First ‘The High Republic: Cataclysm’ Excerpt Reunites Axel Greylark and Gella Nattai
The final batch of novels from Phase 2 of the High Republic publishing initiative is right around the corner. Lydia Kang’s Cataclysm releases on April 4, following the events of The Battle of Jedha. The novel also continues the story of Axel Greylark and Jedi Gella Nattai, two individuals who had a tense relationship in Convergence.
The later novel left Axel in prison with his ties to the Path of the Open Hand exposed. The former left the war between Eiram and E’ronoh reignited and the Path front and center as the possible culprits behind all the conspiracies beginning to engulf the galaxy. Now, Cataclysm begins tying everything together as Phase 2 approaches its conclusion.
Entertainment Weekly has released the first excerpt of the novel, seeing Gella confront an imprisoned Axel. In case you missed it, here is the official synopsis for Cataclysm to better contextualize where we are at:
After five years of conflict, the planets Eiram and E’ronoh are on the cusp of real peace. But when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha, violence reignites on the beleaguered worlds. Together, the royal heirs of both planets—Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran—working alongside the Jedi, have uncovered evidence that the conflict is being orchestrated by outside forces, and all signs point to the mysterious Path of the Open Hand, whom the Jedi also suspect of causing the disaster on Jedha.
With time—and answers—in short supply, the Jedi must divide their focus between helping quell the renewed violence on Eiram and E’ronoh and investigating the Path. Among them is Gella Nattai, who turns to the one person she believes can unravel the mystery but the last person she wants to trust: Axel Greylark. The chancellor’s son, imprisoned for his crimes, has always sought to unburden himself of the weight of his family name. Will he reconcile with the Jedi and aid in their quest for justice and peace, or embrace the Path’s promise of true freedom?
As all roads lead to Dalna, Gella and her allies prepare to take on a foe unlike any they’ve ever faced. And it will take all of their trust in the Force, and in one another, to survive.
Axel is on the cover for the novel, signaling he will be crucial to everything that is about to happen on Dalna. Here is a piece of the excerpt:
“Inmate AG-07. Transferred from prison barge CA73Z two weeks ago. Here we are.” The guard stepped back so they could speak with relative privacy.
Inside, the disgraced Axel Greylark was curled up on the cot. He wore a white jumpsuit like the other prisoners, his dark, wavy hair longer and mussed, as if he’d just woken up. Gella had imagined speaking to him a thousand times since she’d last seen him on Eiram. Gella curled a fist, but instead of pounding the wall like she’d imagined, she could only bring herself to tap gently on the clear barrier between them. Orin glanced at her, his face showing the tiniest bit of worry.
Axel rolled over. When he saw Gella, he jerked to attention, draping his legs over the side of the cot. He was thinner and paler, with shadowed and hollow eyes. An expression of confusion settled on his features.
“Gella! What are you doing here?” he asked. He had eyes for nothing but her; he didn’t even seem to notice Orin standing at her side.
Gella’s head throbbed mildly. She told herself to stay clearheaded, but the ache was distracting. She took a moment to reach out with the Force, to steady herself. But it was more difficult than usual.
“We’re here to ask questions,” Gella said, trying to ignore the pain. “About Jedha.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “What—how did you get here? What have you been doing?” Axel looked suspiciously at Orin, finally noticing him. Axel’s whole posture changed slightly, like when darkness descends imperceptibly just after a sun sets. He crossed his arms. “So, what about Jedha?” he said.
“Before that, mate. Why are you looking so knackered?” Orin asked.
“What?” Axel said, his face confused.
“You look tired. Or sick. Or both,” Orin added.
“If you care, why don’t you get me transferred off this fuzz-covered planet?” he said, winking.
One of the Pipyyr guards growled at a distance.
“Insulting the guards?” Orin said. He motioned to Gella. “Maybe he’s not as clever as you think.”
“You called me clever, Gella?” Axel’s eyebrows went up. “I’ll take it.” But his hand went to his stomach, and he suddenly paled, despite his repartee.
She stepped closer to the partition, studying him. There were several emotions arising from Axel. Relief, distrust, and now . . . discomfort. And he wasn’t controlling them well. This was all genuine. “You aren’t well,” Gella said. “What’s going on?”
“It’s the atmospheric pressure.” He rubbed his head. “Feels like my brain is being squeezed all the time, and I can’t keep food down. It’s worse when they let us walk outside in the upper courtyard, so I just don’t leave my cell.”
“Don’t they have medicine or something for that?” Gella shouldn’t care, but the words left her before she could think about it. Maybe it was her own blossoming headache that made her think less clearly.
“They do. It helps a little, but I’m more sensitive than most to the pressure, I guess. Maybe growing up on some of those high levels on Coruscant with those altitudes. I don’t know.”
It was disconcerting to see him look so unwell, and Gella knew she was being more sympathetic than she should. They’d passed by several other inmates, and none of them seemed nearly as sick.
“Look, I’m fine. I get boring food, lots of rest, and far too much time to think. Definitely no Chandrilan linen sheets or shimmersilk pajamas here. But you didn’t visit Pipyyr’s finest high-security prison on the edge of nowhere to ask if I liked the bedding and entrée options. What happened on Jedha?”
Gella studied him, staying silent. She sensed his emotions—the queasiness, the pain, the wondering. He really seemed to not know.
“The peace talks on Jedha failed. There was a battle, with a lot of casualties. Jedha City is a mess. We think the Herald of the Path of the Open Hand started a riot, and things got out of control. Something, or someone, was hurting Force-users. Something powerful.” Gella stepped closer to the partition. “You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?”
“No.” Axel stood up. He looked down at Gella. “I didn’t. I swear.”
“What else is going to happen? After everything—you have to tell us.”
“I’m not a member of the Path of the Open Hand,” Axel said, shrugging.
“But you worked for them. Is the Herald their leader?” Orin asked.
Axel hesitated. He knew something.
“Spill it,” Gella said firmly. She was getting irritated. If only this headache would distract her.
“He holds a lot of power, but the Mother leads them,” Axel said, his hands hanging limply, as if tired of the questioning already.
Gella and Orin exchanged glances. She could tell by how he said the words that he didn’t mean Chancellor Greylark.
“The Mother? Who is that?” Orin asked.
“She’s the leader of the Path. She took them from a small religious group on Dalna into something bigger. Much bigger,” Axel said.
Gella watched him carefully. Axel had never said who’d instructed him when he wreaked havoc on Eiram. There had been a woman he’d spoken to, but Gella had never learned her identity. And the way Axel was standing now—slightly hunched and not meeting her eye—spoke volumes.
As always, we recommend heading over to Entertainment Weekly for the full excerpt.
Star Wars: The High Republic – Cataclysm releases on April 4 and comes from Random House Worlds. The novel is available for pre-order now.
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies in general as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he's not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading a comic, listening to an audiobook, or playing a Mario video game for the 1,000th time.
