<br>

It's all been done
There's no where left to hide
There's no where left to run
And I, I'm a liar just like you and that's ok
I'm guilty just like everyone today
I seem so empty
My endless longing goes on
I'm living like I'm lost these days

[Excerpt from Of Failings and Regrets, President Denton Sutler]

Elysion; Four Years Ago


The whole room was swirling with opinions. President Sutler found himself drowning in the reports of Vong emissaries, armies, and Imperial spies.

He was at a loss for words really, since the election for his third term last year he'd faced nothing, but endless war and desperate attempts to bring unity to his divided people. The Capitol Senate was growing impatient and the Admirals we're pushing an agenda that could very-well lead to the destruction of the Alliance of United Systems.

To make matters worse, Rafe's most trusted advisor, former president -- and just before his death -- Commander-General of Starfleet (the Alliance's armed services branch) and uncle died of an assassination attempt on Sutler gone wrong. It was a major blow, sadly when pushed into the corner President Sutler leaned on his uncle for help. Sutler stepped back from the live-action Holoviewer giving him updates on the battle over Persephone, he was desperate for a cigarette. Taking one from a thin case in his pocket he brought it to his lips and prepared to light it.

"Sir?! I don't think now is the time for a cigarette break!" The New Commander-General Tyrol Disra shouted across the room.

"I need a moment to think Commander, calm yourself." Sutler answered coolly.

Rafe took a seat behind his desk, which was a few steps away from the tactical display unit which was were the rest of the room had crowded. Since military personnel and advisors were the only ones present, it made sense that during a time as this they would be crowded there.

As Sutler inhaled a good puff through the filter he enjoyed the vapors for a moment before Admiral Coolidge floated over to him.

He was Uncle Nolan's best friend and was once Commander-General too.

"I think you should recall the fleet sir. There is no shame in defeat." He said.

With a deep sigh, Rafe rubbed out his half-smoked cigarette and stood up from his minute long break.

"I know Brom, but if we loose Persephone, the Capitals will declare a state of Civil War and we will be at the mercy of the Empire or this Coalition. We are too weak now to fight each other; I need to crush the Aggressors Union now. Once and for all. My uncle knew it and I know it too." Sutler rebutted in a raspy, almost whisper of a voice.

It was the price for smoking cigarettes for the better part of fifty-years.

"Commander Disra, I want you to order the Elsyion fleet to Persephone to engage the Aggressors Union."

"Sir.. that would leave us almost defenseless, if we've under-estimated their forces they could destroy Elysion and possibly take you captive or kill you in the attempt." Advisor Frank Creedy voiced.

"The core of the defense fleet will still be behind on Elysion while the Admirality and I are going to board the Elysion fleet. Commander Disra will remain behind with the Capitals and provide live updates. Since you are the successor to my position, in light of my uncle's death and the attempt on my life we are never to be in the same room together ever again. Do you understand me Commander?"

"Yes, sir. But I want my objections noted."

"So they are." Sutler replied.



Many hours later; above Persephone


The Neverending was holding out. President Sutler's flagship was accompanied by a few light cruisers and what was left of the once proud battleship the Pegasus were managing to push back the Aggressors Union.

Their leader Mattem Carr was fighting to the very last man.

Rebels, workers, dissident soldiers, and pilots, a few politicians, they had them all. Civilians were aboard Mattem's fresh destroyer, what he modestly named Carr's Revival.

"Order the fleet to concentrate fire on the Revival Admiral." Sutler commanded reluctantly.

Their was a gasp of emotion from Admiral Coolidge and Admiral Suli'ban.

"Mister President their are civilians aboard the Revival, thousands. If you attack that ship directly you'll kill them all." Suli'ban said.

"I know, Admiral. But Mattem has left me with no choice." Rafe returned.

"You can't do this! If you order that, you'll killing innocent people! Citizens of your commonwealth, sir." Coolidge replied.

"You don't think I know that! THEY FUCKING CHOSE THIS. I will not let Mattem Carr hide behind these people! And to prevent these colonies from total civil war I am preparing to end this right here and now! FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE!" Sutler erupted.

"For the good of the people or for the Alliance?" Coolidge spat.

Sutler gave him a look of disappointment. "I wouldn't have thought you would see my like my father, Brom."

"I don't, sir. But killing civilians isn't the way to solve this." Coolidge answered with a soft voice.

Having pulled Rafe aside to voice his objections, Admiral Coolidge was almost whispering into the President's ear.

Sutler winced and rubbed his eyes trying to get rid of his throbbing headache and make the decision all at once.

"I know... I know Brom.. but they are leaving me without a choice. They sided with Mattem Carr, attempted to kill me, but instead killed the most important man in Alliance history and are trying to single handedly destroy the Alliance." Sutler for the first time was speaking objectively.

Normally he was using his emotion to guide his decisions.

"You think they'll stop with Persephone Brom?" Creedy said. "Mattem Carr is a like a disease, he will spread his lies and swallow our entire Alliance. Everything the Founders worked so hard for."

Brom shook his head in objection and walked away as if protesting.

There was silence for several moments. Everyone uncomfortably shifted and moved, and finally President Sutler gave the order.


"Captain order the fleet to fire on Carr's Revival."

"Maker have mercy on our souls." Coolidge whispered.

The Neverending moved alongside the left of the Revival and along the other side another cruiser in the Elysion fleet. The turbolasers came alive fire into the shields. After a few moments they tore into aft and port of the Revival; it was not a ship of war. From there explosions took hold of the ship.

It bucked and ruptured.

Sutler could hear what he grimly imagined the screams of the civilians would sound like inside his head. The Ghosts of Persephone.


"Cease fire.."

Sutler grimaced.

22 Years Before Now [Present Time: 9 N.I.E , 45 I.E, 25 ABY]



"Nolan don't argue with me." President Denton Sutler spat.

"Brother, I'm trying to help you. Do you realize what your talking about doing? If you attack Persephone you'll be met with resistance on all fronts." Commander-in-Chief Nolan Sutler warned.

Denton gave him a cigarette as he lit one himself. "Don't worry about resistance Nolan. I'm not stupid enough to just attack without any reason, I'll pull Persephone into the Alliance with more tact than that. I've been making a few backdoor deals with Mattem Carr of the Labor Unions of Sagittarion and Persephone. I've been telling him that if he helps me by using his Union to attack Persephone then I'll meet his demands."

"Attack with what?" Nolan asked, hoping he wouldn't hear the answer.

"Some hit and run tactics is really all I'm looking for. A few suicide bombers and some random attacks on housing and businesses. That way I can use the unstable nature of Persephone as a catalyst. When civil defenses breakdown I will diplomatically or forcefully take control and claim it was for the better." Denton smirked.

From the corner Secretary of State Rafe Sutler had a mouth agape at his own father.

"What are you thinking?" Rafe asked, his voice lined with condemnation. "You are willing to cause the deaths of hundreds maybe more just to pull Persephone into you clutch? What's next? Scorpio IV? Cerberus? Do you plan to pull the entire cluster into the Alliance?"

"Maybe. I am trying to create an empire, with Emperor Palpatine dead control of our people has been broken. Now our durasteel production is ours to profit from. We can build our own warships and in this confusion I can carve out the Alliance of United Systems."

Denton nodded, affirming his plans.

"The Alliance of United Systems? Elysion wasn't enough. I was with you when you took control of the Elysion Capitol Senate and managed to vote the President out of office so you could assume the Presidency, but this is too much. Your talking about deception, political murder, and maybe war." Nolan said.

"What would you rather have; my plan to pull these systems together or when I'm dead and gone and the reserves of durasteel on Elysion are dried up for our over-usage a war that could kill millions?"

"Reserves?" Rafe questioned.

"Yes, reserves! You think I've passed alternative export laws for my health Rafe? Elysion has little to no ore left, we've mined every speck. Do you two honestly think for one second that once we're out that the government will be able to function without a prime export?" Denton was beginning to make sense. "Don't you see it? IF, I can unite these systems together then we will become dependant upon each other and we won't ever have another civil war."

"I.. I just don't.. I don't know, dad." Rafe stuttered.

He was still fresh in the political arena. The young Secretary of State looked to his uncle for guidance. The man's side blue eyes told everything. Denton -- Rafe's father, Nolan's younger brother -- was right.

"All right, I'll agree to this as long as once we've united the sector we begin working toward strengthening the colonies and rebuilding any damage we've created immeadiatley." Nolan conceded.

"Of course brother." Denton assured.

"You can both rest easy, my plans are for a better tomorrow."

Rafe's father always had a way with words. But still even now after being politically assured his stomach was burning and made him sick. He knew it was wrong what Denton was doing, but was it that wrong? I mean it was for a better purpose.

"In five years time we will be toasting a new Alliance." Denton smiled as if he'd already accomplished his grand plan.

Rafe escaped to the bathroom and vomited.

He mumbled under his breath. "What am I doing?"


19 Years Before Present Time


"Denton Reagan Sutler you have stood trial for war crimes and crimes against the Alliance of United Systems for eighteen weeks now." The judge read aloud.

Rafe and Nolan watched from afar with eyes of guilt and disappointment. Rafe couldn't stand to even look at his father.

"The charges are as follows: conspiring with the Aggressors Union leader Mattem Carr, the assassination of the Prime Minister of Scorpio IV, the xenocide of the tribal nations of the sovereign world of Tartarus..."

The judges words faded as Rafe's eyes welled with tears. His own father was responsible for these devious things. And worst of all he'd agreed to it.

He looked down at the book in his hands. Of Failings and Regrets by Denton Sutler. The book had made him look like a martyr to his people, but the truth was he was a monster concerned only with increasing his own wealth and power.

But yet the book had sold more copies than any other in Elysion's history. He was a pawn in Carr's game it claimed. But Rafe knew the truth. He was there when Denton laid out his plan. Not that it would have mattered. If anything it would have helped his father escape justice.

"A council of your peers finds you guilty on all accounts. You are sentenced to life imprisonment."

There was an uproar. Several people close to Rafe we're happy and celebrating, but the reaction was mostly outrage. Rafe recognized half of the astonished witnesses as Elysions, people Rafe had gone to school with, people that had supported his family's political rise from the beginning. One of them was Nolan's son, Rafe's cousin; Horace. He was part of a movement to get Nolan elected, he believed in the Sutler name. He'd often said that the Sutler's had done more for Elysion than any other persons in it's history.

Rafe laughed at the sentiment now. He used to stand behind it.

"We need to go Rafe." Nolan said.

"He knew." Rafe replied without getting up.

Turning around and taking a step backward Nolan gave his nephew an odd look. "Knew what?"

"He knew he was going to be sitting here, facing the judges." Rafe pulled a slip of paper from under the cover of the book.

Unfolding it he handed it to Nolan.

"A year ago he signed an executive order to abolish the death penalty. He knew he was going to end up here."

"Maybe."

Rafe was almost ready to vomit.

"Did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Did you know?"

"Did I know what Rafe? That he passed this order?"

"Don't place games with me uncle." Rafe was looking at Nolan now. He was ahead in the election for President. His victory was almost sealed and Rafe had to know if he would repeat Denton's atrocities.

"Did I know he would do what he did when we made that deal? No." Nolan sat down. "Had I known I would have stopped him myself; I'm don't know how, but I would have. Of that much I'm sure."


Rafe took in a deep breath, letting his head hang down. He took a few more deep breaths.

"Let's go." He said standing up.


Elysion; Present Time


President Sutler woke up and rushed into the bathroom, he slipped on the tile floor and despite a now throbbing knee leaned over the lavatory and vomited.

The images of his father at his trial flashed back to him. His smirk as the verdict was read. Even against Denton's favor he kept a sadistic grin on his face as if he'd won.


Memories of Persephone haunted the now old man. His greying white and black hair was slicked back by Rafe' hand as it slide through, shaking as it went.

Coolidge was right. He'd made a mistake at Persephone. And for four years, two weeks, and one day he'd been constantly reminded of his folly. The man he'd helped rise to power twenty-two years ago had forced him into a corner. And he'd killed innocent people. Just like his father.

The President stumbled back to his bed. Sitting on the edge he opened a drawer to his nightstand and opened a worn copy of Of Failings and Regrets.

He turned the light on and leaned back against the headboard.

<br>



Present


Mattem Carr. He was a powerful man, had loyal followers, was a brilliant tactician (better than Rafe and his staff), and was tougher than nails.

He crashed into the surface of Persephone and was forgotten four years ago.

He made a greater impact than anyone gives him credit and despite unknowingly being a pawn in a desperate attempt to sieze control of the sector; believed whole-heartily in his cause.

But that's what made Matt so dangerous. His qualities were threatening.

And he wanted totally anarchy in the Alliance. He wanted it's destruction. That's why when pushed into the corner he forced Rafe to use brute force against civilians. That's while Matt ordered civilians loyal to him to be rounded up and placed on the Carr's Revival, he wanted to use them as a shield.

And now with him dead their his a void and a ghost. The Aggressors Union was pleading to have their voices heard.

The Maker knows for what reason. Rafe thought to himself.

And to make matters worse protestors continually reminded Rafe of his folly. Carr's own brother was currently locked away after he shot President Sutler eight times. Rafe narrowly escaped death.

The wreckage of the battle of Persephone still floated around Persephone like a graveyard. It was fitting since the barren world had been home to so much death even before the battle between the Alliance of United Systems and the Aggressors Union.

Not to mention the deaths from countless miners, the planet was a site of numerous ancients battles as the tribes of Persephone fought over control of the very same mines.

Inside his office, totally alone for the first time in several days Rafe remembered the day perfectly. The screams his mind concocted still shouted for their lives inside his head every time he heard the name Mattem Carr or Persephone. It was impossible to escape between his own guilt and the protestors that wanted him dead for it. Claiming he was his father's son.

Looking at the the tenth book of his father's memoirs and collected writings entitled I Just Laugh Rafe couldn't help, but be enraged. So angry that his father knew him all too well.

At the same time he felt the scars from the blaster fire that hailed upon his body.

Never having been a soldier like his father and uncle, Rafe didn't know how to react when a man broke through security and fired on him as he was tackled to the ground. Stunned and sacred witless he felt each stinging jab in his torso as his flesh was rendered a useless defense. His face contorted not from the pain at first, but from the sound and sights. The auditory searing of flesh and the flashes and burnt skin managed to have an similar effect of imprinting the image into his brain. As he lay there expecting to die he heard the shout of a truly agrieved man. Mattem's cousin, best friend, and little-brother figure shouted through the tears. Desperation and anger had gotten through the depression and Carr's cousin was pushed over the edge. In his grief he found an outlet for all his emotion and that was the murder of his cousin's murderer.

And eye for an eye. Rafe said to himself quietly.

Coolidge entered. He walked briskly, upright, and with a mildly serious facade.

Inside he was as dead as his uncle. His two best mates gone from his life (one dead and one imprisoned) and now his prodigy feeling more lost than anyone he was hollow.

And being that prodigy Rafe saw through him as if he were transparent. Just as the President imagined Coolidge saw through him.

"Sir, Intel has gathered some critical new information and has requested our presence immediately." Brom always had a unique way of being formal at all times.

Commander-General Coolidge pivoted on his foot as if he were to walk out directly afterwards, but he noticed Rafe hadn't even been phased. Brom turned back around and took a seat across from the President's desk.

"Am I like him?" Rafe asked reluctantly.

President Sutler didn't even look up from his empty stare downwards toward the edge of his desk. His hands didn't move from it's position touching a fleshy scar beneath his clothing. Only his mouth moved. Coolidge was convinced he didn't even blink.

"Your uncle? Of course you are. In every way." Coolidge answered assuredly.

Rafe looked up this time, his lips quivering as his childhood stutter attempted to return. The President-elect conquered it and spoke steadily despite the tide of sadness.

"Am I like my father Brom? You knew Persephone was wrong, you knew it, and I wouldn't listen."


"You are nothin' like him. He is a monster."

"Thirteen thousand, four hundred, and sixty-seven." Sutler countered.

"What?"

"Including Mattem Carr that's how many people's death warrants I signed when I ordered the Neverending to fire on Carr's flagship." Rafe swallowed hard. His mouth was bone dry and his eyes were ready to burst, but the President again refused. " You begged me to rescind the order, but for the good of the Alliance I ordered them to fire anyway."

"Your not a monster."

Rafe laughed. "I'm not a monster." He repeated coyly.


"I knew what Denton was going to do."

"What?" Coolidge asked baffled.

"He wanted permission from offices in his cabinet, before he went ahead with his plans." Rafe scoffed. "And from his family."

"Did you know he planned to kill the Scorpio IV Prime Minister? Did he tell you his plans for xenocide?"

"Does it matter?"

"YES! GOD DAMNIT! It very well does matter!"


Rafe was silent for a few moments. No one, but the three of them ever spoke a word about it. Despite being on trial, despite rotting in some prison cell Denton never utter a single confession about Rafe and his uncle.

"No, I didn't."

"Then you've made a mistake, it makes you sentient, not a monster." Brom answered, catching his temper.

He turned around to leave again and just before he reached the door Rafe spoke again.

"Nolan knew."

Brom stopped dead in his steps.

"Don't."

"I was there--"

Brom turned around quicker than Rafe could get the next word out.

"Shut up." He commanded.

Brom and Nolan were as close as brothers. They had gone to the academy together and had served together. Saved one another's lives too. Brom held such respect for Nolan that he had a statue erected his his friend's honor after his assassination.

"You need to know."

"Shut your fucking mouth!" Brom was infuriated now.

Rafe stopped speaking. It wasn't he intention.

Brom almost stomped back to Rafe's desk.

"Nolan Sutler was a patriot and a saint. He regretted everyday after betraying his own flesh and blood, and felt endless guilt over his failure. Nolan is a hero and you will show him the respect he deserves." Brom rebuffed.

"I'm sorry." Rafe admitted.


Brom was at the door before he responded.

"I know."


Situation Room on Elysion a few minutes later


"He's dead." Rafe stated. "I gave that haunting order myself, I saw that ship fall to pieces."

The twi'lek head of military intelligence Vecka'dora nodded.

"I know sir."

He pulled a few pictures from his folder and laid them out before the Admiralty, Brom, and Rafe. Displaying the image of Mattem Carr, Rafe felt sick again. A patch covering a scarred left eye, a worn face, and shaggy long white hair Rafe could still recognize the face that had led him to so many nightmares and endless nights. He shoved the pictures out from in front of him.

Rafe stepped away and paced back and forth.


"HE'S DEAD! GOD DAMNIT HE'S FUCKING DEAD!" Rafe's outburst caught the entire room off guard and silence took place of his screams when he finished.

Hand locked behind his head as he tried physical means to express his frustration, he stepped further and further back from the display table.


There was silence for a long time. The Admirals and Veck just stared in shock. Brom was hunched over the display table with eyes closed.

Coolidge knew Rafe's pain.

From nearly across the room President Sutler's usual, calm and raspy voice broke the hush.
"Suli'ban."

The humanoid commander perked up.

"I want you to assign two of your best agents to kill Mattem Carr."



"Once and for all."

Somewhere on Scorpio IV, 24 years ago



Smoked poured from the mouth of Suli'ban, a trusted associate of Denton Sutler. The smell was intoxicating, tasteless, and dry the spice inside his cigarette wasn't worth the paper it was wrapped in. He threw it down and stomped it out.

From behind him in the darkness a man stepped from a speeder, dressed in an expensive suit clearly distinguishing of his title of Senator. He walked up casually, Suli'ban facing completely the other way needed not to look nor listen to whom was approaching. They both were the only two that knew of this meeting on the hellish world of Scorpio IV. The snow was falling heavy like it always did on Scorpio.

It stuck to the senator's suit and to Suli'ban's.

The senator was none other than Denton Sutler, a man who's future was slowly being consolidated by his brilliant strategic planning.

"So what exactly do you want with some labourer, sir?" Suli'ban asked.

Denton shifted slightly, crossing his arms as they waited.

"Believe it or not, this labourer is going to play one of the most important parts in our sector's history." Denton answered.

Suli'ban chuckled in disblief. He was of course a skeptic, which was a good thing for the sort of work he did.

The alleyway was barely lit by any lights, so their faces were safely covered from view as two clear silhouttes formed in the distance. From the waste up, their was almost no light available to view except for in the far distance, in the direction Denton and Sorn were facing.

"You laugh now, but you won't be in a few years."

Suli'ban's smile quickly disappeared. Denton was focusing intently on the coming figures. The two silhouttes were shaped differently now, as if something hung in between them.

"So you're sure he's the one?" Denton asked Suli'ban.

"Yep, no family, no pilot's liscence, and no friends to speak of. This one enjoys his privacy. The landlord of his flat only saw him once, when he signed the lease." Suli'ban answered.

"Good."

The silhouettes came into focus now, it was a pair of two large human men, carrying another man between the two of them. The man was writhing and squirming, vigorously trying to get free. The two men dropped him from their holding position and he hit the fresh snow hard, with a thump and an audible grunt. He continued to move about, but bound and his face covered he didn't get but a few inches back and forth on the ground.

Denton looked at him tired up for a few moments before he nodded and the large thugs, stood the man up on his knees and yanked the cover off his head. He had a gagged in his mouth so Denton didn't have to worry with his shouting.

"Now, I am going to be quick about this so we can get back to what we we're going." Denton said lowering himself to the bound man's level before asking, "Do you know who I am?"

Muffles that sound like curses rather than a simple yes came from the man as he tried to wiggle himself free, disregarding Denton.

Denton stood to his full height and nodded to one of the thugs. The thugs kicked the bound man hard in the back, slamming his against the duracrete ground and grabbed a handful of his long black hair and pulled him back to his knees.

Denton squatted back down. The man's nose was bleeding now.

"Now we'll try this again. Do you know who I am?" Denton asked once more.

A single muffle came this time.

"Blink once for yes and twice for no." Denton said.

The man blunk once.

"Good." Denton said with a slight smirk.

"Now, are you Mattem Carr?"

The man blunk once.

"Do you work on Peresephone?"

The blunk once.

"Good." Denton said standing at his full height again.

He nodded to Suli'ban and began walking away, Mattem looking through large blue eyes as Suli'ban placed a hold-out blaster to Mattem's forehead. His screams were muffled like the noise of the blaster, the weapon barely making a noise as Denton stepped back into the warmth of the speeder waiting for him. One of the thugs grabbed the body and walked with Suli'ban the other way, while the other got into the driver's seat of the speeder.


The Present, Office of President Rafe Sutler


"The Alliance of United Systems was covered in differing emotions and debate today as shamed ex-President and founder of the Alliance died tragically from heart failure in his cell." The HoloNet reporter confirmed.

Rafe shut the holoviewer off as she went on about Denton and his trial. The President looked down at his copy of his dead father's book Of Failings and Regrets. It was so completely worn now. His father had written the book during the last year of his Presidency and his time on trial. Rafe had memorized it he'd read it so many times. The President still wasn't sure why he'd read it so many times, maybe he hoped he wouldn't become the Author if he'd read the mistakes the Author had made and committed them to memory.

Brom Coolidge entered.

"Did you hear?" Brom asked his former prodigy.

"Yes, earlier this morning." Rafe admitted.

Brom had a hint of sadness in his eyes, Rafe could see it. The President only hoped his mentor didn't see the look of relief in his own. Rafe felt sick that he was so overjoyed by his father's death and overcome by the grief of it all at the sametime. He only wished that it was some dream, some sort of sick nightmare and that he would wake up at some point, but he never did. The nightmare he hoped he was having was his real life.

"I'm sorry." Brom said.

Coolidge exited the office and Rafe was alone again with his copy of Of Failings and Regrets.



"I'm not."