Lazarus Bright

Lazarus at an Anti-Imperial rally on Chandrilla.

> “The only path forward is through unity and equality.”
>
> Lazarus, during one of his Holonet broadcasts.

## **Biography**

### **Early Life**

Lazarus Bright was born on Coruscant in 23 BBY. He lived in poverty in the underworld for the majority of his early life, he was around criminals, gangs and unsavory types all his life. His mother was a waitress at a local restaurant while his father was a smuggler, barely scraping out a living in the dark depths of Coruscant. His mother always worked very long shifts and his father would be gone for months on end making different smuggling runs, and due to this Lazarus essentially raised himself. He had to learn quick if he was going to survive the neon lit streets of the Underworld.

He began engaging in petty crime to get some extra spending money, usually through street hustles or minor theft. However he began to learn that he had another skill that would prove much more fruitful to himself. He had a knack for using his charisma and smooth talking to get him out of jams, and thus began to hone these skills into a more powerful weapon. He became a minor con artist, tricking people into believing something that would be of benefit to Lazarus. However, he wished for more meaning in his life, feeling that he had no real purpose. He looked to his community around him, how they were all stuck in this dark corner of the planet, barely living, while the rich elites lived up top in their giant skyscrapers. He placed the blame for this on the Imperial Elites and had found his new purpose.

### **Early Anti-Imperial Activities**

In his teenage years, Lazarus began to associate with other Underworld kids that shared his Anti-Imperial cause. They called themselves "The Neon Gang" after the neon signs that were the only source of light in the Underworld. They used various tactics against Imperial personnel, including Graffiti Tagging buildings with Anti-Imperial slogans and images along with destroying any propaganda they found and even assaulting some members of the local Imperial Garrison. Their knowledge of the Underworld and their quick thinking allowed them to evade capture after engaging in the activities, but when caught, Lazarus always found a way to lie or deceive the Imperial Authorities, putting his charisma to use against them. His skills as an orator would also be sharpened during these early years, as he frequently went on long rants about the economic and political situation in the Underworld and the exploitation of the people for the gain of the Elites which captivated members of his gang. He soon began speaking at local meeting of Anti-Imperial organizations and was known for his fiery speeches delivered to the awe of many. It was following these events that a technically savvy member of The Neon Gang approached Lazarus with an idea. His own Holonet Show.

### **Beginning of Brightside**

This friend began to set up the Holonet Show, bypassing the Imperial sensors and basically setting up their own Pirate Station on the Holowaves. Lazarus began to work on what the show would be about. He decided to make it not only about standing up to the Empire, but also to addressing the situations many of the lower class and oppressed people of the galaxy. His show would not only be News, but also political commentary. As they were beginning to set this all up, The Galaxy broke out into civil war, with bands of rebels beginning to fight back against the Empire. Lazarus quickly decided that this war, and supporting the Rebel cause would become a focal point of his show. He came up with the name "Brighside" for his show, a play on his name and on the dawning of a new galaxy. They began to broadcast from the Underworld and the show became a hit with the disillusioned lower class of the Underworld and Bright became a minor celebrity in the area. Eventually his friend was able to hijack different broadcasting satellites which allowed the show to be broadcast across the Holonet around the galaxy. His stance on minority rights, equality and revolution against tyranny made him a popular figure among oppressed races and beings throughout the galaxy.

### **Rise to Fame**

This now found status was not all sunshine and rainbows. He was quickly on the radar of Imperial Authorities who, while unable to shut down the Holonet show, were hellbent on finding and arresting Lazarus. He was forced to flee Coruscant, packing his equipment onto his own personal ship, known as "The Truth". From his ship he continued his broadcasts and even began to come into contact with different Rebel groups and traveled to various points of conflict to do on the ground reporting. This gained him many key contacts within the Rebel Alliance and his show was quickly one of the most listened to programs by fighters of the Rebel Alliance. This greatly boosted his credibility in the eyes of the Rebel Leadership, who eventually reached out to him with an offer of an officially sanctioned propaganda piece. He accepted and traveled to the Rebel Base on Yarvan 4 to do an interview with a former Imperial Officer who defected.

This interview was widely distributed by the Rebel Alliance, not only to it's own soldiers but to Imperial Units as well. The interview was dropped on and broadcasted to different Imperial Garrisons throughout the galaxy to convince them to also defect and in some cases this did succeed. The popularity of this interview skyrocketed the fame of both Lazarus and of his show. His credibility was at an all time high, with some even dubbing him the "Voice of The Common Rebel" or even going as far to declare him the "Voice of the Rebellion." This new status brought him fame that once was thought to be impossible. His popularity among the common soldiers and oppressed peoples gave him a very large listener base to espouse his views too.

### **The New Tomorrow**

The ever ambitious Lazarus began to set his sights on something larger than himself. He wanted to stop just talking about the changes he wanted to see done, but actually move into a position to make those decisions. Following the Battle of Endor he saw his chance. He took the the Holonet once more and on Brightside he informed the soldiers of the great Rebel victory at Endor and also the declaration of a New Republic. The announcement came with the promises of new elections and on Brightside Lazarus announced that he, along with other local leaders, reporters and politicians had formed the "Galactic Peoples Alliance" and would be running for open spots within the new Republican Senate. He deemed that, if elected, they would help lead the Reconstruction Efforts on planets effected by the war and bring a "New Tomorrow" to the galaxy.

In conjunction with this announcement, the content of Brightside began to change slightly. While once it was working in conjunction with Rebel Leadership, it now began to become more critical of the more Pacifist elements of the Rebellion Leadership, specifically the old guard of former Senate members like Mon Mothma. Lazarus has begun to criticize her more and more on the show in a sign that Brightside is beginning to become more than just a Rebellion propaganda outlet.

## **Affiliations**

### **Rebel Alliance**

Since the founding of Brightside, the cause of the Rebellion has been a large portion of Lazarus' image to the masses. He has been steadfast in his support of the Rebellion and the men fighting and dying for the cause in which he deeply believes. He has connections to many leaders and other contacts within the ranks of the Rebellion and is wildly popular with your garden variety rebel soldier. His loyalty runs deep and he will do whatever he can in order to further the cause of the Rebellion.

### **Brightside**

Brightside is the Holonet Show that brought Lazarus to fame. The show itself is described as anti-authoritarian, anti-racist and democratic in nature of content. Without Lazarus, Brightside would not exist, as they are linked together. He has a crew of others helping him on the show, whether it be researchers, audio professionals or people who help maintain and use the specialized equipment needed to put on the show. While originally it was a propaganda show for the Rebellion, it has now become more independent, even critcizing the leaders of the Provisional Government.