“So you recognize him?”
The still didn’t lie. Even with the blueish hues, even dressed for insignificance, Merian couldn’t mistake Maros. The latent rage that never left his eyes.
“I do.”
“You worked with him in the past.”
“Extensively.”
“So you understand the sensitivity of this matter.”
No words this time. Merian only nodded.
“What are your thoughts on him now?”
“A traitor, Sir. No different than all the others.”
“Is that all?”
“It’s the crux of it.”
“I want to hear the rest.”
Merian’s mouth opened, closed. She shook her head. It was like he wanted to bait her into treason.
“I... He was a skillful agent, Sir. His Force sensitivity made him precious to the ISB. Respectfully, what does it matter now? ‘Traitor’ covers it. He couldn’t be one if he’d never been an asset.”
“Were you and the target romantically involved, Knight Sere?”
She blinked.
Ryloth. Raxus. Keffier. Raxus again, always Raxus. Hyperspace. Nar Shaddaa. Raxus. Surprise. Hope. Waiting. Grief. Regret. Waiting. Then Botajef. The kiss, their first. Anger. Death.
“No, Sir. Our relationship was strictly professional.”
“Good. This is our predicament, you see. By all accounts you would be better suited to this task than anyone. You have considerable knowledge of the target, both personally and of his methods. Your Force sensitivity allows you to stand up to him where another agent could not. Yet we have certain... reservations. I’m sure you understand.”
“I suppose I can see the appearance of conflict,” Merian granted. “But I can assure you my loyalty has always been to the Empire. We worked side by side only because the ISB ordered it so. Our every interaction was in that capacity.”
“Did you enjoy his company?”
A shrug. Defensive. “He wasn’t unpleasant. We wouldn’t have had as much success on our assignments without complete trust in each other.”
“Yet he betrayed you.”
“He betrayed the Empire, Sir. Me only by extension.”
“Hmpf. Then on Botajef...”
“I made a mistake.”
“Don’t interrupt me, Knight Sere.”
“Excuse me.”
“On Botajef you came across Maros Lasan seemingly by chance. He disrupted your mission and attacked you with lethal intent. Then he stole Imperial property and left you for dead. Is that an accurate representation of the facts?”
“Mostly, Sir. I attacked him.”
“Was that your mistake?” The frown was imperceptible.
One of them. Perhaps the worst. “No, Sir. Trusting him was. It won’t happen again.”
“Understand our concerns, Knight Sere. You are a former Sith. Were it not for your unimpeachable conduct on Anzat, Nar Shaddaa and Ord Trasi, you would not have been considered for a delicate matter such as this one.”
“I understand.”
“Trust is hard to come by for you lot. This is exceptional. Do not make us regret it.”
Merian bit her tongue. Every last crumb of this trust she’d earned in blood. Superior or no, ISB or no, the man was pushing it. Her voice hardened, like dropped an octave.
“No, Sir. I won’t squander it.”
@Pantor
The still didn’t lie. Even with the blueish hues, even dressed for insignificance, Merian couldn’t mistake Maros. The latent rage that never left his eyes.
“I do.”
“You worked with him in the past.”
“Extensively.”
“So you understand the sensitivity of this matter.”
No words this time. Merian only nodded.
“What are your thoughts on him now?”
“A traitor, Sir. No different than all the others.”
“Is that all?”
“It’s the crux of it.”
“I want to hear the rest.”
Merian’s mouth opened, closed. She shook her head. It was like he wanted to bait her into treason.
“I... He was a skillful agent, Sir. His Force sensitivity made him precious to the ISB. Respectfully, what does it matter now? ‘Traitor’ covers it. He couldn’t be one if he’d never been an asset.”
“Were you and the target romantically involved, Knight Sere?”
She blinked.
Ryloth. Raxus. Keffier. Raxus again, always Raxus. Hyperspace. Nar Shaddaa. Raxus. Surprise. Hope. Waiting. Grief. Regret. Waiting. Then Botajef. The kiss, their first. Anger. Death.
“No, Sir. Our relationship was strictly professional.”
“Good. This is our predicament, you see. By all accounts you would be better suited to this task than anyone. You have considerable knowledge of the target, both personally and of his methods. Your Force sensitivity allows you to stand up to him where another agent could not. Yet we have certain... reservations. I’m sure you understand.”
“I suppose I can see the appearance of conflict,” Merian granted. “But I can assure you my loyalty has always been to the Empire. We worked side by side only because the ISB ordered it so. Our every interaction was in that capacity.”
“Did you enjoy his company?”
A shrug. Defensive. “He wasn’t unpleasant. We wouldn’t have had as much success on our assignments without complete trust in each other.”
“Yet he betrayed you.”
“He betrayed the Empire, Sir. Me only by extension.”
“Hmpf. Then on Botajef...”
“I made a mistake.”
“Don’t interrupt me, Knight Sere.”
“Excuse me.”
“On Botajef you came across Maros Lasan seemingly by chance. He disrupted your mission and attacked you with lethal intent. Then he stole Imperial property and left you for dead. Is that an accurate representation of the facts?”
“Mostly, Sir. I attacked him.”
“Was that your mistake?” The frown was imperceptible.
One of them. Perhaps the worst. “No, Sir. Trusting him was. It won’t happen again.”
“Understand our concerns, Knight Sere. You are a former Sith. Were it not for your unimpeachable conduct on Anzat, Nar Shaddaa and Ord Trasi, you would not have been considered for a delicate matter such as this one.”
“I understand.”
“Trust is hard to come by for you lot. This is exceptional. Do not make us regret it.”
Merian bit her tongue. Every last crumb of this trust she’d earned in blood. Superior or no, ISB or no, the man was pushing it. Her voice hardened, like dropped an octave.
“No, Sir. I won’t squander it.”
@Pantor