The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain sat in his room, packing the last bit of his belongings into his bag before they were to depart for the moon.

He took his communicator in his hand and began to put it in his bag when it began to beep. Pulling it back up he opened the line...

There is a text message from [Redacted]:

“This message is generated in the advent of my death. I have provided data drops, locations are secured by a cipher key attached to this message. These are physical drops on Nar Shaddaa. By now my systems have destroyed themselves. My life for the Empire.”

On the plus side there has been no information of Kristals mother showing up dead.

Sylvain dropped his communicator down on the bed.

"Damn!" Sylvain cursed his decision to have advised Tyron to intervene. He should have just let Kris' mom die... then they'd at least know the identity of the 'Magpie'.

"Damn it all to hell!" Sylvain stood up off the bed and began thinking of what he needed to do.

Leaning back on his bunk he kicked his feet up above him. If there was ever more proof that this man had been a loyal servant it was confirmation of his death. The loss of this extremely useful asset made Sylvain furious. He never felt more alone and less able than he did in that moment.

Behind the scenes he was potentially ruining things with Kristal with his new relationship with Moyr. And Moyr was unpredictable enough to blow up in his face any day. Shai had set off on her own, and while she promised they were still together there were deep doubts in his mind that she would soon be an enemy rather than friend. The visions of Jun-tsu had driven that doubt deep into his mind.

Angered by his own failures Sylvain felt the flow of the Dark-side course through his mind as he sought for an escape from his frailty and weakness. He had let his sentimentality for Kris and her mother get in the way of doing what was best. Baras continued to show no sign of ever opening up to him; and his demands for patience were growing tiresome. He needed a plan to execute, something to give him purpose and direction. Were it not for graduation he would have been on a flight to Nar Shadaa already... But for now he had to stew in his own lack of foresight.

He flipped his communicator open and close as he thought of someone to call. Anyone that would help make this loneliness disappear; these feelings of inadequacy...

Dialing a secure channel to his mother Sylvain looked intensely at the wall behind where her image might appear...

His mother finally answers though it is just her voice, “I am getting ready for a social event darling, is everything okay?”

"It's nice to hear your voice mother." There was an absence of his normal friendly nature.

"Are you alone? I have a bit of news I need to share with you."

“That sounds ominous,” she says and there is a pause.

“We have privacy, what is it? You sound concerned.”

"It is a lot mother... but I have no one else to turn to and I know father always relied on you for wisdom; of which I am in great need." He said in an exasperated tone.

Then, taking a bit breath, he began, "It begins on the night that father was murdered. I was contacted by one of father's agents who provided evidence to me that the Republic and members of the Imperial army were not the minds behind the plot. Darth Baras was the man who was responsible for the coup that resulted in father's death. The Serasai family were put up to look like they were accomplices and then taken out by a clever play by Baras into manipulating Shaisha to get her father to act."

He paused briefly, "Upon receiving this information I became aware that revealing this plot to the members of the Dark Council would perhaps end in Baras' death. A suiting end for such a man, but the toll that it would take on the Empire to fight a civil war and continue the campaign against the Republic... I deemed that cost for my personal revenge to be too great. I would not destroy the Empire, the one thing father lived for, in order to see through with my vengeance. Instead I elected to leverage that intel to gain a position with Baras as his apprentice. I was to be paraded around as the mouthpiece and help tamper any doubts that this was orchestrated by Baras. And for my part I have served with exceptional duty to my new master... and yet he treats me with no respect."

He sighs, obviously distraught, "Up until now I still had eyes on things outside of Korriban in the form of Father's informant. But recently he received word of one of Baras' agents being sent to assassinate the Lady Serasai... for what purpose I do not know. When I sent him to observe and potentially deal with this threat, he was slain or befell some unforeseen tragedy... I do not know for sure. Either way, he is now dead. I am worried that since the Lady Serasai was targeted, you very well could be next if Baras is looking to tie up loose ends. I do not know how to proceed from here mother... I can no longer trust anyone... I had intended to inquire to you about setting up a marriage proposal for Kristal Serasai, but now do not know if by doing so I would curse her house to destruction... Things are beyond my ability to deal with them mother.... and I hope you would have some insight on how to move forward... for I am at a loss..."

There is a lengthy pause and she says, “I… who was this agent of your father’s? Are you sure you could trust this person?”

“I told you that Sith politics were dangerous… and I am sorry you have suffered so. Darth Baras is dangerous but he has you now, to turn away from him would invite more trouble than we need. I do think you should be careful moving forward, play the dutiful apprentice give him no reason to suspect you. None.”

“As for Kristal, this may be harsh but we must distance ourselves from a family of traitors. We can have nothing to do with them. We have no time for sentimentality,” she finishes.

He replied, "I personally didn't know him until he contacted me with father's private cipher... but he was willing to sacrifice his life for my orders."

Then after she mentioned the Serasai, "They aren't traitors mother... and Kristal is a true friend and better quality than any of the Sith I know... to distance myself from those I can rely on and depend on Baras for my protection... that seems to only make me more his slave... piles chains on top of chains..."

“I understand your… hesitation but we are Torsin and we cannot have the name tarnished by Serasai, innocent or not. The official line is made, we must adjust. This is the reality we must live with,” she says with sympathy.

It was probably quite fortunate that there was no hologram being transmitted, because the look on Sylvain's face while he clamped down and grinded his teeth would have obviously given away his displeasure with his mother's opinion.

"I... cannot... betray the trust I have been given... I would just as easily betray my family as I would Kris... And as I have shown, I will do anything... even sacrifice myself for my family and its legacy..."

He sat in frustration, mostly because he knew that it was the most practical course. It achieved the objectives he sought after, but required great sacrifice.

“Then what do you see as a path forward,” she says with a motherly tone.

“I want you to be happy with your decisions, even the hard ones.”

He thought for a few seconds, "I would say... absolve House Serasai and marry Kristal into house Torsin as a message of both vengeance against traitors, but justice for those who are loyal... it could have some feet, be convincing that is..."

Then shook his head, "But there is no chance in hell Kristal would go along with that... She knows that her family is innocent. She'd rather die than admit otherwise."

He put his head down dejectedly, "I just want her and her family to be off of Baras' hit list... then at least I can know I didn't betray them and leave them to fend for themselves. But I have no means of achieving that... I have done Baras a great favor, more than once actually, and still he only cares for his other new pet... a crass and foolish dog he thinks is the next Wrath. Whatever leverage I have now hasn't been able to protect the Serasai family... what can I do that would?"

He can hear her frown as she speaks, “Unacceptable, a Torsin is second to no one. Maybe I should give this Darth Baras a piece of my mind.”

He chuckled, "No thanks mom... I don't think tattling to my mommy would come across well to a Darth... Besides... he'll end up knowing I told you what I have."

"Well what can I do to help then?" she says.

He let's out an exasperated sigh, "I don't know mom... I guess I just needed to vent... had a foolish hope that you'd have some answer for me like you always did when I was a kid... Something I hadn't thought of..."

His features sank a bit, "I guess it's just me in this fight... time to sink or swim... sucks to be alone..."

He then shifts the conversation, "Have a good time at your event mom... I'll think about what you said. You're probably right, I'll try and distance myself from Kris as much as I can... I'll keep you informed."

“You are not alone my son, you are my most beloved treasure and all sacrifices I have to make to keep you safe I will take. I have all the time in the world for you,” she says in response.

"Thank you mother... I will strive not to disappoint you." He said with little of his normal resolve.

"If you do come up with something that would help... let me know."

“If not, I will give Darth Baras an earful, Sith or no,” she says with a loving tone.

"Thanks for looking out for me." He said with a chuckle.

"Bye mom. Love you."


After hanging up the phone Sylvain had one thought on his mind.

I need to get to Nar Shadaa....