No. I am your father!
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Major spoilers for all parts of Eyes of the Empire
I don't think you get this. The Empire cannot change. I saw what they did to Lothal
—Evalyin Merkendo to Novarn Ikonis
Evalyin "Ev" Merkendo was a Human Female who worked for the Coruscant Holonet News Network. Despite seemily being content with the Galactic Empire, Evalyin secretly despised it, after she saw the affect its reign had on Lothal. During her time with the CHN Network, she worked with Dematri Durant's News Team.
Biography[]
Evalyin Merkendo was born on the planet Lothal. She grew up as the daughter of Marian Merkendo , a famous Holonet star from Lothal, but Evalyin soon saw her mother rarely spent time with her of her father, as she was too busy living a life of fame to even mention her homeworld was as insignificant as Lothal. only a few years after Evalyin was born, the Galactic Empire was founded. Evalyin knew her mother didn't care about the Empire, and she encouraged Evalyin to do the same.
A year later, the Empire came to Lothal. Evalyin's father was away on a mining expedition when they came. He was evicted from the mines, and tried to contact Evalyin's mother, to no avail. He was arrested by Stormtroopers and taken away. Evalyin called her mother for help, but she didn't, nor wouldn't care. At the age of twelve, Evalyin learned her father had died in imperial prison. Her mother, for all her lack of care, never recovered. She staged a riot, hoping to hit back, and wanted Evalyin to join her. During the riot, a shot was fired, and the shootout in Lothals streets led to Marians death. This led Evalyin to leave Lothal, and join the Coruscant Holonet News Network on the city world of Coruscant.
In 11 BBY, Evalyin was editing the live broadcast of Senator of Kuat Terssa Norvinia and Dematri Durants interview. Following the interview and the senators departure, Dematri made his way over to her to watch her work the last few seconds as the live broadcast wrapped up. When Durant asked her if she had kept the records of the saver burning, Evalyin said she had. When Dematri's rival, Alton Kastle arrived, to mock their broadcast, Evalyin quipped that at least they made authentic work, which outraged Kastle. Evalyin then asked CHN-X4 to see Kastle out before she's lost it and attacked him for his insults about her homeworld of Lothal. After Kastle left, Novarn Ikonis advised her not to let Kastles words affect her. When Novarn reminded her that their work was authentic, Evaylin douted even their work really was, as they had to make lies about many aliens, some Jedi, some not. She then left, leaving Dematri to his thoughts on the subject.
Later, she was called outside along with the other CHN workers, where they saw the local Stormtroopers kill a pair of rebbeling Duros. Following the shooting, Evalyin spoke to Durant again, telling him that the events proved an anti alien Empire did exist, and they were not supposed to know. Novarn offered the possibility of telling the Galaxy, so the empire could change. Angered by his short sighted option, Evalyin remarked that the Empire would never change, before leaving.
Mission To Kessel[]
In 11 BBY, Evalyin and the rest of the team were given a mission to film on the planet Kessel. After growing tired of Novarn, Merkendo boarded the SS-54 assault ship, Eclipse. They then left for Kessel. When they arrived, they were greeted by Eberna Tukay, Imperial Officer Roan Haddock, and Captain Riggo.