The Dark Academy on Korriban

Moyr was in an indescribable state of mind. It would take a few days at least for her to figure out where she was mentally after the events of today. This is how it always was for her, understanding came after change.

What she did know was that she had a healthy appetite and had no intention of sustaining herself on shitty food. So tonight it would be something decent. Mandalorian cuisine. She earned credits for the dinner working with them, so it was only fitting.

Between her rapport with the Mandalorians and the scary lightsabre strapped to her thigh she tore some respect out of condescension of the surroundings. To the point she almost felt comfortable among all the Imperials and Sith at the Cantina.

For now, a drink. She sent Syl a voicemail with an offer of this being her treat for dinner, but if he wouldn't show up she wouldn't really be sad. Solitude, like brandy, was an acquired taste.

Sylvain walked into the cantina wearing a formal outer robe of darkest black that evening. Seeing the Twi'lek woman who had invited him he smiled charmingly and walked straight to her table.

"Good Evening fair Miss Moyr. I was surprised by your invitation. Getting your voicemail immediately made my evening much better."

"A company of a dashing man at a tasty dinner. I could not deny myself some simple pleasures after a trying day. Please join me, Syl."

She gestured for another drink to be brought.

"So, how have you been faring lately?"

He smiled and sat, "Quite well actually. I gained a bit of recognition for downing a Jedi warrior in the deep wastes."

"And you? I see you have acquired a lightsaber."

"That's good to hear. I just wonder what that one was doing around here. Quite disingenuous."

She smiled gently, then took a sip, retaining the alcohol in her mouth before swallowing, what gave her time to formulate an answer she didn't really need.

"Three weeks ago, actually. I took the crystal from one of Lord Zash's former apprentices on the day of our arrival, during my desert detour."

"Is that so?" He asked. "Perhaps that is why you showed an interest in Zash's apprentices when we last spoke."

He too ordered a drink, "As for the Jedi, she was defending an outpost that had been missed by our forces in the invasion. My friend and I came across it in our travels."

"Truly? I wouldn't have guessed there might still be some pockets of resistance. Someone wasn't thorough."

She mused.

"Indeed what I learnt from the encounter might have been the reason. So, have you followed my suggestion?"

"I have." He said, "There certainly is a high mortality rate for her apprentices. Especially when records suggest she is off-world. Though you met one who went missing here... perhaps it was Faln?"

"It indeed was Faln. He, for a change, saved his life, though not his sanity. Do you have a hypothesis what's caused those high mortality rates?"

He shook his head, "But it is disconcerting to have a master who is either unable or unwilling to ensure her apprentices or other aspirants survive. Seems either wasteful or predatory."

She looked at him straight, biting thoughtfully at her lip as he lekku undulated softly.

"Let me send you something onto your holopad."

"Alright." Sylvain said with a puzzled look.

"It's a video recording, keep the volume low if you want to watch it now."

She sought out his private wireless channel on her own datapad and sent it.

Sylvain did as instructed and watched the video.

After finishing he asked, "How did you obtain this?"

"It was on Faln's datapad. The man unwittingly recorded his fate before his brain was damaged."

She said quietly, matter-of-factly.

"So you now know what my inquiries were about."

"Quite resourceful Moyr. I'd say I'm impressed but I'd imagined you being quite resourceful; now you've proved it. So are you using this for something?" He asked.

"For this to be changed into leverage, don't I need a few heavyweight patrons and skillful politicians with a bit of clout?"

She grinned wryly.

"For instance, I wonder if any of the tragically deceased apprentices has a disappointed family on Dromund Kaas."

He chuckled, "So a dinner to enlist another pawn in your scheme?"

Then smiling, "What is the end you're after?"

"You sell yourself so cheap saying this, Syl. Don't you remember that I rely on you for expert advice?"

Her finger drew circles along the rim of the glass.

"For instance, how would you play this out for maximum personal benefit, or minimum personal harm?"

"It is a difficult play." He replied. He sat back and allowed the wheels turn in his head.

"I would assume she has the wisdom to target forgettable individuals... Desposing of aspirants is not necessarily a major concern, but if she intends to monopolize this ritual she has found... there are many who would disapprove and possibly desire to put pressure on her."

He ponders more, "It is possible her position at the school is something that is important to her since it gives her access to people she needs... threatening that position could possibly be a point of leverage."

"In your opinion, how best to prevent her from taking effective counteraction?"

"Perhaps the threat of disseminating this information to her opponents? Or others like Savas or Baras who would take an interest in the ritual or her targeted 'victims'."

"Well, and do you have any good connection with any of these lords? After all, this information belongs to you as well now."

"My father is closely tied to Baras. It's possible he may take an interest, but would need to show that this kind of action is somehow subversive. Do you have any other intel on Zash that may be useful? Depending on the nature of her travels, there might be something that implicates her in other ways that are deemed... well, subversive."

He took a drink from his glass, "The other option is to send it to someone you know who hates her. A woman like her is bound to have enemies. Rumor has it her old master doesn't care much for her. Threaten to give it to her and maybe Zash would be worried. You merely have to prepare the means for the information to be transferred even if Zash lashes out... If she knows you're prepared she'll probably be more willing to deal than try and kill you and fix the problem."

"Darth Skotia doesn't feel like someone one would like to empower any further."

She took a sip.

"I don't know what kind of information would be subversive enough. She's certainly obsessively after Hazzan's heritage."