The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain arrived at the door to Baras' office that evening as soon as he had returned home from the dig site. It had been a wet day, so after changing his robes into a clean set he took his belongings with him and approached the door of his new Master.

Making himself known he waited to be invited in.

Baras has him shown him and says, “What do you wish to report?”

"I have information on Lord Zash that may be useful." He pulled out his datapad and showed him the clip of Zash and Faln he received from Moyr.

"It appears Zash has been in search of a ritual that drains life from her victims and gives it to her. She is using an unfinished version of the ritual on this and other victims. And it appears she has led an expedition to capture the final holocron she requires to perform the ritual completely."

"I have other Intel stored in that data pad concerning her travels and research. is this of use to you?"

“It is useful, if anything it may spur Skotia or Thanaton to action against her,” he says calmly taking the datapad.

“It is not directly useful, but of interest.”

"I assumed as much." Sylvain replied. "I desire only to be of use."

He then asked, "Are you aware of the reasons behind the death of your man? Moff Serasai that is."

“I wasn’t aware he was my man,” he said pointedly.

“His death while tragic, only highlights the corruption at our highest ranks. The Wrath has sent an important message. The Dark Council will be more prudent in the future with their appointments.”

"Interesting that you would set him up for a promotion and he not be your man. Another interesting personnel decision on your part." He said.

"Unless, of course, you were planning on having him removed to prop up your true puppet. A shrewd strategy; wasteful but shrewd. I'm blessed to be able to learn from your skill."

He smirked, "Is there any way that I can be of further use Master?"

“It is best you not concern yourself with my affairs, there will be ample time to introduce you to the players,” Baras says dismissively.

“It can be dangerous making assumptions, my young apprentice.”

"Yes, my master." He replied dutifully.

He waited to see if Baras would answer his earlier question about being useful rather than bother him by asking again.

Baras looks at the datapad and says, "Why so focused on Serasai, concerned about your friend?"

He shook his head, "Kris is a strong woman. She's capable of getting past her father's death with little difficulty. I was merely trying to work out something in my head from our last meeting. See your reaction."

"Does this game have a point?" he asks.

"Observation." He replied, "I know almost nothing about you or how you operate other than what other people say... If I am to know how to be useful or what I need to learn I need to have an idea on what to expect. I intend on learning as much as I can from my master."

"I see and your observations this far?" he says.

He smiled briefly before responding seriously, "You are not an easy one to read. I sense that your plots to take over the position you have are layered and filled with contingencies. It is likely that you expected me to react the way I did and seek your apprenticeship. For now I am of use to you, but it is highly possible that you view my utility as something only temporarily useful to you and therefore wish to expend little energy in my development."

He then finished, "The only way for me to prove possible utility is to continue to provide you with things that you are interested in... Which is of course why I brought in the information about Zash. I'm guessing you'd prefer for me to do more things like this and so will reveal little excitement and offer very little of what I want... which is instruction."

Darth Baras offers a slight chuckle and says, "Information is a deadly weapon."

Sylvain nodded, "It is a useful tool. Can be used for destructive or creative purposes. It is why I am interested in it. And receiving of it will motivate and enable me to be of more use to you than I am now."

“In due time, my young apprentice. Secrets will be open to you but when I am ready to dispense such knowledge. Not before,” he says pointedly.

“You will be a powerful Sith, if you learn patience.”

He nodded, "Yes, my master. I tend to act with expedience. If it is expedient to wait, I will do so."

“You will learn in time that not all plans need to be executed with haste. Time is often needed for complete victory,” he says firmly.

"Yes, my master. Whatever is most appropriate for the circumstances, shall be done." He replied.

"Prepare yourself my apprentice. My master will call on you, and you will answer him as you have me, but know who your true master is, dismissed," he says calmly.

"Yes, my master." He nodded, "If I may make one small request master..."

"You know I don't appreciate dramatic pauses," Baras says.

"That is not my intention sir, I would only ask if it was acceptable. Since it appears so I would ask for a small concession to help a couple of aspirants who were useful in acquiring the information on Zash. One is a Twi'lek and the other a Torgruta, both possess useful skills in the acquisition of information. I was able to convince them that sharing their information with me would be beneficial, and wish to confirm that premise in their minds with a small enough concession not to matter in the long term but to build their trust in me for the interim."

After stating the reasons why he asked, "Because of their race they are looked down upon by many in this institution, a word of praise to the right teacher from you would perhaps help change their fortunes in an upcoming exam and help them be more willing to share what they find with me again in the future."