presumed Holly was dead and started concentrating on Jett, who almost had his nose sliced off his face. Dazz managed to locate a blaster and shot the insane Twi'lek killing it instantly. Holly lived, although only just.

The Slave Traders
""No, I will never, ever sell my sister to you, or to any of the other slave-trading scum, and this is the last time I will tell you! I will not let you hurt or intimidate any of us. Now go away.""

- Dazz refuses, for about the millionth time, to sell his little sister Holly to slave traders on Felucia.

At the age of five, Holly was arguably the most beautiful child in the galaxy, and three children, one a ten year old boy, another boy, seven years old, and a stunning five year old girl aroused lots of interest amongst the slave traders of a slum district on Felucia. Many times, the slave traders approached Dazz and tried to buy Holly- and sometimes Jett from him. Dazz refused to sell his younger brother and sister. Sometimes attempts where made to kidnap Holly, as they knew well that a beautiful girl like Holly would fetch a high price.

Finding The Family
""For me, it is peculiar to be here, with the family I do not even remember. I can see similar feelings in Jett's face when I look at him. Dazz remembers them obviously, or I would not be here now. The worst thing about it is, I have no memories of my parents, just a necklace and dress of my mothers, and an old diary of dads.""

- Holly's diary, the day after she, Dazz and Jett where reunited with the rest of family.

On Holly's sixth birthday, Dazz went out to steal some food for dinner and he had left Holly and Jett alone in their tree house. When Dazz returned, he was accompanied by a tall blue Twi'lek girl, who Dazz introduced as their long lost sister Anne. Anne took the three children back with her and introduced them to the rest of the children, who had come to Felucia straight after their parents had been killed. Holly was given pictures of her parents, which made her very happy as she had no memories of them herself. She was also given a blue dress that had belonged to her mother, which she kept all her life.

Life On Felucia
""I am happy for Anne, truly I am, but I cannot say I like her husband much. He is annoying.""

- Holly, speaking to her sister Talella at Anne's wedding.

The family lived in an abandoned farm house on Felucia, doing any work that came their way, deserate to get enough money to get by. When Holly was nine, her sister Anne, then twenty, married the King of Felucia, dramatically changing the way the family lived. Some of the family had already left Felucia, Dazz becoming leader of the famed Saberlegend (Dazz's adopted surname) pirate gang, Kate had become a polititician, working almost constantly on Coruscant, Talonia, Talanna, Taline, Talina training to be Jedi. Zoe had become a Bounty Hunter. Holly lived in the palace on Felucia for the next few years, although she never really enjoyed living there. Holly hated the life she was forced to lead in the palace, she hated dressing in fancy clothes, and she hated having to be polite to people she couldn't stand. By the time she was ten, Holly had made up her mind leave Felucia as soon as she could. Holly promised her sister Anne that she would stay on Felucia until she was sixteen, and then she would leave to become a Bounty Hunter. It was during these few years, on visits to her sister on Coruscant, that Holly was trained as a Jedi, by her many sisters, and, at times, by Anne, who had, between the ages of three and nine, spent time on Coruscant being trained as a Jedi herself. Holly was thirteen when Anne's first child, Lani, was born. Holly was very fond of the baby, which would eventually follow it the footsteps of its aunty Holly, and become a Bounty Hunter.

Becoming A Bounty Hunter

 * "That girl could convince anyone that she is innocent of a crime they saw her commit. She is not so much a criminal as a misguided girl who has lost her way completely."
 * – An employer of Holly's wondering if he chose the right Bounty Hunter for the job.

Holly left Felucia at the age of sixteen, to become a Bounty Hunter, and she was glad of the freedom. Her first job was simple: take out the person who had killed her employer's wife. The man she was sent to kill knew that Bounty Hunters where after him, and had hired security, although his security would never have been enough to stop anyone as determind, ruthless, clever and talented as Holly, who had the added benefit of being force sensitive. Martin StarNova, the target, had a house on Ryloth, which Holly 'visited', as she later put it when telling the story to a close friend. Once at the house, the job was simple, Holly hid herself on the roof of an outhouse, and waiting for Martin to come past on his daily tour of his premises. Holly, who was excellent with any type of weapon, hit his head with a single shot from her sniper rifle and was able, thanks to her disguise, to pass herself off as a builder, fixing a broken roof. Holly was one of the most fearless of all the Bounty Hunters, and she would work for either the Sepratists or the Republic, having no personal preference, although the Republic paid more than the Sepratists, they did not hire Bounty Hunters as often. During her career as a Bounty Hunter, Holly made many enemies, sometimes unintenionally, and on those occasions, it was othen just a sarcastic comment that she hadn't been able to resist saying that got her into trouble. It was on a visit to Coruscant, and, for once, on perfectly legal grounds, that Holly first made the aquaintance of Wolf Parsnip, the Coruscant Police Chief. Holly had been walking through the streets of Coruscant, when she was approached by a police officer, who asked her if she was a Bounty Hunter. Holly had snapped at him "what business is it of yours, what my job is? But since you ask, no". Just six weeks later, they met again, when Holly was escaping from the scene of an assassination, a sniper rifle strapped across her back. He tried to arrest her, but Holly escaped.

Felucia:
Holly sighed and closed her eyes briefly. As usual, it had been a hard day. What am I doing here? she questioned herself silently, what am I even doing on Felucia? I thought the only reason for being a bounty hunter was getting away from this dump of a planet. "Holly, there you are!" Holly turned at the sound of a voice behind her. It was only Reyana. Holly bit her lip, and, for once, didn't come out with the first thing that came into her head. A good thing, considering the word that had jumped into her mind just so happened to be usen'ye. "What's up?" she asked. Reyana smirked at her, causing Holly to think that whatever she was about to be told would be trouble. "Mother is in a foul mood. You were supposed to help her prepare dinner or something?"

"How ever did I forget?" Holly snorted. Reyana laughed.

"Avoiding her kitchen on purpose? Don't blame you. Dad was asking where you were again by the way." Holly hoped the dusk covered her blush at that. Reyana's one mention of Moxin made her remember what a dangerous line she was walking out here. Moxin Portstalk was, she admitted to herself, the reason she was here. "Know what he wanted?" she questioned.

"He mentioned something to do with a game of cards, or something along those lines." Holly nodded, and smiled softly. "Anyway, I'm heading back inside." Reyana announced. Holly nodded. Quite frankly, she was worried. Did Reyana have any idea what was going on? She pondered upon this question for half an hour or so, before Moxin came out to her. "Evening sweetheart." he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hey...." Holly breathed. She slid her arms around his neck, and looked up, into his big brown eyes "You're sure we're safe here, Elzra could come out at any moment...."

"Shush beautiful. Its alright." Moxin mumbled. Holly smiled almost shyly at him "My little angel." he whispered, holding her closer. Holly had been about to reply when a shout from inside the house cut her off "ARGH!! What is the matter with everyone this evening!? Is everyone around here completely useless!? Get in here, you bunch of di'kuts!!" Holly burst out laughing. To say Elzra Portstalk-Thermalshriek had a way with words and a short temper was putting it mildly. At least her flying into one of her frequent rages was good entertainment, so long as you kept well out of the way of any stray blaster shots that could cause painful accidents, as Elzra had put it last week, when she'd been a reasonable frame of mind. "I better get in there, stop her from killing someone." Moxin laughed, letting go of Holly.

"You're crazy. I'm staying out here, I'm too young to die!" Holly joked. Moxin laughed softly as he turned to go back inside "You're to beautiful for anyone to want to kill." he said quietly, almost casually, as he hurried back towards the house. Holly watched him go, wondering how he could make such a joke of hiw wife's temper, and then how much longer they were going to get away with their affair for. She bit her lip again. Reyana was smart, she might only be ten, but she was smart. Elzra wasn't stupid either. How much longer could she fool them for? She was still pondering that question when she heard a scream from round the back of the house. Jolted out of her thoughts, Holly ran as quickly as she could towards where it had come from. The back garden was deserted. Moxin and Elzra came hurrying out of the house, looking flustered. Elzra was holding her and Moxin's youngest daughter, Rosie. Their son Nathin was following them, looking scared, for which Holly didn't blame him. "Where's Reyana? We heard her scream." Elzra sounded even snappier than usual. "I was in the front garden. I don't know where she is." Holly mumbled. Despite the heat of the evening, all three of them shivered. Holly heard Moxin gasp, and she glanced round. He had found something on the dusty ground. He held it up for Holly and Elzra to see. Reyana's wrist comm. Suddenly Holly felt sick. She knew, in that moment who was behind this. The enemy she was running from. She quickly scanned the area, and pin-pointed the one place where that attackers could hide. "Get inside." She hissed to Elzra and Moxin "I'll handle this."

"No." Elzra said. "Reyana's our daughter, this is our business. Not yours. Now back off." As Elzra spoke, a member of Death Watch dropped lightly out of a tree, over to their left, just as Holly had thought. "Did you think you had us fooled, di'kut?" he asked of Holly. She ignored him, in particular, she ignored the blaster pointing at her head, and turned to Moxin and Elzra.

"This is all my fault. I should never have come here, I should never have stayed here. I'm so sorry." Moxin looked at Holly, complete trust in his eyes "I know you never meant to get anyone hurt Hol, you're a good person." She shot him a grateful smile. Elzra, on the other hand, simply frowned, as if she was trying to figure something out. "Both of you get back." Holly advised "If they hit me, run."

"No. We take them together." Moxin said firmly. Elzra nodded, and Holly sighed. She reached for her blasters, and took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was going to happen. "Get ready then, they ain't going to take it easy on us - on me and anyone who gets in the way. I'm not going to be able to take all thirteen of them for long, so I'd advise you to run."

"What about Reyana!?" Elzra snapped, glaring at Holly again. Holly sighed. Why did that woman have to be so darn unreasonable? "I know these people, Reyana's probably dead, they'll kill us if we stay but we can't all escape. Someone needs to distract them." Holly paused briefly to shoot the first of Death Watch members advancing towards her and duck behind a large potted plant "I can buy more time than either of you. Go, get out of here - for your children, for Nathin and Rosie. You know its what Reyana would ask you to do."

Going Back To Felucia
""I wish to return to my family for a while. I want no fuss, no attention, no big party or news story. Haar'chak! I know this galaxy though, all the attention, I know it is coming! Already I can feel the eyes of the galaxy on me!""

- Holly speaking to a friend. In keeping with a life long habbit, she utters one phrase in Mandalorian.

When Holly returned to Felucia, not only her family, but the entire population of the planet welcomed Holly back. For a few weeks whatever Holly did was the talk of the whole planet, but then, much to Holly's relief, interest in her dropped and she could lead a quiet life for a while. Holly spent thirteen years on Felucia, doing the occasional Bounty Hunter job when she wanted something to do. Eleven years after Holly's return to Felucia, she married an ex-Republic Commander. It was around this time that Holly's sister Anne had her second child, Amai.

The Take Over Of Felucia
""On this occasion I see the needs of my niece high than than those of ner'vod.""

- Holly speaking to a news reporter in the aftermath of the takeover of Felucia.

Around six months after the wedding, Holly's niece Lani, then just thirteen years old, decided that she wanted power now and came up with a plan to overthrow her parents and take charge of Felucia for herself. In order to succeed, she enlisted the help of Holly and Dazz. Despite the fact she would be fighting her own sister, who had looked after her for most of her life, Holly found it easy to decide to help Lani, as, not just in her opinion, Anne had started to behave in the manner of a dictator. In just a matter of days, Queen Anne, King John and the Grand Army Of Felucia had been defeated by a Pirate, a Bounty Hunter and a thirteen year old girl. Despite the fact Holly had just helped remove her from power, Anne stayed just as close with her sister as she always had been.

Trying To Lead A Quiet Life
""I came to Felucia for peace and quiet, I did not get that, so I shall move to Ryloth, it is quiet there. it will be a good place to bring up my child. I hope you do not feel I am deserting you Lani, you know I would never do that.""

- Holly telling Lani that she is leaving Felucia to live on Ryloth.

Things quietened down after the take over of Felucia, and Holly and her husband, Quinlan Hexpulse, moved to Ryloth, where Holly had a friend called Jade Firestar, who was Queen of Ryloth. About three months after the move to Ryloth, Holly discovered that she was pregnant, and decided that she would give up working as a Bounty Hunter until after her baby was born. Holly's child was a girl, and Holly and Quinlan named her Tallie, in accordance with Holly's family tradition which was "the first born girl of a Talon must be given a first name starting with Tal". Tallie was a Twi'lek, like Holly's father, which Holly took as a symbol that her child was imensely talented. Holly was proved to be right when it was discovered that Tallie was one of the most force talented creatures ever. Within a year of Tallie's birth, Holly was working again. The half-Mandalorian woman raised a lot of speculation, as she appeared to break just about every law in the galaxy. When she was finally arrested, she bribed the policeman to let her go. The policeman, Steve Bladewave, was the husband of a close friend of Holly's, and that friend, Asara, thought so highly of Holly, that she would, had Holly told her to, left Steve, despite the way she felt for him. Holly knew there would be a galaxy wide hunt for her, and decided she had to change her identity. She dyed her hair black and took the place of a politician named Zina Atelli, whom she knew had been killed and the murder had not been discovered yet. This course of action caused Holly to have to be extremely careful about when she met up with Quinlan.

Discovery
""The greater good of the galaxy is my concern here, and I am surprised it is not yours! Here I am, thinking of the long term effects on OUR galaxy, while all you lot think about is quick ways to line your pockets!""

- Holly, as Zina, makes the most critical speech of her political career.

After three years, Holly was discovered by a news reporter who overheard a meeting she had with Quinlan. Holly and Quinlan had been arguing, and had agreed that their relationship was over. Once the truth about Holly's identity was out, Holly fled to Felucia, knowing her family would never let anything happen to her. It was widely known where Holly was living and attempts and her life happened on a regular basis. It was during her time on Felucia that Holly met up with an old friend, Jallar Groundbore. Within a year, Holly and Jallar had married, and Holly was pregnant for the second time in her life. Holly and Jallar had twins, a girl named Kylie Flame-Talon and a boy named Jovan Resh Talon.

The Dark Alliance War
""She insulted my honor, called me 'that damn half blood' to my face, and came round to visit me, just to mong war! What was I supposed to do? Step back and not defend myself, my friends, my family and my beliefs?""

- Holly's first, angry speech to her alliance.

One of the worst things that happened to Holly was the war with Dark Nebula, or The Dark Alliance War, as it was known. It was the third Dark Nebula War, Holly had played a tiny part in The Second Dark Nebula War, but it had been hardly anything. Xalandra Nova remembered Holly's name and sought her out to kill her. Holly was spending time in her house on Ryloth, although house does not really to justice to the building, palace is a better way to describe it, when Xalandra turned up with several of her allies, demanding Holly joined her or died. Holly refused to join, and challenged Nova to a duel. Holly won, humiliating Nova in front of her allies. Xalandra declared war on Holly on the spot. It was during the first few days of the war that Holly began to train as a Sith under the care of her friend, Jaden Sithguard. Through out the course of the war, her friend, Master Steve, gave her advice on how to deal with Nova. His help proved to be very important, his own experience against Nova was of great tactical importance to Holly, as it helped greatly. Holly was not the first leader, but little is said about the fate that met the first leader.

The Prison
Holly rolled her eyes, and considered making some sign that she was fed up. There wouldn't be much point in it. No one could hear her, or if they could, they wouldn't care. How the heck did I manage to get myself captured? She wondered grumpily, this was supposed to be a secret mission, as far as I know, only Tarian and I know. She stood up again. "LET ME OUT OF HERE, YOU DICTATORIAL DI'KUTS!!" She screamed, hitting the wall as hard as she could. They'd get fed up soon, and someone would come, she hoped. Her situation could be worse, at least they hadn't tied her up, or gagged her. Really, security round here was dreadful. "If only I could get this door open." Holly grumbled. She looked around again, hoping to notice something she hadn't noticed before that she could use as a weapon. Nothing. Just as she suspected. As before, no one came when she shouted. Holly growled. She had no way of escaping until someone opened that door. She sat down in a corner, and began to think about how she'd been catured. Tarian had sent her on the mission, same as usual. But Nebula guards had known she was coming, which meant either someone in the alliance had informantion they shouldn't, or.... or Tarian had told them she was coming. Holly shook her head, trying to push that last thought out of her mind. Tarian was the leader. He was as comitted to this cause as she was. Wasn't he? All these battles and raids where the enemy knew they were coming.... had all been Tarian's idea. Holly knew that others in the alliance were having doubts about this leadership.

Holly only knew she'd dropped off when the sound of the door sliding open woke her up. She could hear an irritable voice snapping at someone outside in the corridor. That was when she realised the door was open. There was no one else in the room, suspicious, but at least she had a chance. She got to her feet, wondering what had become of the helmet she'd had earlier on.

Secrets Of The Alliance
Holly wasn't worried as she walked into the meeting hall at the alliance's secret headquarters. She didn't have much to worry about. All of the war operations that she'd lead had been a success. Particularly when she hadn't stuck to the plan. "Ah, Lady Talon, you're here. We can start the meeting then." Aric Tecla spoke up, motioning for Holly to take a seat. Holly frowned slightly, why was Aric acting as if he was in charge here? Both she and Tarian ranked above him. Where is Tarian anyway? she wondered, looking around, unable to spot him. "What's going on? Where's Tarian?" Holly asked, remaining standing instead of taking the seat offered to her. She rested her left hand on her hip, and fixed Aric with a questioning look. He sighed. "This isn't any of his business. The way he is running the alliance will only end in defeat, and death for us all. He's leading us to defeat, all of his plans end in failure. And something has to be done." His tone and words didn't take Holly by surprise. She knew that some alliance members weren't amused with the results Tarian was getting. "Why does this involve me?" she asked, she was fairly sure he was about to beg her to help this rebellion, and he was probably going to beg in a crawly way, hoping that compliments would be more likely to get her to agree. Holly leant against the wall and folded her arms casually.

"You're the only one with any influence who's had any success around here." Ashri Sor'eta, a female Zabrak with a notoriously short temper, spoke up. "We're asking you to challenge Tarian.... we're asking you to be our leader."

"You're asking me to be a traitor?" Holly try to sound disgusted with the idea, but she couldn't quite manage it. She studied their faces, trying to decide if they really meant this, or it was just another loyalty test. She heard a slight noise behind her, but she didn't look round. Both Ashri and Aric did not flinch as she questioned them. "Forget 'traitor', and try 'savior'." Aric countered, watching Holly closely as her right hand inched slowly closer to one of her blasters.

Discovering The Truth
Holly closed her eyes briefly, wondering just how long she'd be waiting for Tarian to finish whatever business was keeping him. He'd asked her to meet him here five minutes ago. She had no illusions as to why though. Holly knew this meeting wasn't anything to do with the alliance. Holly thought guilty about her husband, Jallar. She didn't want to cheat on him, but Tarian was certainly sweet, and he could make her life in the alliance very difficult if she resisted him. This is the last thing I need, she thought grumpily. I've got other things to talk about.... including the fact the rest of the alliance have asked me plan the next raid on Nebula behind Tarian's back. Its lucky for him I don't want to take over, her mind added, I'm in the right place to do just that. Holly let her mind drift, wondering what the future held, and if the alliance was strong enough to win the war. It wasn't a comfortable thought, knowing that if the alliance couldn't turn the war around in the next few weeks, her life would be at an end. A slight sound in the doorway took her by surprise, and she looked up to see Tarian standing there, staring at her with a look she wasn't entirely comfortable with on this face. "Miss Holly. Glad you could make it to our little party. Such a shame that I had to invite you here to end you." A familiar feeling of dread unfurled in Holly's chest. She stood up, looking Tarian directly in his eyes. "I knew there was something strange going on. All our battles were ending in defeat when you made the plans. Now I know why. And the others will know too."

"And how will you tell them, when you lie dead on the floor?" Tarian's voice sounded almost amused, and Holly flinched slightly. It was a slight relief to her that Tarian had no back up with him, but it was not much of a relief, she knew she was still out-matched. "You can't fool everyone forever Tarian."

"That is not my plan. As soon as I've killed off all of Mistress Nova's enemies, the war will be over and I shall be famous."

"Even if this crazy plan of yours works, and I don't see how it will, there is only so much the people will take." Holly followed up that line by punching Tarian in the stomach. "Didn't think I'd let you win easily, did you?" she hissed, leaping lightly over his head and kicking him sharply as he tried to turn too quickly.

The Loss
""There is only one thing I have to say to the killers of my innocent son Jovan, and that is the following message: I will make you pay for the death of my son, Xalandra Nova, whatever cruel pleasure you get from murdering innocent children, I will get in planning your defeat. I will have revenge.""

- The only time Holly ever spoke in public of the death of her son.

Only a matter of days into the war, there was an attempt at Holly's life. Holly and her children had been leaving their home on Felucia, when one of Nova's gun men opened fire on them. No one was seriously hurt, but the children were taken. As Nova's men ran to their speeders, Holly ran after them, and followed them to the house of Nova's sister. Inside, Holly confronted and Nova, and demanded the safe release of all three children. Nova released Tallie and Kylie, but killed Jovan, Holly swore that she would have revenge for death of her son.

The Truth About Jallar
""I have only one thing to say about what has happened. I made a mistake. It is a mistake I shall never make again.""

- Holly speaking to a reporter who asked her about the split with Jallar.

One evening, around the middle of the war, Holly caught Jallar speaking to someone he said was his mother, he was telling her the plan Holly had outlined earlier that day. Passing on information to people Holly didn't know was forbidden. Holly was angry with Jallar for breaking the rule, and she was even crosser when she discovered that the woman he'd been talking to, his mother, was Xalandra Nova. Their relationship was over.

The End Of The War
""In all walks of life there is a winner and a loser. This time we are the winners, who knows when that could change?""

- Part of Holly's victory speech to her alliance

Holly had planned and plotted for months, slowly pushing Nova's forces back, until Nova came to Holly, saying that she wished to surrender. Holly discovered this to be a truthful statement from Nova, and so the war ended. The war that had gone on for seven months and twelve days was finally over. Holly, at first doubted, was a hero. Holly was extremely glad the war was over, as her alliance was in trouble. Her fragile alliance to Black Tech had been brought down by Tarian Goldenrage, who hated Holly for defending her brother Dazz in a fight against him. Some of Holly's allies had remained true to the alliance however, including Steve Bladewave, Wullf Worldpincer, Yusanis Nightslasher and Jaden Sithguard. Holly was eternally thankfull to these allies, who she stayed friends with all her life. Holly took on an apprentice, the young Twi'lek daughter of Queen Jade Firestar of Ryloth, Rowan Linn.

The Black Tech War
""What do you call Holly Talon dressed smartly? The accused.""

- A joke devised by Rune Photocruise about Holly.

""People learn quickly not to mess with me when they see how effective my army is, and how easily I will resort to violence.""

- Holly speaking to a friend in the lull between the two wars

When Xalandra Nova surrendered to Holly and her alliance, one of Holly's friends, and a member of her alliance, Rune Photocruise, withdrew from the alliance because of another alliance member, Steve Bladewave. Steve and Rune had always had differing opinions, but now these differences became a war. Holly stepped in, trying to restore peace, but she only managed to upset Rune more, starting a war between them instead.

The Start Of The Dark Alliance War:
There is a war on now. Jetty says it was only a matter of time with me. My brother is such a di'kut at times. I hope he never finds out I wrote that. Anyway, the war. That particularly repulsive slug like being (that is the basic meaning of what Holly wrote. What she wrote was too rude to be published. Even in Mando'a, so fewer people could understand it), Xalandra Nova came to visit me. At first I was unsure why, but then I remembered. Because of about two seconds involvement in the ending of The Second Dark Nebula War, that **** (we could not publish this word) thinks she can take revenge on me. For WHAT exactly? What did I do? Shoot a couple of her lackeys and add my name to a treaty or two? Big crimes. Well if thats the way she wants to play it, that the way she can have it. Yes, I believe in freedom, and she wants supreme power. She won't win. I can't let her. No one will ever take my freedom, or the freedom of the galaxy! I ought to save that one for a speech of some sort. I need allies, I wonder who will join me?

The Death Of Jovan:
I can hardly bring myself to record today, but since it was such an important day, I guess I must. Today I went to rescue my wonderful children. She had them in a cage. I felt sick when I saw them like that, gagged, bound, defenseless. And everything that had happened to them was my own stupid fault for not sending them to live with Talonia on Coruscant, like my dear sister told me to. She annoyed me so much, I can not describe how angry I was. At last she opened the door to the cage, letting out first Tallie, then Kylie. Poor Kylie, she doesn't understand any of what is going on, she is so young. Then Xalandra let Jovan come out of the cage. As he stepped forwards, I saw an evil look cross her face, and I knew what she was going to do, but somehow, I couldn't react quickly enough, and she drove the blade of her lightsaber into the back of my dear, perfect son, killing him on the spot. An unknown anger and pain like I've never known filled me. I knew I couldn't kill her, she had too many guards. I promised there and then to have my revenge, even though nothing will ever compensate me for my dear Jovan. I will win someday, and I will make her pay. I will make her pay, I promise it.

Jallar's Betrayal:
Once again, I hardly know what to write. They say in war, truth is the first casualty. I have to agree with that. The one person I thought I could trust, my sweet Jallar, was really spying on me for Xalandra. Xalandra. His mother! I find it almost impossible not to cry, I really thought he loved me, which is why I let him into my life. I fell for a fake. Again. Will I ever learn? Will anyone ever truly love me?

The End Of The Dark Alliance War:
I won! Xalandra surrendered! I have won! Just as well, the way Black Tech are acting. What will I do to them? Remove them from the alliance? Or something worse? Who knows? And right now, who cares!? I WON!!

Trying To Lead A normal Life
""All I want is to live a normal life! I guess it will never happen, but I will hope.""

- An extract from Holly's diary, on a day when she was stressed because of the war.

During the Black Tech war, Holly did everything she could to keep life normal for her children, now including her adopted son and daughter. She eventually married an old friend, Dante Almighty. When she married, Holly thought it would be a good time to change her name, after all, how could she be arrested for something someone else did? Because she had married Dante, her last name became Almighty and she chose Satine (which was Talina's middle name, as her new first name. It fooled few people, it was still well known who she really was. Holly spent a lot of time looking after Lani's daughters Danni and Lexi, Anne's second daughter Amai and her sister Talonia's twin Twi'lek daughters, Talon and Carly. Holly's brother Dazz also got married, and although Holly wasn't present at the wedding, she was delighted that her brother, who had looked after when she was little, was happy. It was around this time that an old friend and ally, Jaden Sithguard, told Holly he was in love with her. Holly was stunned, she did not know quite how to react, but she managed to tell Jaden that she thought of him as a close friend only, and that she didn't want him to be hurt. Holly said that Jaden's friendship was important things in the galaxy to her. He gave her a gift, a necklace, which she kept as one of her most tresured possesstions. ""You have always been a good friend to me, I want you to know that. I don't want to hurt you Jaden, but I can't hurt Dante either. He is my husband, I must chose him.... you do understand that don't you? Your friendship is one of the most important things ever to me.""

- Holly telling Jaden that whatever he feels for her, they cannot become more than friends.

""I think she likes him more than she admits. You can tell from the way she acts round him.""

- An old friend of Holly's, speaking to another of Holly's friends when she told them that Jaden, who they had met, had told her he loved her.

Family Tension
During this time the fight between Lani and Anne intensified so much that Holly thought it would come to war. She tried everything she could think of to stop the arguing, finally introducing Lani's youngest daughter Lexi, who a life threatening condition, to Anne. At tthe same time, Holly began to worry that the family of her husband Dante didn't like her. She worried because they were fighting with the Heart family, who were Holly's family because Lani's husband Alpha Bladestorme was related to Adam Heart.""It worries me. Family should love each other, not fight with each other.""

- Holly speaking to her friend Lexi about the growing tensions in her family.

Training
During The Dark Alliance War, Holly was trained as a Sith by her close friend, Jaden Sithguard. Her skill soon rivaled his own, and soon she became more skilled than her master. She thought highly of Jaden, and did so for her entire life. When she was young, just after she, Dazz and Jett had been reunited with the rest of the family, Holly was trained as a Jedi by her sisters Anne and Talella. Holly also trained her niece Lani to fight. She later trained two Jedi, Melina Jadefinder, and Rowan Linn, the heir to the throne of Ryloth. Despite this, she preferred the Sith to the Jedi. She also trained Rowan, Dani, her own children, all of her sister's children, and later, after her illness had been cured, Lexi, to fight. Holly had also been trained to fight by her brothers Dazz and Jett.

""Holly has been trained as both a Sith and Jedi, yet she is neither. It is peculiar really, that someone with her power and skill, and with that training, does not want to take over.""

- An anonymous source, on Holly at the height of her power.

More Than Friends
""I love you Jaden, I can't believe its taken me so long to realise it. I'll tell Dante, of course, he has to know. I want to be friends with him..... but I want to be with you.""

- Holly confessing to Jaden that she loves him.

For a bit, life was quiet, but then one day Holly was at her palace on Ryloth, when her old friend Jaden Sithguard came round. They had been talking for a matter of minutes when a Death Watch assassin landed on the roof garden, near to where they were standing. A brief argument insued, resulting in Jaden, and the assassin, Shira Validwar, fighting. While they fought, Holly's brother Dazz, who was Shira's father turned up. He ordered Shira to stop but she wouldn't. She injured Jaden quite badly, and Holly rushed to his side and held him close, while Dazz and another Mandalorian argued with Shira. Shira and her friends soon left seeing that they could not win, and Dazz, Jaden and Holly began to argue with the Mandalorian, who accused them of not being truely Mandalorian. This insulted all three of them, with Jaden, a member of The Shadow Mandalorians, defending Holly, Dazz and their family heritiage. After a long argument, the other Mandalorian left, soon to be followed by Dazz, leaving Holly and Jaden alone together. As Jaden prepared to leave, she begged him to stay, as she did not want to be alone. Jaden told Holly that spending time with her when he knew that could never be together was hurting him, which was when Holly realised that Jaden was the one she loved. She told him so too, adding that she afraid to tell Dante because although she cared for Dante, she cared for Jaden more. Jaden was delighted, but, like Holly, he was worried about how Dante would take the news. When Holly told Dante, he reacted better than Holly had hoped, and agreed that they could remain friends.

The Party And The Fight
A few days after Holly and Jaden married, one of Holly's adopted son's, Savtrian Blackroller, married a young Twi'lek woman called Mezhan Adeptsword. The wedding its self was a simple affair, with few guests. The party Holly insisted on holding in her palace on Ryloth, was a different matter altogether. The party was huge, with around one hundred guests, and everyone had a good time. However, things turned nasty when an old body guard of Holly's turned up, and tried to make trouble for his old boss by making her look as if she was cheating on Jaden. At first, Holly thought Jaden believed him, and she terrified that she would lose him. Her old body guard, Ben Fractalshocker, then threatened Jaden, which was the worst possible move, as it meant he angered both Holly and Jaden. A fight took place between Jaden and the Trandoshan worm, as Holly called him. Jaden beat him easily, and declared him to be his enemy. Once Ben had been thrown out, and his Clone assistant dealt with, Holly and Jaden finally managed to spend some time together with no interuptions.

""Oh Jaden, you should know I would never cheat on you. I would never do anything to hurt you, you know that.""

- Holly reassuring Jaden when Ben accused her of cheating on him.

Jaden's Confession:
I can hardly believe what happened today! My dear friend and old master, Jaden Sithguard, told me that he loves me! I honestly think nothing could have shocked me more. I had to explain to him about Dante, of course. Poor Jaden, I've seen anyone look as gutted as he did when i told him we could only be friends. Poor, poor Jaden.

Writen Around Mid-Day:
A week since Jaden told me he loved me. I haven't seen him or heard from him in all this time. I miss him. I really miss him.

Later The Same Day:
WOW!! Jaden came round to visit me earlier, and we had hardly said hello to each other before a Death Watch assassin (which I am unfortunately related to) attacked us. Jaden bravely defended me. Dazzy then turned up, Shira, the assassin, is his daughter. Of course, he told her to leave. Like the mannerless Death Watch thug she is, she refused to go. She left when she realised she had been beaten, but not before she shot and injured Jaden. My brother left too, leaving just me and Jaden. I used the force to heal Jaden, I would never let him die. When he told me he was leaving, and told me that we should not be in contact with each other any more. I was shocked, and that was when I realised, I've been a fool all this time, Jaden is the one. I love him. He is so cute, so sweet, and for some crazy reason, he thinks I'm beautiful. I'm not. But my Jaden is the most handsome man in the galaxy. I'll tell Dante, I would never be cruel enough to cheat on him. I think Jaden was more suprised than I was when I said "I love you" to him. He smiled at me when I said that. Until that moment I never noticed how gorgeous he looks when he smiles. He is just so perfect.

Peace
A few days after the fight with Ben, Rune Photocruise approached Holly, at first Holly thought he wanted to fight, but no. They talked for some time, before agreeing to end the war and stay friends. Holly was relieved, she did not want the child she was pregnant with to be born in the middle of a war. A few days after the war ended, Savtrian and Mezhan split up.

""I have found in Rune the traces of the friend I once had, that is enough for me, neither of us wanted this war, we have a chance to end this obscene loss of life. It is a chance I will take and hope now that no one will start another war.""

- Part of the speech Holly made to her alliance when the war ended.

Betrayal
A few days later, Holly was spending time with some friends when she informed that her adopted daughter, Rosie Thermalshriek, was in trouble. She hurried to her daughter's side, only to find her dying. She and a friend, Cameron Infra, tried deserately to keep Rosie alive, but nothing worked. It was then that Holly found out that her friend and ally, Cameron's brother, Steve Bladewave, was responsible for the death of her daughter. Holly was distraught. She, her brother Sio, her adopted son Savtrian and Cameron swore to have revenge. There was no official war, but shoot outs would take place should Holly (as she returned to being called), Sio, Savtrian or Cameron to come into contact with Steve, who was in contact with the Almighty family. Yurg Almighty attacked Holly, refused to listen to her side of the story, and cut off her right arm when she argued with him. Shadow Almighty told Holly he was sorry for the way his family treated her, and Dante (who was still a good friend of Holly's) was annoyed with the rest of the family for other reasons. He told Holly that he hated Yurg.

""I don't care what he says, what reasons he gives, I'm going to have my revenge.""

- Holly speaking to Sio about the murder of her adopted daughter.

""It is remarkable how many times that woman has come close to the edge. How much closer can they push her, without her falling over the edge and becoming a power-and-revenge crazy sith?""

- A spectator of Rosie's death on Holly and her reaction.

The War Of Words
Holly and the Almighty family argued whenever they met, Yurg accused Holly of things she would never do, and told people she'd never even met that she hated them. Holly's family and friends stood by her, and many of Yurg's old friends swapped sides, most notably Dustin Nightmare and Steve Bladewave, the latter the very same man who started the war. Holly's daughter Rosie had been revived by an old family friend. ""DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM! HIS WORDS ARE LIES, AND HE WILL ONLY GET YOU IN TO MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLE IMAGINE!!""

- Holly making an angry speech to people she once thought trusted her.

Kara Darjetti
Holly and Jaden's daughter, Kara Darjetti, was born on Coruscant. She was a strange child, able to walk, talk and shoot unusually soon in her life. One day though, Holly left her little daughter alone in the house for a matter of minutes. When she returned, her daughter had been attacked by a Sith Lord, and somehow her daughter had instantly become thirteen years old.

After Kara's Accident:
Every time I look at Jaden I know it hurts him as much as it hurts me to see our poor daughter look so lost and confused. She has no memories of anything, poor Kara. I remember when she was born, I knew straight away she was a speacial child (that goes without saying, since Jaden is her father). I named her Kara for a reason. A simple reason really. Kara means 'stars' in Mando'a, and I know that one day my daughter will achieve great things. When I look at Jaden, all the pain of everything thats happened in my life fades away, it is nothing compared to what he's going through and all the things that have happened to him. He thought I didn't love him, then his daughter nearly died, and now the force attacks. To be honest, the force attacks scare me. Poor Jaden. My poor, sweet Jaden. I think about him all the time. I worry about him all the time. He is perfect, he really is. He is so sweet. The way he looks after Kara, as he trains her in the ways of the Mandalorians. He looks after my other children, the ones I had before I met him, and my adopted children. He looks after me too. He is so lovely, I just can't stop thinking about him! He is so amazing, the best kisser in the galaxy (not that I'd know, but anyway), he has an amazing body and.... oh.... he is just amazing and perfect in every way.

Living Without Jaden
Not long after Kara had been attacked, Holly fell pregnant again. When she told Jaden, he told her that they would have to spend some time apart from each other because he had joined the Jedi, in an attempt to control the force attacks. Holly understood what he was doing, but it hurt her all the same. She knew they would be together again soon, but that didn't stop her being worried about him. She missed him more with every day that passed, and counted down the hours until he could control his force attacks and they could be together again. As time passed, she became increasingly unsure that Jaden truly loved her. She wondered if becoming a Jedi was his excuse to get away from her, move on and start a new life. During the time Jaden was away, Holly and Dante got back together. When Jaden returned, Holly welcomed him back, suddenly realizing that he meant more to her that Dante ever would. Her heart was broken when Jaden found out that she'd cheated on him and left her. She left Dante that same evening, in the vain hope that she and Jaden could rekindle their romance. She felt lost and alone, and was on the verge of killing both herself and her unborn child. Holly later did kill herself when she realized that her relationship with Jaden was truly over, and she felt she could not live alone. Holly's neice Lani later healed her.

Losing Jaden:
What have I done!? I know I was wrong to go back to Dante while I was still with Jaden, but I honestly didn't mean to! I was so sad without my lovely Jaden, Dante was looking after me... and I just.... well, I'm not even going to write that. I kept meaning to tell Dante that I wanted to leave him for Jaden, but somehow I just didn't. Anyway, they both found out. I left Dante, but Jaden left me. I know I was wrong, I was a stupid fool. I hate myself. I'd kill myself but that would mean killing Jaden's baby. And if that child is all I'll ever have left of Jaden, then I will do anything for that child to live. I need to tell Jaden how I feel, but I just don't know how! I didn't sleep at all last night, everything felt so wrong without him lying next to me and everytime I closed my eyes, all I could see was his face, I cried a lot last night. I don't know how much longer I can live with out him.

Alone:
I still can't get Jaden out of my head. I can't stop thinking about him! I wish I had never been stupid enough to cheat on him! What was I thinking!? Living without Jaden.... well, I'm starting to find that impossible. Oh Jaden, my dear, sweet, lovely perfect Jaden, I wish you would come back to me. There is nothing I wouldn't do to have Jaden back.

Return To Being A Bounty Hunter
Holly wanted to get away from Coruscant, and so she took on a new job as a Bounty Hunter, leaving her children in the care of her sister Taline. She became quieter and sadder as time passed, she also became much more easily annoyed, and increasingly violent. Holly also began dating Viper Heart, but they split up after just a few days, when he believed a lie told to him by a man he'd never met. While she worked as a Bounty Hunter, Jaden always filled her thoughts, and she did as he asked by telling their children that he was dead, to stop them trying to locate him.

Dark Sith Nebula
Around this time, Shira Validwar created Dark Sith Nebula, which joined forces with the group lead by Xalandra Nova's sister, and ex-second-in-command, Master Talon. Holly, in her pursuit of intergalactic peace and the destruction of supreme power, was the obvious person for her old ally, Corran Powerstun to come to when he wanted advice. Holly refused to commit to anything until she knew all of what was going on, she said that if it came to war, she would take up her war time position of alliance leader once again. Holly told Corran to spy on Shira for a week, report back to her, and she would make her decision then. Despite the fact war seemed to be the likely outcome, Holly hated the idea of another war. The day after Holly announced that war was possible, she got the alliance together for a meeting. She also started to date her ex, NickFett, once again.

The Beginnings Of A New War
The week passed uneventfully, and soon the day Holly had promised to decide on dawned. Holly believed the threat was not great enough to justify a war. Later that day, Holly was called to the house of a close friend and ally. Shira had turned up and attacked him. As he died, he asked Holly to avenge him. Holly had already decided that attacking her ally was enough to make her declare war, and so she readily agreed to avenge her friend. That same afternoon, she declared war on Shira Validwar and Dark Sith Nebula.

Early Battles
The war started well, despite the fact Holly's alliance was badly outnumbered. The first battle took place in Holly's palace on Ryloth, and ended in Shira fleeing as her allies were destroyed. The second battle, this time in Shira's home, was also a victory for Holly. Only a few days into the war, two sisters of Shira's told Holly they wished to join Holly. Holly didn't believe them for a moment, but tried to make them think she believed them. She also discovered that Shira's grandmother was Xalandra Nova. The third battle, also at Shira's home, consisted of Holly and Jaden Sithguard taking on Shira's army.

Jaden
Although Holly loved Nick, her love for Jaden was still strong, and she would have split up with Nick for him. Holly did everything she could to keep her feelings hidden throughout the early days of the war, but then she and Jaden had a fight. Jaden told Holly that he was going to take over the galaxy, Holly replied that although she still loved him, she could not let him take over. He replied that he had never loved her and she was just an annoyance. Holly was heart broken, and struggled to keep her temper as Jaden threatened both her and her family. He tried to kill her, but failed. Jaden told Holly he would kill all of her children, starting with their daughter Kara. Later that day, Holly gave birth to the child she'd been pregnant with when she and Jaden split up. The child was a girl (whom Holly named Marcela), but Holly wished her child had been a boy for two reasons. The first reason was because all of Holly's living children were female (although she did have some adopted sons). The second reason was that Jaden had told her that he wanted a son, and by having a female child Holly felt like she had betrayed the man she loved once again. Soon Holly learnt that Jaden had hired her friend, Rune Photocruise, to kill her. Suprisingly, she felt no pain on hearing this news. Her close friend, Dustin Nightmare, promised to protect her.

The Lull In The War
The war wth Dark Sith Nebula was over very quickly. Shira surrendered after a fight with Captain Winterpeaks, brother of Dustin Nightmare. Just a day after the official end of the war, Shira announced that she was behind an attack on Holly's adopted children Kit and Loza. No one was hurt in the attack, but it left Holly with no choice but restart the war. Throughout the course of the war, Holly and Dustin had become close, and Dustin had hinted many times that he was in love with Holly.

Family Disaster
Everything was going well for Holly, she was winning the war, she had lots of good, true friends, she was deeply in love and her family were happy. Holly's world was turned upside down when she learnt that her brothers Dazz and Jett, who had brought her up, and her big sister Zoe were dead. They had died in a speeder crash. Holly was more angry and upset than she ever had been at any time in her life. She felt torn apart. Her beautiful blue eyes turned red, and she fell to the dark side, many times in her life, she had fought against the sith, and had often been seen as a Jedi by the eyes of galaxy, something she had never been. Many times, she had come close to the dark side, but until now, she had resisted the dark side, but now her life had changed. She had lost the people she loved the most. To all her old friends, she had become an unrecognisable menace. Holly's old friend Jaden Sithguard saved her, managing to stop her becoming a sith. Her eyes reverted back to their original colour.

The Contest
During the war, Holly took part in an intergalactic Bounty Hunter trial. The first round took place on Kamino.

The Kamino Trial
The trial consisted of an obstacle course on Kamino. Twenty Bounty Hunters attempted the contest, ten made it past the first round. Many fell to their deaths as fights broke out on the course. Some where pushed off the course, as their chances of winning were rated too high. Holly got clear of the group quickly, and finished the course without a single mistake.

The Umbara Trial
The second round of the contest took place on Umbara, it was, like the first round, an obstacle course. Three contestants failed to reach Umbara. They were attacked on the journey and killed. Throughout the second round of the contest, the two front runners of the contest became obvious: the tiny but deadly human woman Holly Talon, and the stealthy, cunning Pantoran, Barad Lightglimmer. They reached the top of the course easily and quickly. It was there that Barad remarked that the course had been difficult, or at least it must have been for a woman. This angered Holly, who said she could have done the course backwards. The reply to his was "prove it". And so Holly did.

The Asteroid Trial
The final round of the trial was held on an unnamed asteroid, it also consisted of an obstacle course. Holly finished the course before anyone else, proving herself to be the strongest Bounty Hunter in the galaxy.

Family Problems
It was around this time that Holly's adopted daughter Rosie Thermalshriek discovered that she was adopted. Holly had not told her for fear of upsetting the child. Holly and Rosie had an arguement, which resulted in Holly telling Rosie the story of her adoption. Holly spoke of how she had been travelling on Felucia and heard the sounds of a fight, and gone to investigate. She told Rosie how she had found a house being attacked by a bounty hunter, adding that she would have helped the occupents of the house, but the woman who's house it was wouldn't hear of it, and had just handed Holly her baby daughter, told her the child's name, before instructing Holly to leave before the bounty hunter found her. Holly told Rosie how she had as the woman had told her, fleeing the planet. She told her adopted daughter that as she'd left Felucia she'd felt in the force that Rosie's parents had died. Rosie became even angrier with Holly, telling Holly that she wished Holly had left her to die, and not brought her up on lies. Holly was hurt, and had no answer for her adopted child's anger. Rosie also told Holly that she hated her and never wanted to see her again. Holly was badly hurt by this, and tried, many times, to apologise and speak to her adopted daughter, but Rosie never replied. A long while later, Rosie came to Holly, and said sorry for shouting, and for the mean things she had said. Holly was happy to finally have her daughter back, for although Rosie was not her biological child, they had always been the closest of friends.

An Unexpected Meeting (novelised format)
"Excuse me madame, but may I sit here?" Holly Talon jumped at the sound of a male voice - a voice not unfamiliar, but all the same impossible to place - so near to her. "Uh.... of course." she managed, guesturing at the seat opposite her. She did not know why she was agreeing, she was not in any mood for conversation, tired, she'd had a long day and probably had too much to drink for one evening. And I wouldn't be here in the first place if it wasn't for Tala's 'perfectly legal business', she thought to herself. This cantina was no place for anyone to have to spend time. Even Tala's criminal friends, but they lived in the underworld of Coruscant, so they didn't matter anyway. She glanced across the table, at the man who was now sitting there. As with his voice, there was something familiar about him that she couldn't quite place - a memory just slipping out of reach - but she was sure that she would remember all too well very soon. She frowned at him, trying desperately to place him, but to no avail. He was about her age, perhaps younger, it was difficult to tell because of the low light levels, tall, with dark hair and dark eyes. He was also smartly dressed. Unusual, considering the area. "So...." she drawled "what's someone with your.... obvious money doing in this stinkhole? Hardly the place for any wealthy person who values their safety.... or any person who values their safety."

"I'm looking for someone."

"Job or personal?" Holly never did have any sense when she'd had one or two to drink.

"Personal. Real personal." His expression had changed, Holly noticed. Was he angry? Or hurt? Or something else? She couldn't tell. "I'm looking for my daughter."

"If I knew your name, and her name, I'm sure I could help you.... for the right price." Holly tried not to smirk when she spoke. "My name is Moxin Portstalk." he told her, frowning as he looked at her. Holly felt like an icy bucket of water had been poured all over her. Her memories came flooding back: Moxin, the Death Watch, and those few months spent on Felucia.... her instincts told her to run away, but she somehow remained where she was. "I. I suppose I could help you." Holly tried to keep her voice even enough to fool him, it seemed to work. "Help? I thought you were a bounty hunter. What did you say a minute ago about payment?" How do you get out of this one? Holly's thoughts taunted her, come on clever clogs, short of starting a riot, how are you going to get out of this one? "Personal matters, for the client or otherwise, are a different matter. And some of us like to be helpful." As she spoke the last sentence, she got to her feet, shooting him a sweet smile. She glanced across the room, to where her sister Talanna was deep in coversation with several rough-looking people. Holly watched her sister for a second or two, weighing up the situation. Talanna had a blaster in her left hand, but if whatever negotiations these were came to a fight, chances were Talanna would lose. It was eight verus one. Eight that she can see, Holly thought, noticing two individuals near to Talanna, who seemed, at first glance, to be gambling on some game of cards of some type. Who knows how many more are watching her? Holly thought, who knows how many I can't see? Then she saw Talanna flick a quick glance at the gamblers in the corner. Talanna knew. They need to watch themselves, Holly thought with a smirk. They might be gangsters of a particularly nasty type, but I doubt they know what they're letting themselves in for, dealing with Talanna. "Wait!" Moxin jumped up, and grabbed Holly's arm as she turned to leave. Holly bit her tongue, stopping the stream of expletives she had been about to utter, and saying "What?"

"This is going to sound strange, but..... did you just happen to be on Felucia.... twenty two years ago today?" his voice was weary, and Holly looked up, met his eyes and the tight, snappy reply died in her mouth before she spoke it. She didn't have the heart, the strength, not to mention a clear enough head to lie to him. He was an honest man, well, maybe not entirely honest, but honest enough, at least, he had been, when she last saw him, twenty two years ago on Felucia. He deserved the truth. Their past owed him that much. "Yes. Yes I was on Felucia then."

"Holly, I...." Moxin's astonishment was written all over his face, and mixed with joy, fear and sadness. Holly understood all his emotions perfectly. "You must have a lot of questions to ask me...." at that moment Holly spotted Talanna's hand containing the blaster creeping near to the man she was talking to ".... but they'll have to wait. I'd advise taking cover, there's about to be a shooting." She wasn't wrong. As she finished speaking,several things all happened together. Moxin ducked under the table, Talanna shot her 'legal business contact' and was instantly surrounded by his men, to whom she showed no mercy, and Holly leaped onto the table, drawing both of her blaster at lightning speed, with something that sounded like a battle cry. Several of Holly's guards, sisters, friends and random criminal contacts emerged from their hiding places. Talanna smirked at the man she'd been speaking to. "And now I suggest you agree to my terms, or something nasty will happen." Then Holly spoke up "And I would suggest you listen to her. I don't want to be arranging 'accidents' tonight." As she spoke, Holly waved one of her blasters around, and scowling directly at another of Talanna's contacts. He growled, and sat back down. Holly overheard one of his friends muttering to himself about them "Remind me again why we got involved with these Mandalorians!?". His friend just shrugged, perhaps thinking it was wiser to keep quiet. "Ok, no shooting then. Not the large-scale one I was expecting anyway." Holly half-laughed, jumping off the table.

"Well I'm glad about that." Moxin told her. He barely gave Holly a chance to sit back down before starting to question her about his daughter. "So what does she look like now? What does she do? What sort of life has she had?" Holly sighed heavily, and kept her eyes fixed on the table, anything not to look at him, anything not to be reminded of that part of her past, as she slowly and quietly answered his questions. "She is a very pretty young woman. Dark hair, dark eyes.... if it wasn't for darker skin, I'd say she looked my sister Talonia." Holly laughed nervously "She hasn't had the easiest life.... she's a Jedi.... one of the best from what I understand."

"We always hoped.... her mother and I always hoped that she would become a Jedi."

"Elzra always made her hopes and dreams fairly obvious. Ro's away on Felucia right now. I hope it goes well, for her sake. I didn't know what to think when she finally returned from Orto Plutonia. I didn't tell her until recently.... I didn't tell her that she wasn't my biological daughter. For so long, she was too young to know something like that.... and after that, well I just couldn't find the words, didn't have the strength to tear her entire world to pieces. When I did tell her, she was - quite understandably - livid with me. She wouldn't speak to me, wouldn't speak about me. But I promised her that, even though as far as I knew, both you and her mother were dead, I would help her try to find you." As she spoke, Holly finally lifted her eyes from the table to meet his gaze. "I promised her I'd help her to find you, in anyway I could, and I guess I've done that now. I'm Mandalorian, I always honour my promises." Moxin's face changed from looking happy and intrigued about his daughter, to a mask of pure horror. "What?" Holly asked "Are you alright?"

"No" Moxin's voice was tight with anger "no Mandalorian will ever have dealings with my family. It was Mandalorians that killed my wife, nearly killed me, and would have certainly killed my daughter, had you not been there."

"Correction: those weren't Mandalorians. Not True Mandalorians anyway. They were the Death Watch. And in reply to your comment about not having dealings with your family, well, what does that make me, if you remember the past - our past!?"

"What difference does that make!? You're all a bunch of murderers!! You, in particular, were a mistake!"

"We are not!! We -" Whatever Holly had been going to say next was interupted by Moxin. He got to his feet and spoke in tone so cold Holly seriously doubted anything in the galaxy was colder "You are a murderer yourself. Tell my daughter everything that happened when you see her next, and that will be the last contact you have with her. Ever. I will not allow any child of mine to have anything to do with any Mandalorian." Ordinarily, Holly would have been on her feet, threatening him, telling him that if it wasn't for Rosie, she would shoot him on the spot, but she had no strength left. She barely had the strength to nod. Moxin glared at her for a moment longer, just long enough for him to watch a tear slide down Holly's cheek. Moxin turned to leave, but walked straight into a huge male Chiss coming the other way. The Chiss grabbed him by the front of his shirt "Speak to the Lady like that again, and I'll redecorate this place with your insides before she can." Then he dropped Moxin, who fell eleven inches back down to the ground. Then Moxin did a very unwise thing. He pointed his blaster at the Chiss, and said loudly, so loudly that everyone stopped what they were doing and looked round "You take that back or else." To Holly, it seemed like the entire population of the cantina was holding its breath, waiting to see what was going to happen next. But Holly already knew. The Chiss - Snake Fett to give him his name - was going to punch Moxin in the face, and, Holly thought, with any luck he'll knock that di'kut's teeth through the back of his head. The selection of scum in the cantina took the starting of the fight as a sign to go crazy, and before Holly really knew what was going on, there was a full-scale riot going on around her. As the fighting and rioting intensified, Holly made for the door. She had no wish to be arrested or shot. But even though she'd escaped, she felt hollow and empty inside.

Return (novelised format)
"Holly" Tarro Blood said, looking into his wife's eyes "just what happened last night? And don't try telling me that nothing happened. I can tell that thats a lie." Holly sighed heavily, and continued to look into his eyes, Tarro was once again struck by the sadness in her eyes "Nothing happened Tarro. I guess I'm just a bit tired." As Tarro opened his mouth to reply, the door behind them clattered open as someone entered. "Mum! Dad! I'm back!" yelled Brooke, one of their adopted daughters. Good, thought Holly, I'm saved for now, I don't want to tell Tarro about what happened last night.... about Moxin, and the riot. I'll tell him soon, but not yet. At least she could escape the questioning for a bit, Brooke never seemed to notice when something was bothering anyone, she was generally so busy chattering. Tarro shot Holly a quick glance, picking up on her relief at the distraction. Holly rested her head against Tarro's shoulder. He slid his arms around her waist "My princess" he whispered. She gave him a slight smile, at the same time as saying to Brooke "So the job went well then?"

"Couldn't've been easier." Brooke sighed. Holly grinned. Brooke certainly had Tarro's attitude, despite the fact they weren't actually related.

The War Continues
Not long after the fight with her adopted daughter, there was another battle in the Dark Sith Nebula war. Holly had just given a speech to the Senate when she was apprehended by eight of Shira's finest men. Holly was taken to Shira's Coruscant base, where another big fight took place. The fight ended in Holly being forcibly thrown out after humiliating Shira in an argument.

Days later, another fight took place, this time when Shira's forces messed up an assassination attempt on Holly when Holly and her allies Corran Powerstun and Denal Supelo held a meeting at Denal's Felucian base. Just two of Shira's men attacked, seven of Holly's finest soldiers where present. Shira's men where easily and quickly beaten, but Holly's allies made a worrying discovery: Shira had somehow got some clones to work for her, and was training them in the ways of the sith.

The Hero Of The War
After a few more days of intense fighting, Holly's adopted son Kit Pain convinced Shira to surrender to Holly. Holly kept the news secret for twenty four hours (in case Shira decided to attack her again), before telling her alliance. Her adopted son Kit, then became the hero of the war, because it was him that saved the galaxy from the disaster of a long, drawn out war.

Another War
Just days later, Shira approached Holly asking for an alliance. Shira asked Holly to help her take over. Holly once again declared war on Shira. Holly, her daughter Marcela and a police officer named Corran Rancorthrasher went to 'visit' Shira. It was not a wise decision. Holly challenged Shira to a duel, Holly won, and convincingly so. Shira then challenged Holly to a duel, at the same time as ordering her forces to attack Holly. Holly's forces beat off Shira's guards, but only just. Something had changed. Shira's forces were stronger than they had been. As they left, Holly felt that she and her alliance had lost more than they gained. Around this time, Holly's future daughter-in-law, Jasmine Starhunter (of Clan Kryze, and a celebrated member of Death Watch), joined the war, and let Holly take her apprentice, Karta Kryze, as a body guard.

Family Dispute
During the war, Holly discovered that her believed dead sister, Zoe Dawnray, was infact not dead, and was planning to kill her. Holly knew that Zoe had always disagreed with her political opinions, and had often growled that she hated her, but she had never suspected her sister would try to kill her. It also became obvious had Zoe had faked to be dead, and had killed their brothers, just to hurt her. Zoe seemed to be one step ahead of Holly, often turning up where ever Holly went, just looking for a fight. Holly was very confused, and extremely upset, and angry.

Appearance
Holly Talon was often overlooked, or even described as 'not dangerous' because of her appearance. Holly was tiny, but that didn't make her any less intimidating. She had very pale skin (which was once described as snowflake coloured), shoulder length blonde hair (which she prefered to be tied back), and big blue eyes. Her eyes were often said to be her most attractive feature. When she was getting angry, the first sign to anyone else that she was annoyed was in her eyes, which would either start to glitter, or darken to black. Holly often tried to appear to be emotionless, but her eyes always told her true feelings, and so she often found it hard to lie convincingly.

Personality
Holly was often called ruthess and reckless, but this was far from the truth. Everything she did was carefully calculated, and she was a very careful person. She appeared to be confident, but she was by nature shy, which is thought to be linked to not meeting new people as a small child. Holly was also easily angered, and could lose her temper for the slightest reason. Sometimes, when she particularly annoyed, she would shoot someone, but generally for no real reason, and she would always regret these shootings as soon as she calmed down, or in some cases, the second she pulled the trigger. She believed passionately in equal rights, and freedom, which lead to her becoming involved in so many wars. There was a time when it was said that where ever there was war, you would find Holly. She often became confused about her feelings, and sometimes made strange desicions that didn't make much sense, but most of the time, her choices were carefully selected. One of Holly's greatest weaknesses was her passionate love for Tarro Blood. She wouldn't have hesitated in giving away everything she ever owned to save his life. She was generally grumpy and sad if he was not constantly by her side.

Relationships
Note: this section may not contain details of all of Holly's relationships, just the more important ones.

Aleksander Hunter
Aleksander and Holly dated for a few months when Holly was around seventeen. They split up when Holly learnt he was cheating on her with four different girls.

Alpha Bactapack
Holly and Alpha had a strange first meeting, when Holly almost ran him over on her speeder, but they became close, and were dating when Alpha died, for no apparant reason. Even to this day, Holly suspects he was killed, possibly by poison.

Zack TheLegend
Holly and Zack dated for just a few weeks before they married, but he was unfaithful, and Holly broke up with him for that reason.

Quinlan Hexpulse
Quinlan and Holly were introduced by Quinlan's brother Skeeto, who was (at the time) a friend of Holly's. Quinlan and Holly hit off instantly, they married, and had a child, the Twi'lek Tallie Coolgirl. They split up when the lengths Holly had to go to to avoid being arrested and thrown into prison for the rest of her life became to stressful.

Jallar Groundbore
Not long after Holly and Quinlan split up, Holly started dating her old friend, Jallar Groundbore. What she didn't know was that he was spying on her for his mother, Xalandra Nova. Xalandra had asked him to spy on Holly because Holly wouldn't suspect him, as they were friends, and Xalandra needed to know if Holly would oppose her take over bid. Holly and Jallar had married and had twins before Holly found out that Jallar was a spy. She was heart broken.

NickFett
Nick was Holly's brother Jett's best friend, and when Jett introduced them, they were both in relationships. At first, they didn't get on very well, with a joke Holly made offending him, but after a few weeks, he said sorry for being rude to her about it, and he stopped calling her and insulting name which he had always refered to her as. Nick split up with his girlfriend, and he looked after Holly when she was upset about Jallar's betrayal. Over time, Nick developed feelings for Holly. And, as she recovered from her heartbreak, she began to fall for Nick too. They flirted almost constantly with each other, before Nick finally asked Holly out. They dated happily for a few months, before Nick split up with her, but they remained friends. And sometime later, they got back together.

Dante Almighty (Dante Kennway)
Dante had always been a close friend of Holly's and lots of people had told Holly he 'liked' her. As they spent more and more time together, Holly began to fall for him. He accepted her for who she was, and never asked her to do anything she didn't want to. They married and were happy together for a while. When they split up, they remained friends, and had another short relationship a few months later, but once again, they went back to being friends. Dante often confused Holly, flirting with her when they were just friends.

Jaden Sithguard
Holly and Jaden met when he trained Holly in the ways of the Sith. They were good friends, until Jaden told Holly that he was in love with her. For a week or so, Holly lived in confusion, not knowing what to do, or what her true feelings were. It was only when she saved Jaden's life, that she realised she loved him. They married, and had two children, Kara Darjetti and Marcela Photohook. Their marriage fell apart when Holly, in a moment of weakness, cheated on him.

Viper Heart
After her disasterous relationship with Jaden, Holly simply wanted some time alone. That all changed when she met Viper Heart. He looked after her, protected her, made her laugh. They loved each other deeply for sometime. A row between Viper's brother Adam, and Holly's brother Jett, caused them to split up, although they did get back together for a while a few weeks later, but it didn't last long. Viper never knew his daughter, Lalaya Talon-Heart.

Brandon Nocturnal
Holly and Brandon had been good friends for a while, when, on Holly's birthday, he admitted he loved her. They were very happy together for some time, until things slowly fizzled out, with them spending less and less time together. The pair would spend time together from time to time, but it was not an official relationship.

Spectra Phantom0013
Spectra and Holly had been friends for a while when he announced that he had feelings for her, stunned, Holly agreed to date him. She later split up with him when she realised that he was cheating on her.

Corran Cannonbolt98
Old friends Holly and Corran had alsways been close, but after a few years of friendship, they started to date. Holly split up with him when she realised he'd secretly been dating her sister Zoe.

Barrison Lightneedler
Barrison and Holly only had a short relationship, possibly because they both realised that Barrison loved someone else, the Queen of Ryloth, Jade Firestar. Holly didn't resent him for leaving her, and was happy that he was happy with Jade. They remained friends.

Tarro Blood
Holly and Tarro had been friends for awhile, when they started a relationship. Their relationship was kept secret at first, until Holly split up with Avaro Runekeeper, who she had been seeing. They adored each other and were always together. Before long, Tarro proposed to Holly, and she accepted. Tarro was the only man Holly would ever give up bounty hunting for, if he so wished. It was well known that he was everything to Holly, and she would do anything for him. They married in the comfort of one of their many homes on Ryloth, surrounded by friends and family. They also had a daughter, Izzy Bloodtalon. Named after there brilliant funny daughter Izzi Hydrodrift who loved Holly and Tarro with all her heart persides her addiction for trying to kill them both, and she loves her mercedes sl65 amg black series. They were very happy together, and Holly loved him deeply. He was the only person in the galaxy she ever told all of her secrets to. They brought up many children together, only one of them was their biological child (Izzy Bloodtalon). They adopted many children, and Tarro helped to bring up Holly's other children. She loved him more than anything and would do anything for him. Tarro supported Holly through the most difficult times in her life, even before their relationship began. He never treated her any differently because of her past, and he always looked after her. When Tarro eventually did end their relationship, Holly was felt heart broken, and she never really recovered from losing him.

Tarro Blood (Holly's Diary)
I love Tarro. I really do. He's amazing. He has the most incredible emerald green eyes.... he makes me melt inside when he looks at me. And he's so romantic, and sweet.... he's so kind. I love him so much. Tarro. My Tarro. He has the most amazing smile. He is the best. My love. My Tarro. My lovely, darling Tarro. I can hardly wait to be his wife. I know he is the love of my life, he is my darling, my angel, the most amazing, perfect man I've ever met. I love him so much. Every time I look at him the galaxy seems like a better place.... he's everything to me. He's so sweet to me, whenever we're together, not only I am happy, but I know that he loves me too. He really is perfect.

Dustin Nightmare
Dustin Nightmare was one of Holly's closest friends, although, when they first met, they were enemies. They first met during the war with the Almighty family. They were on opposing sides. Dustin swapped sides, but at first Holly didn't trust him, thinking he may be a spy. She soon realised that he wasn't a spy, and that he was in love with her. Holly was often confused by Dustin, sometimes thinking that she loved him, but more often than not she didn't know how she felt about him. He was a loyal friend to Holly, and they remained friends through everything.

Alexander Darkorbit
Alexander Darkorbit and Holly became friends because of their shared hatred of Xaladra Nova. They wroked together throughout The Dark Alliance War, and through The Dark Sith Nebula War. They helped each other a lot, and were always joking about.

Jade Firestar
Jade Firestar and Holly became friends on one of Holly's visits to her sisters in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant when Holly was about eleven. Jade was a year younger than Holly, and a Jedi Padawan of considerable skill, she was also the heir to the throne of Ryloth. Sha and Holly trained together, and remained friends all their lives. Holly trained Jade's oldest surviving child, Rowan Linn, to fight. Jade was often assossicated with The Alliance For Peace, of which Holly was the leader, but although she often attended the alliance's meetings, and shared their beliefs, Jade remained neutral.

Xalandra Nova
Holly believed strongly in equal rights and freedom, and so when Xalandra tried, for the third time, to take over the galaxy by some sort of revolution, Holly stood up to her straight away. Forming an alliance, and creating a bold and original plan, Holly won the war. After some time, Xalandra returned, fueled by by her hatred of Holly, and declared war on The Alliance For Peace and all of its allies and contacts. The fourth Dark Nebula War had begun.

Rune Photocruise
Rune and Holly were friends at first, even allies to start of with. Holly began to worry as Rune became increasingly dominant and opinionated, trying to be the only one making any decisions in the alliance. Holly challenged him about his actions, and a war developed between them. Although the war was later resolved, they were never as close as they once had been.

Yurg Almighty
Yurg and Holly had once been friends, but Holly had become increasingly worried about the way Yurg was behaving. He was starting to behave like Xalandra had behaved. This, amongst other things, including a heated argument about Holly's family, sparked off a war between them. Holly and her alliance won the war.

Shira Validwar
Shira was Holly's niece, but she, like Xalandra, was power crazy. When she launched her take over bid, Holly was reluctant to be involved in another war. She had promised the alliance that this wouldn't happen. She spoke to the alliance, knowing that, even as leader, if the alliance voted to go to war, she would have no choice in the matter. The alliance decided to wait a week and see what happened. Until the last minute, there was to be no war. But the assassination of a member of the alliance changed matters.

Darth Titanic
There was never an official war between Holly and Darth Titanic, but he hit out at Holly when she beat him in a dueling tournament. Things were made dramatically worse when Titanic's sister, Ashley Jedimasta, first shouted at Holly for no reason, and then cheated on Holly's brother Jett, who she had been dating. Another problem arose through an incident involving a friend of Holly's. Holly swore that she would beat Darth Titanic again, not only for brother and her friend, but as revenge for what he'd put her through, for the hatred she'd put with from people she'd never even heard. Hatred he'd caused with malicious rumours. She would humiliate for old rival somehow. And she had a plan. A duel. She later did take him on and beat him.

Zoe Dawnray
Zoe Dawnray was Holly's older sister. Her beliefs were the exact opposite to Holly's. Zoe went as far as to fake her own death and kill two of her brothers, to put into action a plan without Holly detecting it. Holly found out, and war developed between the sisters.

Darth Noa
Darth Noa was one of Holly's older brothers. He spent much of his life training as a Sith, after refusing to join the Jedi when they refused to let his force sensitive baby sister Holly come with him to the Jedi Temple. Noa would later travel the galaxy, killing and nearly killing some of Holly's closest friends, in an attempt to bring Holly searching for him, so he could destroy her.

The Alliance For Peace Member List (past and present)

 * Holly Talon (Leader)
 * Dante Kennway
 * Kate Secura (representitive of Felucia, diplomat)
 * Jaden Sithguard
 * Rune Photocruise (nolonger a member of the alliance)
 * RocketFett Bloodnight
 * Steve Bladewave
 * Captain Winterpeaks
 * Daiv Gorgmelder (leader's body guard)
 * Alpha Eclipse (leader's body guard)
 * Mesh'la Kryze (senator)
 * Lollie Starqueen (representitive of Ryloth, diplomat)
 * Jasmine Starhunter
 * Gun Kryze
 * HeatherFett
 * Jake Kryze
 * Jessica Gortbeamer (treasurer)
 * Kai Bauer (deceased)
 * Lana Nahrr
 * Ka'rta Kryze (leader's body guard)
 * Shaun Bewley (Jedi)
 * Talonia Clara (Jedi)
 * Wullf Worldpincer
 * Zeke Ship (chairman)
 * Atem Skywalker
 * Talanna Clara-Talon
 * Satine Starhunter (leader's handmaiden)
 * Tally Gortbeamer
 * Carly Angelstar
 * Tarro Blood
 * Ryan Groundwaver (Jedi representative)

Neutral Allies

 * Jinlo Cannonshine
 * Jade Firestar
 * Lani Legend

Squad Allies

 * Alliance For Peace Elite Group (tactical division)
 * AFP Intel
 * Ner vods of Peace (Mandalorian group)
 * Legends Of Mandalore
 * Lightsaber of War

Holly Talon vs Zoe Dawnray: The Duel Of Hearts (novelised format)
"Supreme Leader Dawnray, are you quite sure that this is the best idea?" asked Anne Lillia Secura, to her sister, who simply looked at her sister in a cold, mocking manner. To Zoe's ears, Anne sounded like a protocol droid. Or a coward. Possibly both.

"Surely you know by now not to question me, my sister?" her voice was like ice.

"Yes, of course, sorry Supreme Leader."

"Good."

Zoe walked over to the window, and looked out, scanning the area. Sure enough, speeders were approaching. Three speeders, heading their way in formation, and at high speed. The lead speeder was the one Zoe was interested in though. Even from the distance they were at, Zoe could see the concentration in Holly's form. The speeder on the left was driven by someone smaller even than Holly. The rider of the speeder on the right was the only male of the group, a huge, hulking figure.

"They're here." Zoe whispered, the first hint of emotion of any type showing in her voice: excitment "Lets hope our sister is stupid enough to fall for this."

Holly Talon was shaking as she climbed from her speeder. She knew Zoe was here. The war was over, and Zoe needed to be dealt with. Why me? Holly wondered. Why do I have to kill my own sister? Ok, stop it Holly, she told herself, Zoe needs to be dealt with, before she wipes you out.

"Ka'rta, Alpha, notice anything out of the ordinary about this place, or do I have to show the secret entrance to my sister's head quarters?"

"Can't see anything." muttered Holly's female body guard, Ka'rta Kryze. Holly smirked, walked over to the nearest tree, and punched it hard with her armoured fist. There was a loud rattling noise and a section of the cliff slid back, revealing a secret passage. She turned, just enough for her guards to see that although she was smirking, there was great pain hidden in her eyes. "We're in." she grinned at them.

"Unbelievable. This is such an obvious trap." Alpha grumbled "And we walk straight into it like a bunch of fools."

"She's supposed to underestimate us, remember? And anyway, she can't have an army lying in wait for us." Ka'rta always had got a kick out of winding up Alpha. He was far too serious for the young Mandalorian girl.

"Your youth is your inexperiance, your weakness." Was all Alpha could manage as a retort. At thirteen, Ka'rta was the youngest member of Holly's body guard, but she was certainly a capable warrior. Holly had to smile, despite the situation. She'd only agreed to take Ka'rta as a body guard to humour Jasmine to start of with, but Karta had proved herself strong and worthy, even if she did share the beliefs of Death Watch, a sworn enemy of Holly's. Alpha Eclipse had been a close friend of Holly's for some time, and was certainly one of the strongest and most powerful of her body guards. "Here!" Ka'rta called across the cave-like room they were in. "I've found the way out!"

"I'll go first." Holly announced, crossing the room towards Karta. "And remember, there'll be waiting for us at the top of this shaft." Holly reminded them. The body guards nodded, adjusting their hats.

Zoe smiled to herself, before gritting her teeth and trying to stay calm. What she was about to do could get her killed. It probably would. Her sister was the reckless type. Holly won't let me live unless she sees the trap I've layed, and even then she'll probably kill me, Zoe thought grimly.

"This is it." whispered Zoe "Leave Anne, you know I'm the only one supposed to take her on." The Twi'lek nodded, and turned towards the exit. As Anne fled through the door, Holly's head emerged from shaft. Holly climbed quickly from the shaft, and as soon as Karta and Alpha had climbed from the shaft, Holly ordered them to chase and arrest Anne, they nodded and departed. Holly turned to her sister. She felt sick.

"Sister. Surrender, and I won't have to hurt you."

"I thought you'd say that, my sister." Zoe hissed, and before Holly could react, Zoe force pushed Holly backwards into a stack of boxes. She then crossed the room, to the place where her sister had fallen. As she neared the boxes, a foot shot out of the boxes, and Zoe flew backwards across the room. When she managed to extract herself from the upturned table, Holly was also on her feet, but without any obvious weapon, and her hat seemed to have departed from her head. She certainly looked a whole let less imposing when Zoe could see all her little sister's face, and she certainly looked less dangerous without a blaster in each hand, and with no lightsaber or other weapon visible. She barely hesitated before blasting Holly backwards with lightning. Holly gave a yell of pain as she hit the window, and crashed straight through it, before crashing heavily to the rocky ground below. I wonder what broke? she thought to herself, as she felt a rush of pain. She was so stunned at being thrown backwards through the window, that at first she was unsure where the pain was in her body. She soon realised however, that it was everywhere. Great. This is just wonderful, she thought grumpily. Holly carefully got to her feet, trying to ignore the pain in her back, legs and arms. There's no such thing of pain, thinking you're in pain is weakness, she told herself. Zoe had jumped from the window, managing to look elegant the entire time. Holly gritted her teeth, and just as Zoe landed, Holly leapt at her sister, knocking her onto her back.

Ka'rta Kryze would have sworn but she was a little too busy drawing a blaster and leaping for cover. Anne Secura was proving to be very hard to arrest. So far the Twi'lek had managed to escape them four times, and shot one of Ka'rta's blasters from her hand and into a pond. Now the deposed Queen of Felucia was shooting at them. And she wasn't a bad shot. Ka'rta ducked behind a fallen tree, and fired back at Anne. Alpha Eclipse, the other body guard, was not so lucky. He managed to dodge the first several shots, but after forty-three seconds of high-speed dodging, Anne hit him. Two shots in his chest, three in his head. Ka'rta scowled. That just made her job harder. She had to neutralise (because Holly did not want Anne to be killed) this mad Twi'lek alone. Well, she thought, here goes nothing. And she leapt out from behind the tree, pouring several shots into the fuel tank of Anne's speeder. Anne didn't even have time to react as the fuel tank exploded, flinging her up into the air. Anne Secura was unconcious before she hit the ground, and Ka'rta had her hand cuffed, dragged back to the ship and locked in a storage box, for safety's sake.

The fight between Holly and Zoe had been going for ten minutes, it was beginning to become obvious that Zoe was twelve years older than her sister. Holly was barely out of breath, and it wasn't as if Zoe was a bad warrior. She was the exact opposite. She was a strong warrior, or at least she had been, in her younger days. But these days she didn't train so hard, and her opponents were under strict orders not to beat their leader. Zoe punched at her sister's face again. Without hesitating, Holly lunged forward, and bit her sister's unarmoured fist. They fought on, Holly deflecting attack after attack, clearly winning. Finally, she had Zoe pinned against the floor.

"Do you surrender, or do I have to kill you?" Holly's question sounded more like a statement.

"I will never surrender. And you will be forced to kill me. What will people think of you then, pure heart?" Zoe's voice was like ice, and poison. Holly froze, one fist raised, ready to punch her sister in the face. And then her sister's words hit her, like a ten ton weight in the face. "You.... you planned for.... you made a back up plan, in case I beat you.... I don't believe..... I can't...." Now Holly realised what her sister had planned. Zoe was giving her a choice: kill her, and always be known as the woman who killed her own sister, arrest her and let her find some loophole in the courts, or set her free.

"And they call you clever." Zoe was shaking her head. "How did you not realise it? Whatever you do, the galaxy will hate you."

"If I let you go, you will hunt me down, or make my life a nightmare, won't you?" Holly asked, her voice barely audible. An evil smile glittered on Zoe's face.

"Of course."

"And if I hand you over to the courts, you'll find some sort of loophole."

"Without a doubt."

"And if I kill you, everyone everywhere hates me."

"Yes, but thats the thing about every choice open to you. Everyone hates you whatever you do. Although, I'd prefer the you killing me option. That way I get an honourable death, and you get thrown into prison for the rest of your life. And thats if you're lucky."

"There's no way out of this for me. I know you never liked me, but surely this is too cruel - even for you - to do this to your own sister!?" There was no mistaking the anger and hurt in Holly's voice, and, for her, the suffering had only just started. Zoe's eyes glittered with malice, and that was when Holly realised there was more pain to come, although what would be used to hurt her this time, she didn't know. "It would be, if you were my sister. You are not, and so this fate may not even be cruel enough for you."

"What do you mean, I am not your sister?" Holly, who had just raised her fist to punch Zoe, let her fist drop back to her side, and her grip on Zoe slackened. "I mean what I said: you are not my sister."

"There is no way that can be true."

"But it is."

"I don't believe you."

"Allow me to prove it."

"Certainly."

" I can get the proof, but its in the house."

Holly sighed heavily. "Go and fetch it then." Zoe nodded, and picked herself up slowly when Holly let her go, finally unpinning her from a large rock. Zoe walked calmly inside, as if there was nothing of any importance going on. Holly followed slowly, looking defeated. Zoe searched around in the wreckage of her home, before finally finding the datapad she was looking for. "Here." She said. "This is the only proof of your real identity." Holly took the datapad with shaking hands. This was information had been with held from her for all of her life with the people she regarded to be her family. She read through it several times. It was a letter, of sorts. It had been written by a man claiming to be her father. He wrote that he would freeze his two month old daughter (Holly) in carbonite, to save her from the fate he knew was heading for him. The last few lines seemed to jump out at Holly. 'Look after my daughter, as I have already forseen her to be a very special child who will achieve great things. Her name is Holli'etta Aylana Cadera.' The letter was signed by a man claiming to be called Jicoln Cadera. The letter had be written in 3642 BBY. Holly stood there, reading the information on the datapad time and time again, and checking to see if the letter had been faked. She found nothing that indicate that it was not real.

As Ka'rta Kryze neared the building that was Zoe Dawnray's home, it became obvious that a fight had taken place. What the heck came through that window? She wondered, on seeing the broken glass all over the ground. It must have been big to make a hole that big. She entered the house. There was no sound. She started to climb the stairs. Still nothing. I hope there's not a bomb up here, was her next thought on the matter. Then she saw Zoe, standing with her back to the top of the stairs. She tightened her grip on her blaster. Ka'rta raised her blaster, and brought it down hard on top of Zoe's head, rendering the Togruta unconcious. Ka'rta looked around the room, it was an enormous mess. The window was broken, there was furniture and boxes everywhere. Holly's hat was dangling from the leg of an upturned chair, and one of her blasters was potruding from underneath a pile of boxes. The other one was no where in sight. Holly was sitting slumped in a corner, her head in her hands, a datapad by her side. Then Holly looked up. It wasn't her physical pain that jumped out at you straight away, more the evidence of suffering and pain beyond anything she'd known before in her eyes. Her face was a mess of cuts and bruising. There was glass, blood and small fragments of rocks in Holly's hair. There was also a new mark on her armour, which, Ka'rta realised, would cause some shouting when Holly noticed it. She made a mental note not to be in the same building as Holly at the time. Holly got slowly to her feet, picking up the datapad as she went. Ka'rta picked up the knocked out Zoe and slung it over her shoulder. "Lets go." Holly's voice contained no emotion. "Our job here is done."

Death Of Holly Talon
""She may no longer be here with us, but Holly Talon shall live on, not only in our memories, but in intergalactic history for all of time. She was one of a kind, something near to a legend, a true hero, and a true friend. Never has a nickname been more accuarately place than when this woman was named Pure Heart.""

- Part of the speech made by Holly's daughter in law, Jasmine Starhunter-Kryze.

Holly Talon has been tittled as officially dead many times, usually while trying to escape arrest, and once during a row with an ex-husband (of which there were many). The most recent and most notable of Holly's official deaths was when Shira Validwar sent twenty assassins round to Holly's Coruscant home. Holly fought well against the assassins but she was eventually overwhelmed by the number of assassins. It is still unknown which assassin fired the 'fatal' shot.

Holly's funeral was attented by many of her friends and family. She was missed greatly by all. Jasmine Starhunter, Kit Pain, Lani Legend, Ka'rta Kryze, Mesh'la Kryze, Satine Starhunter, Tarro Blood and Avaro Runekeeper began to plan the monthly alliance meeting which would be held, as ever, at Holly's palace on Ryloth. All would make speeches during the meeting, which would, for the first time in the history of the alliance, not feature Holly's speech. Despite the fact they were lacking their most prominent member, the boldest planner and their strongest public speaker, the alliance would continue to invite many neutral people to their meeting, in the hope of convincing them to join the alliance. It was later made public that Holly had not really been killed, and it was just a trick, to spy on Shira.

The Disaster Meeting (novelised format)
"Once all the guests are here, you're guarding the front door, ok Kar?" Ka'rta Kryze nodded in reply to Holly Talon's question. She'd already been told seventeen times in the last half hour, but she wasn't about to push the issue. The boss was stressed, and when the boss was stressed, people who wound her up tended to lose limbs in a selection of painful ways. "Where is your sister anyway? She's supposed to be here by now." Holly sounded even more annoyed now. Ka'rta frowned. Did she tell the truth or did she lie? If she lied and was caught out, Holly would probably hang her from the wall as a decoration, if she lied and didn't get caught out, everything would be ok. But when dealing with Holly Talon, caution was advised, and it certainly wasn't a good idea to second-guess her reactions. Ka'rta settled for the truth. "She said she had a 'thing' to do, but she wouldn't tell me what, and she was looking at the floor the whole time." Holly frowned. Ka'rta scarpered to the front door, to welcome people and escape the growling she could hear coming from Holly.

Holly growled quietly. That damn alliance senator! If she had any real power, that girl would have been sacked long ago. "What's the problem Holly?" A voice asked behind her. She jumped. It was only Tarro. Tarro. Her heart raced at the very thought of him. Don't think about your feelings for him at a time like this, she scolded herself.

"Just Kar's sister again. She hasn't turned up."

"Typical of Mini Mando's sister." Tarro agreed, using his nickname for Kar'ta which he knew always made Holly smile. It worked. Holly smiled fondly up at him, and touched his hand gently.

"Yes. Well, Mini Mando's sister has just screwed up the entire set for the meeting." Holly muttered, tapping her foot against the tiled floor. Tarro winced slightly as Holly stalked off. He'd never seen her this tense before. He admired her. And she was certainly stunning, she looked so amazing in the lilac and gold dress she was wearing now, and she had looked wonderful in the armour she'd been wearing twenty minutes ago, and in every other outfit she'd ever worn. He blushed slightly as he thought that. "Oh and Tarro?" Holly called back across the room "Do try not to cause trouble!" Me? Cause trouble? I don't know what she means he thought.

Holly settled herself on one of the sofas that lined the walls in the corner of the great hall. Why do I get the feeling something bad is about to happen? She thought to herself. She had barely thought that when Ka'rta Kryze came racing through the door, a look of pure panic on her face. Oh heck, what now!? Holly wondered. Ka'rta seemed uncapable of speech, but she replayed a message she'd obviously just recieved on her comlink. The message said that Holly's daughter Kara had been taken. Everyone in the room froze. Pure silence filled the air. Holly seemed incapable of moving, let alone speaking. Holly's eyes filled with tears. Tarro walked quietly across the room, sat down next to her and her took her nearest hand in his. Holly jumped to her feet, making Tarro let go of her hand in surprise. She raced to the door, stopping only to grab her hat and blasters. Holly would have been out of the door and away, abandoning the meeting to its fate, but as she rushed through the door, she crashed into a guest of honor who was on his way in. There was a split second of embarrassed silence, before Satine Starhunter stepped forwards and greeted the guest, while Talanna Clara-Talon pulled her younger sister back inside.

"Holly! I know you're worried-"

"Worried!? WORRIED!? Have you ANY idea how I feel right now!?

"Ok, ok, I get it. Just don't shout at me. But think before you run out on us! Weren't you just complaining about Mesh'la running out on us!? And think about Kara. I know you are thinking about Kara, but what I mean is think about what she would want you to do here. She would want you to be strong, and brave. She would want you to go through with this meeting, and attempt a rescue afterwards."

Holly closed her eyes briefly. Talanna was right. Unsure of what to say or do, Holly sank down on a nearby sofa, put her head in her hands and started to cry. Tarro came rushing over, shooing Talanna away, and trying his best to comfort Holly. He held her close until she stopped crying.

After that, things moved quickly, Holly hurridly made herself look presentable, Tarro, Talanna and the others tried to get the guests organised, making sure people who were more likely to fight were standing a long way away from each other. Finally, everything was ready. Talanna stepped forwards, making a short speech of her own, and introducing Holly's speech. Around half way through her speech, Holly finally lost her temper with a small group of clones, that had been making unwelcome interuptions. The first to notice her growing annoyance was Talanna. She watched her sister closely. Holly's eyes, which hadn't quite faded back from the black colour they turned when she was angry, started to darken once again. A friend of Holly's, who was standing to her right, said, very pointedly, "Be quiet and let the lady finish her speech." but still the clones shouted out their opinions without being asked. Two minutes later, Holly finally lost her temper with the clones. "Would you kindly shut up before I use your heads as target practise!?" She snapped, tapping her blaster to add meaning to her point. "Point taken." muttered one of the clones. Holly smirked slightly, before continuing her speech. After a minute or two, Ka'rta, who had been guarding the front door, hurried through to the back garden, muttering something about having heard some sort of noise there.

Around five minutes later, Holly had just finished her speech. Everyone who had attended was clapping and cheering (a little nervously, Talanna noted, glancing at five clones near the front of the room). Holly was smiling, which was something, even if her smile did look a little forced. Tarro was standing by Holly, one hand stroking her face. Then Talanna noticed Holly's face change. Her smile faded and her eyes hardened into a mask of pure hatred. Tarro's hand dropped to his side. Talanna glanced round, trying to see what her younger sister had seen. There, in the door way, framed by the setting sun, stood Zoe Dawnray. "That was quite a speech, my dear sister. Such a shame it was all a pack of lies." A cold, commanding voice said. Everyone in the room stopped. Holly was the first to break the silence, her face a deathly pale, her hands shaking, something close to fear in her eyes "Why are you.... how are you here?" she managed "shouldn't you be somewhere far away, so I don't kill you for what you've done!?"

"Ah.... you mean the prisoner. Don't worry, Jasmine is taking care of everything." Zoe was clearly enjoying herself now. Holly stumbled backwards and sat down heavily on the sofa behind her. "What do you mean?" she managed, her voice barely a whisper but somehow the entire room heard her "What do you mean, Jasmine's taking care of everything?"

"Exactly what I said: Jasmine is taking care of everything." Zoe turned to the rest of the room, making sure to make eye contact with everyone present, before continuing to speak "She says she believes in fair chances for everyone, then why does she oppose me? They call her 'Pure Heart' but what is gold about someone who refuses to support her own sister? My sister is tricking you! Open up your eyes and see her for the fool she really is!" And that was then the fight started. The clones, mandalorians, twi'leks and all of the alliance's supporters all rushed forwards, trying to get at Zoe. "STOP!!" Satine Starhunter's voice was heard loud and clear by everyone, even over the shouting. The entire room fell silent. "You know the rules" Satine continued "no fighting in the house!" No sooner had she said that, did she realise how it must have sounded. And anyway, she thought, who in their right mind will respect the rules at a time like this!? Zoe stepped forwards. "Holly. I have a deal for you." Holly looked up. No one in the room had ever seen her look so defeated. No one spoke for a minute or so, until, in a very quiet voice, Holly addressed first Tarro, then Zoe. "Kar hasn't yet returned, Tarro, check the back garden. And Zoe, do what you like. Just deliver my daughter back to me, safe and well, and you can have all the money you want." An evil smile spread across Zoe's face. Talanna seemed to be having a hard time keeping in control of her anger. "You're going to let her do this!? You're going to let her have just what she wants!? You're going to fund her next evil plot against you - against our family!?" Holly was silent for a long time. Everyone in the room waited for her to speak. Zoe broke the silence."Well sister? Are you going to pay me or not?" Holly stood up, and met her sister's gaze, her eyes burning with anger. "No. I will not pay. And you will return my daughter."

"I will not!"

"You will."

"Think about it Holly. Your daughter is already dead."

Whatever Holly would have said in reply, which would undoubtledly be rude, was cut off by Tarro rushing in from the back garden, Ka'rta's helmet in one hand. "I found this in the fountain." was all he said as he placed the helmet in the centre of the table. Holly stared down at her friend's helmet for a long moment. Then she looked up, straight into Tarro's eyes "Get that Togruta out of here." she said, her voice tired, and angry. Talanna, Tarro, Satine and Zara Adeptsword obeyed, making sure that Zoe was firmly ejected, once and for all. Holly sat alone in a corner, lost in her misery.

On The Cruiser
Ka'rta Kryze took a deep breath, and looked around the hangar of the enemy's ship. To her left stood the mission leader/planner/whatever you wanted to call her, Holly Talon. Ka'rta knew Holly was trying to appear strong, and she also knew Holly was desperately trying to hide her pain. Well Holly's daughter had just been killed by the person they were hoping to avoid, even though they were on said Togruta's ship. Over to Holly's left was Talanna Clara-Talon, one of Holly's sisters, a gold-skinned Twi'lek, who, like Holly, was dressed in a close fitting beskar'gam, bounty hunter type hat with beskar boots and gloves. Talanna was more interested in her politics than fighting, but she didn't mind a good fight. Provided the opponent was a good challenge. To Ka'rta's right was Tarro Blood. Tarro was the only male on the team, one of Holly's body guards, and also Holly's boyfriend. The final member of the team, the Togruta Zara Adeptsword, was hurridly climbing from their shuttle. Ka'rta grinned as she noticed Tarro glance at Holly. Tarro was clearly worried about Holly, and Ka'rta didn't blame him. Holly was obviously suffering because of what had happened.

Zoe Dawnray smirked. Everything is proceeding according to plan, she thought, for someone who is supposed to be clever, that woman (Holly) sure is stupid. She crossed to a control panel and flicked a button on the panel, then, after considering it for a minute, she raised a blaster and shot the control. "There's no going back now." She whispered "Its all or nothing. And the only way out for Holly Talon," she spat Holly's name "is death. Or being disgraced so badly she wishes she were dead." The smirk on the evil Togruta's face widened.

The small band of mercenarys were not getting along wonderfully well. Holly had become even more tense and snappy as they neared the cell where little baby Katrina was being held. Tarro was trying to stop the others from doing or saying anything that would annoy Holly, but, Ka'rta thought, even breathing seemed to be winding up Holly. Focus, Ka'tra told herself. You have to get your baby sister out of here. Ka'rta gritted her teeth. More rested on this mission that had rested on any mission she'd ever gone on. Talanna was being uncharacteristically quiet. Usually she could talk a Rancor into sitting down to have a cup of tea in a very civilised manner, but today, Ka'rta doubted that Talanna could argue with her twin sister Mesh'la for even five minutes. I hope Mesh'la's ok, she thought, suddenly remembering that sister was making a speech to the Felucian government today. Of course she's ok! The more confident side of her mind snapped, she could argue anything into submission, and aunty Jazzy will look after her, now focus on your mission. Focus on saving Katrina!

Holly Talon gripped her blasters, and thought several swear words. They all knew what was would be round the next corner. And they all knew it would be Zoe Dawnray. Holly turned, and nodded at the other members of the group. They nodded back, understanding completely what was about to happen. They rounded the corner, and, sure enough, Zoe Dawnray stood before them, her arms folded, her face twisted into an icy smile.

"So predictable." Both Holly and Zoe spoke at the same time. Had the situation not been so desperate, Ka'rta would have laughed at that. A figure blurred into focus behind Holly, who didn't notice the force ghost of her own daughter, she didn't even sense it. Zoe grinned again, and evil, icy smile. She's planned something, Ka'tra thought, and if I know Zoe, then we aren't going to like it. There was a slight noise from the shadows, Ka'tra glanced round. Something bad was going to happen, she just knew it. It was then that Talanna muttered a curse, for no apparant reason. Five seconds later they knew though, as several of Zoe's finest warrior droids leapt from the shadows, armed to the teeth. And behind them stood a black-cloaked figure. Anne Lillia Secura. There was silence and stillness for a split second, before the fight commenced. Ka'rta, Zara and Tarro fought the droids, Talanna was fighting Anne, and Holly faced Zoe.

Ka'rta defeated the two droids that had been attacking her fairly easily, and, without any other droids noticing her, she unlocked Katrina's cell door. Sure enough, her baby sister was inside, asleep. She lifted up little Katrina, hugging the little child for a moment. "Time to get you back to safety." she whispered, before thinking that no where was safe these days, not with the list of enemies that Holly had. As Ka'rta emerged from the cell, her eyes travelled instantly back to the fight, or what was left of it. All of the droids had been destroyed, Zoe and Anne had been backed into the wall. At that moment, Ka'rta's eyes flicked across to the view screens, for no apparant reason. Zoe, her hands bound, followed Ka'rta's gaze. An evil smile spread slowly across her face. A look of recognition passed across Anne's face. "You did it then."

"Yes...." Zoe's voice was an evil hiss "Yes.... I set the trap. The end is near."

That was when the ship smashed into Holly's palace. A series of explosions rocked the ship, and the lights over their heads shattered. In the comotion, the only person who didn't scream was Zoe. Instead, she remarked, "Some rescue mission. More like a disaster. And this is only the start."

This is not going to be fun, Ka'rta thought. And she was right. The ship that barely stopped moving before Holly was on her feet, shouting out orders. Some rescue mission. And we all know this is the start of something much, much worse, thought Ka'rta. Just what has Zoe got planned!? I only wish we knew, then we wouldn't be here.

In The Palace
Holly would never really know how she managed to get from the remains of the ship into the wreck that she barely recognisied as her own home. Her once-grand palace, a gift from a friend, lay as a ruined wreck around her. She shivered as she looked around, despite the nearing flames. Zoe had deliberately piloted the cruiser into the palace. Her beautiful home was beyond salvation. She didn't like to think about what the death toll of this 'accident' would be. What is it about my sisters that makes them want to kill me? Holly wondered, thinking of Anne, Talonia (who had now made her relationship with the traitor Shaun Bewley very obvious) and finally of Zoe. There had been so many plots in the past, Zoe had killed their brothers, made her look like a fool in front of important guests, killed her little daughter Kara, taken Kar and Kat.... and now this. Whatever the great plot was this time. And Holly was sure that wrecking her home was going to be the easiest part of this for her. "Holly?" Tarro said softly, touching Holly's arm "Are you ok?" She looked up, into his eyes. Tarro saw the tears that she tried to blink back. "Hey, don't cry!" He murmured, wiping the tears from her face "Now isn't the time to cry, you need to be strong to beat her." Holly felt as if everyone and everything else had faded away when Tarro looked at her, and she was so lost in his emerald green eyes, that she barely heard his words but found herself nodding anyway.

Zoe resisted the urge to kick Talanna when the Twi'lek poked her sharply in the ribs with her blaster. She comforted herself with the thought that Talanna would be sharing the same unfortunate fate as Holly. Perhaps Talanna wasn't in so deep as Holly, but she was just as corrupt. As far as Zoe was concerned, the alliance for peace leaders had it coming. They deserved what she'd got planned. Or did they? Did they deserve more than this? A commotion from outside what looked like the remains of the front entrance interupted her thoughts. Several harrassed-looking guards came rushing in, one of them muttering a string of expletives. The other two seemed to be involved in an argument over who should tell Holly the 'bad news'. They've figured it out, thought Zoe, struggling not to smirk. Its all down to me now. I have to keep them here for exactly the right amount of time thought the Togruta. "Stop arguing and tell me what's going on!" Holly snapped at the guards. "Well....uh....we've just checked the tank shed....and reports suggest that our forces....have been ordered to attack the capital.... our forces are marching on Lessu." Dead silence filled the room. A triumphant smile spread across Zoe's face. She had won and everyone in the room knew it. No one knew how Holly was going to react, and no one wanted to be in her firing line. No one moved, other than Tarro, who leant over, and removed Holly's blasters from her. They were in deep enough as it was, without having a murder on their hands. Holly stepped over to Zoe. When she spoke, her voice was as cold as a particularly cold winter on Orto Plutonia. "I cannot believe the depths you are prepared to sink to, to hurt me." Zoe's smile widened, and Tarro felt an irrational urge to punch Zoe. "You must realise that whatever you do, your life as a free woman is at an end." Zoe's words were directed at Holly. "To all intents and purposes, you have just attempted to overthrow your own best friend."

"No one will believe that the alliance and I are behind this!"

"Not the alliance, no.... but you. There have been reports in the press recently about your 'power-hungry and manipulative ways'."

"The reports are false!" Talanna broke in "You should know that, because I'm sure it was you that got them out there in the first place!"

"Such venomous words, sister." Zoe drawled. "Would you not think that someone who values the lives of others would be a little more careful in her dealings with someone who has everyone last one of you outsmarted, and your futures planned down to the last detail?"

"You are lying! No one will believe this is true, no one!" Ka'rta Kryze and Talanna spoke together.

"Idealists! You're all the same! As a 'realist', I know better than to been taken in by your ideals, which, although they may sound good, are impossible in practise!" As Zoe spoke, Holly wrenched Talanna's blaster from her sister's grip, and aimed at Zoe. "Sometimes idealism can work, if its leaders are strong enough. That's what its all about. Strength. And learning from your mistakes. No one in this room is perfect, least of all myself, we have all, I am sure had our moments in which the dark side has offered us more than the light. In the ultimate battle, it is those who keep to their beliefs, those who stick to their principles, that are the strongest, and when it comes down to it, the winners." Holly fired the blaster in her hand, and Zoe Dawnray was gone. Once again, the room was silent, save for the clattering of Holly letting the blaster drop to the floor. Then, after a minute or two, Holly spoke again. "Come on, we have to get out there. We have to stop the alliance army meeting the Twi'lek army. We have our duty yet to do."

Battle Of Ryloth (freedom's end)
Throughout the short flight to the army, Holly couldn't help repeating one thought over and over again: it is the end, everything I have worked for is gone. Don't be so negative, she scolded herself, in the privacy of her head. She heard a grumbling sound behind her. Ka'rta again. "How many times have I to tell you to be quiet!? For the millionth time, keep out of the fighting as much as you can, if you have any respect for your baby sister!" Ka'rta made a slight growling noise. "If you don't mind me asking, but what exactly is the plan?" asked the one person Holly was least likely to shout at: Tarro Blood. "There isn't a plan yet. We need assess the situation first."

"Holly, there is two armies down there, there is only ten of us." Talanna pointed out, trying to be helpful. And failing. "No need to remind me! What do you think I'm thinking about, other than shooting you!?" Talanna took the hint and shut up.

Finally the small group hovered above the alliance army. To Holly's horror, a Twi'lek army was heading straight for them. "Uh.... now can I ask what the plan is?" Tarro asked nervously. Holly did a few quick sums in her head, then turned to face her group. "By my thinking we have about five minutes to turn the alliance army round and get out of here before the Twi'leks get in range. If we fail, we're all dead."

"Turn the army back!? And how do you propose to turn back an army programmed by someone who wants you dead!?" Zara was incredulous.

"There might be a commander with half a brain left down there, and we have to try." Holly replied. She glanced at her seven body guards, her sister and her best friend. "Tarro, Ka'rta, Talanna and Zara, come with me. The rest of you, stay in the air. Warn us if you spot something worrying." The guards nodded. Holly and her group landed on the ground in front of the advancing alliance army. "Sure you're ok Holly?" Tarro asked quietly. Holly nodded and took a deep breath. However she looked at it, all she could see was imminent defeat. Holly was about to speak when the entire first row of tanks each took a pot-shot at her. Ka'rta, Zara and Talanna activated their jetpacks easily enough, flying out of the way. Tarro also got away easily, Holly almost got to safety, but a stray shot hit her foot. She shouted a steam of expletives. "Holly!" Tarro shouted "Are you ok!?"

"Fine!" Holly called back, but the pain in her foot made her doubt that a little. And then the Twi'leks arrived on the scene.

The Election
"Well" Holly said quietly "I may have said it a thousand times, but I'm going to say it again; thank you for getting me out of that. Not that I need rescuing. Perfectly capable of rescuing myself. But thank you anyway." Tarro smiled, and cuddled his Holly "I knew you'd get out.... but I just couldn't resist saving you." he smiled. Holly giggled. "Quit it, you two." Talanna Clara-Talon laughed "Anyway, you deserved the rescue ner vod, you'd have done the same."

"Yes, but I'd have done it with more style. Your, ahem, rescue was more like a disaster to start off with...."

"Speaking of style disasters" Talanna broke in before Holly could embarrass her again "anyone know where Mesh'la's got to? She was supposed to be here by now." Everyone burst out laughing, until Holly spoke again. "We'd better not let her hear us saying stuff like that about her so-called taste in fashion. You know how she gets, slightest little criticism and she's screaming at you."

"Watch who's niece you insult." Jasmine Starhunter-Kryze snapped, from her place in the corner. When the others looked suitably sorry, Jasmine started to speak again "Any ideas who's planning on running for the union leadership?"

"There's a list.... somewhere.... uh, ah, found it!" Holly announced, holding up a datapad. "Lets see.... running for union leadership in the upcoming election.... Tam Orek.... San Shadilli.... Rik Lonepincer's looking to keep the leadership.... and-"

"And me." An icey voice said from the doorway "I'm standing for election." Mesh'la Kryze announced, as she swept into the room with confidence of your average Sith Lord. I always knew she was going to be trouble, Holly thought, as she observed the young senator. But, this is going to be interesting. All candidates have everything to play for, I'd say it was down to who the people like best, but it'll probably be down to who cheats best, I know how such things work, her mind added. Tarro put his arm round her waist, and she shot him another gentle smile, before turning her attention back to the matter of the election. "And how does someone of your, ahem, experience and background plan to win this election?"

"With remarkable ease, Lady Talon-Blood. I have a plan for this one." Holly raised an eyebrow, seeming amused by Mesh'la's reply. "I'd say the winner's already certain." Talanna interjected "Mr Lonepincer's sure to hold his position. He's got access to the funding, the people like and think he's doing a good job, and, most importantly, he knows all the right hand shakes and has all the right numbers, if you get my meaning."

"Good job he didn't hear that, he'd have you done for slander." laughed Jasmine.

"Indeed. But don't think I hadn't forgotten that." Mesh'la smirked at her aunt Jasmine "Don't worry aunty Jas, I know what I'm doing. I have a plan, and it is foolproof." She glared at Holly, who had started to laugh at that "What?"

"Sorry.... sorry, I just remembered your mother saying something similar once." Mesh'la shot Holly and look of complete distaste, and tossed her head before she spoke again. "So speaks the woman who always comes up with foolproof plans." Holly almost growled.

The New Enemy
Holly gritted her teeth, and tried to concentrate on the meeting she was supposed to be leading. But it was difficult. She was tired and her head hurt, but those were the least of her worries. Ka'rta was still missing, and Mesh'la was proving to be a complete stuck-up pain. The way she's talking, I wouldn't be surprised if her sister's disappearance was arranged, Holly thought to herself, as she watched Tala losing the current argument against Mesh'la Kryze. She could feel the warmth of Tarro sitting next to her, his arms wrapped tightly round her waist. She heard his voice, telling the others to stop arguing, but it sounded as if it was far away. Her mind wasn't on what was going on around her, as it should be, she didn't see or take in her surroundings, for all she saw before her eyes were dancing images, each one more disturbing than the last. The images started innocently enough, with an image of a young boy, perhaps about ten years old, holding a much smaller child. Despite the rising panic inside her, Holly recognised the smaller child in the image as herself. After that, the images were much darker, showing the boy training to be a Sith, followed by images of him travelling the galaxy, and killing her friends. The images faded to darkness as a voice filled her head, a low, menacing hiss "I'm coming for you, little sister."

Then she heard Tarro's voice, cutting through the fog of confusion in her head. "Holly? Holly, are you alright?" That was when she passed out on the table.

When Holly awoke, the first thing she saw was Tarro gazing down at her, looking deeply worried. She tried to sit up, ignoring the pain in her head, but the way Tarro looked at her in that moment caused her to stop trying to get up. "Don't." he whispered, leaning forwards slightly to stroke her face. "Lie still Holly. You've given everyone the shock of their lives."

"Even Mesh'la?" Holly's voice, although weaker than normal, was incredulous and amused at the same time. Tarro nodded seriously. "Even her."

"That I don't believe. She's probably in there, planning to use this to over throw me somehow." Holly muttered, half joking, half serious. "Don't worry about her just now Holly. No, don't ask me to help you get back down to the meeting room, because you're not going anywhere until you've rested properly. I can tell you're exhausted. No wonder you passed out, my poor little Holly." Holly scowled as Tarro spoke. She did not want to stay in the medical bay. She didn't wanted to go back to the meeting and argue with Mesh'la Kryze, but she certainly preferred that idea to staying where she was. "This is ridiculous. I can't stay here! I've got things to do. Important things. That paperwork ain't going to do itself." Holly announced.

"Let me guess, I can't stop you from going, whatever I do.... however hard I try?" Tarro sighed, but Holly noticed he was smiling all the same. "Nope. Nothing." She replied with a slight smile. "But, you are coming with me."

"I must be insane." Tarro said quietly, but not quietly enough to escape Holly's hearing.

"Probable. Sane people avoid me." Holly tried to stand as she spoke, ignoring the fact that the room seemed to be spinning. "Now come on, we have to go and find out what's going on down there!"

In the meeting room, a fight was developing. "She's not strong enough to be our leader anymore!" Mesh'la Kryze told the other people in the room, as she spoke, she glanced round, trying to take in people's reactions to her words. She was treading a dangerous line and she knew it, speaking out against Holly was a bold move, but it had to be done, before Holly found a way to get rid of her. This was her chance, and she had to take it. "Her leadership is weak, she refuses to see that her policies are ineffective, and she is clearly over-working herself, as the reports that she passed out from exhaustion proves!" A few people nodded. Then Talanna Clara-Talon spoke up. "And what do you plan to do about it?" Mesh'la's eyes narrowed. Talanna was hard to figure out. You never quite knew how she was going to react. But Mesh'la had always wondered if Talanna ever felt over-shadowed by her younger sister. "We need a new leader. A more democratic leader." Mesh'la smirked as Talanna flinched. Talanna was still clearly feeling hurt about the way Holly had held her at blaster point not so long ago. "There's two courses of action open to us: call a vote of no confidence in Holly, or...." Mesh'la leant forwards slightly as she spoke, and lowered her voice a little before continuing "or we have her assassinated, and one of us replaces her." She sat back and smiled at the audience. She heard a noise in the corner, and glanced around to see what the cause of the noise was. "Wait a minute!" the voice speaking came from a Trandoshan who was standing in the corner "Who said we're all on your side?" Mesh'la gave a short, sharp sigh. "You're on the side of the leader who asked you to help her kill her own sister, her niece and her sister-in-law? You'd sooner side with someone who can't see that the tides are against her? Someone who can't see that everyone sees that faults in her policies.... by siding with her you are choosing to be deaf to the people's crys for change! Do you want to be famous as someone who worked with the undemocratic? Do you want to be famous as someone who claimed to help the people but really hurt them?"

"Oh, I'm the corrupt one!? Who's the one who only impliments policies that benefit her interests and line her pockets!?" Everyone in the room jumped at the sound of Holly's voice. She was standing in the doorway, leaning heavily on the door frame, her face pale and tired, but her eyes gleaming black with anger. Instinctively, everyone in the room took a step backwards. "She's right!" Pud Mekk, the Trandoshan who had shouted at Mesh'la spoke up "No one wants you to be our leader, no one wants this to be a pacifist organisation!" Mesh'la rolled her eyes, and turned to the other people in the room.

"Its now or never. If you want change, speak now." her voice was calm, but she didn't fool Holly. "Raise your hand if you think there should be a leadership election." Mesh'la continued. Holly's grip on the door frame tightened as she watched around ninety percent of the people in the room raise their hands. Mesh'la turned to her, unable to hide the smug look on her face. "Right." Holly snapped "I'm going to make you work for this. You're not getting total control of the alliance if I can help it!"

Mesh'la's smile widened. "I already have control. There is nothing you can do to stop me." Holly thought she heard Tarro growl quietly next to her. "Act like that and no one in their right mind will vote for you." Holly informed Mesh'la, before turning on her heel and walking out of the meeting room with her head held high. Tarro followed her closely, shooting a glare at Mesh'la as he walked past. "You've done it now." someone muttered to Mesh'la "no one challenges Holly. Not if they want to live."

Quotes From And About Holly Talon
""You will be quiet, or you'll be wearing your insides on your front.""

- Holly to a person who was getting on her nerves.

""Believe what you will about me, but I'll tell you now, I am not a merciless killer, I am not what people would like you to believe.""

- Holly, to someone who questioned the rumours about her.

""Whatever they say about her, she's not a trustworthy person. She's a criminal! What is a criminal even doing at all these high class meetings!?""

- An enemy of Holly's, when questioned about their dislike for Holly.

""She may go down fast, but she comes back even quicker.""

- A quote from an unknown source, about Holly.

""I'm not a risk taker, I'm the risk that they take. In trusting me or fighting me, both are dangerous options. Both could get anyone killed. Its a wonder I'm still alive myself.""

- Holly to her sister Talanna.