The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain shrugged, "If you'd like to have me think of you as a tool that I try to get some function out of, then okay. If that's what you'd really prefer..."

He picked up a rock and chucked it out into a dune, "I don't tend to look at people that way, but that's just me."

"Yes you do," she said as she stood up.

"You fucked up your chance with that question. But I'll give you another. If you tell me something first."

He chuckled but let it pass, she obviously wasn't in the mood to hear his philosophy on life.

"What would you like to know?"

"Why do you think Baras would be severely inconvenienced if you were to die right now? And don't give me some vague bullshit about your cleverness."

"Yes." He replied. "I am his apprentice because it's quite possible he and/or nearly all of his supporters would die if I did."

"And you think this why?"

"He is playing a very dangerous game at the moment with other members of the council and I have information that would provide his rivals with the tools to dismantle his support system." He replied.

"So why not just kill you?"

"Because there are ways to disseminate the information without me being alive and he does not have access to those outlets."

Sylvain shrugged, "I have bought myself a temporary window. When the circumstances change, my position of leverage will change. I plan to use the time that I have created to make myself useful for whatever is next."

"Yeah? What sort of ways to disseminate it? And how do you intend to be useful enough to live once your window runs out?"

"Ways? People and data can do a lot." He replied.

"I plan on being useful to Darth Baras. Useful enough to need me around. I do well at making connections and acquiring information that he could use. In turn I expect greater power and responsibility. As long as I continue to adapt and grow stronger, I will continue to gain capacity and be freed from the things that constrain me."

"So, if it will help Darth Baras for his new hit-woman to be able to function in her new surroundings, I am more than willing to oblige." He said.

"I'm not 'pretending' to be your friend. Never claimed that I was, though my outer appearance may have led you to that idea. The fewer assumptions you make about those around you, the better you'll be able to see their motivations and not just the motivations they want you to see. Very few of them will willingly lay them out for you as I have."

"So basically, you're blackmailing him, and hoping that he'll forgive you for that because you're so good at connecting with people. I don't know Torsin, I think there may be a critical error in your plan somewhere."

"Perhaps." He said with a shrug. "One does what they can with what they have available. If Baras proves to be one who doesn't respect ability and a servant's usefulness then yes... I am indeed in trouble. If he proves to be one who values ability over his own personal sentimentality? Then perhaps I have a chance. My interactions with him would lead me to the latter conclusion, but I am not omniscient as you appear to be. I wasn't afforded that luxury."

"We can't all be strong in the force, I suppose."

He chuckled, "Funny, Layne."

He then tilted his head, "Can I now ask my question?"

"Ask."

"Where did you get the information on how to find your lightsaber?" He asked.

She stared at him for a moment.

"You do realize I never promised to actually answer your question, right? Just that you could ask it."

"I do realize that, yes." He replied.

What a tool.

She sighed, then looked down at her lightsaber.

"You could say the force guided me to it."

Which was, in a sense, true.

"How did it manifest itself in guiding you there? Did it draw you a map? Text you from ID number:F 0 R C 3?"

"Korriban knows me. More than it knows you. That is the simple truth of it, Torsin."

She sighed, then gave him a less than friendly fang-filled smile.

"You people and your preconceptions."

This is more fun than it should be.

Korriban eh?

"Ah, so Korriban helped you huh? I thought you weren't afforded any luxuries. A self-made woman so to speak. Now you need decrepit and dead spirits to bolster you up?"

He chuckled.

"Is that really what you think the truth is? Or are you just trying to annoy me?"

"If it isn't the truth, you only need to provide it and my theory loses validity and the ability to annoy you." He shrugged.

"For now it does make sense that 'Korriban' has been helping you and you've been taking credit for 'its' deeds. The incident in the bar the first night comes to mind."