The Dark Academy on Korriban

Most of her belongings were still unpacked, as Shaisha just didn't find the will to get around to it already. Tomorrow would bring yet another change in her life, and like always, packing filled her with a small feeling of trepidation.

To find her focus and to keep her inner calm, she meditated over her lightsaber, the shoto she had made herself. It steadily spun around over the open palm of her hand as she kept it afloat with the Force.

However, she felt her focus disturbed as she sensed a familiar presence approaching. Grabbing a hold of the lightsaber, she stood up from her seat. "The door is open."

The Wrath of the Emperor walks in and says, “Smaller than I expected.”

She quirks an eyebrow. "You mean the room, or me?"

“The room,” he says with no humor.

"Standard on the Academy, they don't want the acolytes to get too comfortable, I guess. As a Sith now, this will be my last day living in such small quarters for a while. Was it different on Dromund Kaas when you trained there?"

“Yes.”

He folds his arms and looks around before saying, “Vowrawn plays a fool, but is cunning. Not my first choice, but an admirable one.”

"And what would your first choice had been then?" she likewise folded her arms over her chest. "Not Thanaton, I hope."

“Unimportant.”

“You have become Sith, seize victory. Be ruthless to your enemies, never allow others to control you,” he says calmly.

Never again. She thinks, as she had not felt anything amiss since leaving Yavin.

Her back straightens slightly, allowing herself to feel some pride.

"I have passed my trials, killed Death's Shadow, and stand as one of the top acolytes graduating today. I will continue to make you proud, father." She allows herself a smile. "And I'm glad to see you today."

He glares and says, “I expect you will exceed my expectations.”

“Your previous accomplishments are nothing. It is only as Sith that you truly define your legacy.”

Her smile fades as quickly as it had arrived. "Yes, father. Failure is not an option."

"... Permission to ask a question?"

“Speak, my child,” he says with cool indifference.

The phrase 'my child' gave her a shivver down her spine, as she thought back to the incident at the temple on Yavin IV.

"I want to know what happened all those years ago... what happened to mother, and why I ended up, well, here and now. All I was told then about her was that she died in the line of duty, and I don't really remember much of what happened when I was taken from home. Only brief memories."

“Hrrm, your mother and what happened to her are still fresh in my mind all these years later. Another time, when I have more than a passing moment. It is not a short story,” he says.

“My time at this moment is limited.”

She hid her disappointment behind a weak smile. "Alright... I understand."

"I'm glad you are here though, on the day I've become a Sith. It's been a while since I last spoke to you in person."

“Where else would I be?” he says sternly.

"Where you usually are," she replies, perhaps a bit too sharply.

“I am where I need to be, at all times,” he says looking at the pottery.

"If you have something to say, then speak. You are Sith now."

Hesitation.

Had she already put him in danger with that vision, as He had claimed to know everything she knew? Still, testing the water might be nescessary.

"... This might sound weird," she begins cautiously, "but do you know anything about something called the Children of the Emperor?"

“They are known to me, I do not know their full purpose. The Emperor is beyond flesh, and with proper guidance can control many servants directly,” the Wrath says firmly.

"... Does that include you as well?" She asks with some worry. She had already felt that power up close once, and the thought of it extending to her father.

“No, I am not one of these children,” he says dismissively.

She breathes a sigh of relief.

At least it was some consolation that the Emperor couldn't control her father like he had done with her.

Uncaring if it would make him angry or disappointed now, she suddenly hugs him tightly.

"I've been worried about you since we last spoke."

He looks down and does not recoil but his visage is not soft either and he says, “My future is clear, worrying for others is a weakness. One your enemies will exploit.”

"You know, if someone wants to exploit my weakness that I don't want to lose the only family I have left, they're welcome to try."

"And my future is not as clear as yours, even my vision of the future concerned you more. Just know that I will never choose to stand against you, whatever this future of yours is."