The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain walked around the camp as his servant was busying himself making the best possible tent for Baras' new apprentice.

Finding a ledge looking over the dig site, Sylvain sat down and sent a text to his friend. It was a pretty enough evening, and he was looking for someone to discuss the matters of the day with.

Shaisha had set up the tent with little trouble, and when she had finished she had read Syl's message.

For a while, she considered running off and claiming she was busy, considering the news earlier... but she knew she had to speak with him sooner or later.

A little later, Sylvain could hear her voice behind him. "Nice view you found..." she said quietly and walked closer to take a seat beside him.

He smiled, "I've always never been one to miss a chance to take in beauty."

He then looked out over the pits, "Have you seen Kris yet?"

"Not since we got out here... talked with her on Holo this morning though, when I was out looking for some stuff to build my own lightsaber." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "She's worried about you."

"... You catch the news?"

He nodded to the last question.

"Worried about me? I guess I was fairly cryptic last night... I was willing to talk, but this is probably a better place for it."

His eyes stared out into the sky beyond the horizon.

"I am to become Baras' apprentice."

"..."

She rested her head on top of her knees.

"Planning to work against him on the inside?"

"That's the long term goal..." He said with resolve. "I can't beat him now, that much is certain. I could effectively destroy him by empowering Marr with the intel I got yesterday. But destroying him would damage the Empire, weaken us against our foes. I will not sacrifice all that the Empire has achieved by reverting back to the foolish vengeful back-stabbing that destroyed us in the past. Baras' mindset is foolish and short-sighted... one day I will see to it that he is removed. But it is not today."

Shaisha nodded.

"... I spoke with father today. He said something similar."

"So you ended up calling him huh?" He asked with a smile.

Turning to look at her he asked, "What'd you talk about?"

"Told him about what was going on... he agreed that it was detrimental to the Empire's forces, but also said that removing Baras would cause too much instability. Like you just said." Shaisha didn't smile.

"I think he was disappointed in me in the end."

"Why is that?" He asked with a concerned look.

She sighed. "Because I wasn't the first one to have a lightsaber... which I didn't even make myself. Because I'm not at the top of the class like he was." She thought back to how the call ended. How he had glared at her, his choice of words.

"I was always jealous of you, you know. Your father never seemed to hide that he had your best interests in mind, or when he was proud of you. Before... before everything went wrong, when everything was still fine, I have some good memories. He was different then."

"I remember my first visit to Dromund Kaas, I was with him. Ziost had some thunderstorms, but nothing like the kind on Dromund Kaas. We went out during a particularly strong one... he held me close and reached out my hand with his, and we touched the lightning as he used the Force to connect the one he channeled with the one caused by the weather. I remember he smiled then, and we laughed."

I haven't seen him smile these past years.

Sylvain listened attentively and nodded gently as she spoke.

Reaching an arm out around her shoulder he comforted Shai as she told her story.

"Fathers have a way of acting in a way they feel helps their children the most. Father was never overly affectionate with me, but pushed me when I needed to be pushed."

He smiled, "It's quite possible your father thinks he's doing the same thing for you. He knows your spirit as well as anyone else... I think he just wants to keep you pushing yourself in any way you can."

"Perhaps," she conceded, both the point and to the hug.

"You and Kris will go on to be apprentices to Darth Baras and Darth Marr, it seems. I've yet to find out where I will end up after all this is over. Maybe Spindral will take pity on me." Shaisha let out a small chuckle at that.

He chuckled and pinched her shoulder a bit, "Who's this girl sitting next to me feeling sorry for herself?"

He leaned in and kissed her just above her left temple. "That's not the fierce Shaisha I know. The one who could skin a nexu cat, even if she was bare-naked and was tied up from a fun night with her friend Sylvain."

"Sorry," she chuckled. "Guess my mood is down after that holo-call... and the news."

The words quickly sobered her up. Never before had she been so relieved to not have shared with Kris who her father was.

"Kris would hate me if she knew who my father was..."

"Did you speak to him about her father?" He asked. Baras had made no mention of dealing with Serasai, and it made little sense for him to off his own minion at this moment.

"Not really, no. I was thinking more of how, you know, my father killed hers... I don't want her to know that."

Shaisha looked away, perhaps seeming more guarded than usual.

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D5 LE. Deception/Cunning vs Sylvain to avoid the subject.: 3eA+1eP+2eD+1eC 1 success, 3 threat

Sylvain looked closely at Shai, it seemed as if something were wrong. Perhaps she just felt guilty about having her father kill Kris'... or maybe she was hiding something. Shai could lie if it served her needs, this may well have been one of those times.

"Don't feel bad about it. Your father is not your hitman. I'm sure he had his own reasons." He said.

"But yeah.. it'd probably be best to keep this from Kris."

"Thanks," she gave a nod. "I appriciate that."

"... So... anything I can help you out with, Syl? Now that you're getting all tangled up in the big league game."

He smiled, "That's a good question... I suppose it would be best for me to assist you though, given the current situation. I need capable allies. Ones I can rely on. Getting you into a position of influence would help me significantly."

"Oh?" she smiled. "Anything particular in mind? Or just hoping that the best option will present itself?"

He tilted his head slightly, "You still maintain a great reputation here at the Academy. Most certainly there will be many looking to bring you on as an apprentice... What role are you looking to play in the future?"

"I consider myself rather flexible in that regard," a confident smirk. "I can be a warrior, I can be a shadowy agent, if need be. I can play the games, and I have a knack for figuring things out."

"As long as it doesn't involve fixing a broken speeder," she teased him with a playful poke.

He smiled, "That's a skill perhaps I'll have to pick up on my own..."

He thinks for a moment, "I hate to think of you in such a functional way... but I know that I'll have use for a man like the one I spoke with last night... I could see if he is in need of an apprentice."