Title comes from this Patrick Lindsay quote: "Every new friend is a new adventure." Chapter two will be posted next Friday.
Cassian will never admit it, but he's a bit wary about his upcoming assignment.
It's not that he doesn't think he can do it. He needs to infiltrate an Imperial Academy, figure out why some students - including their former mole - are disappearing, and hopefully recruit some future double agents. It's a little tricky, especially since he can't bring K-2SO along, but he'll be able to get it done. The datapad regarding the mission has told him that he's going to be going in as an Imperial inspector, which gives him the freedom to investigate without being too suspicious and also gets him into the academy when he's much older than the average student. Overall, it's not the hardest mission he's ever had.
The thing he's wary about is the fact that he's going to be doing the assignment with a fellow intelligence agent, whom he's never met.
The file on her is scant, but the files on most of the Rebel intelligence officers are scant. Her code name is Targeter, real name classified. That's about the only thing the file tells him. She must be fairly good or she wouldn't have been put on his assignment, but Cassian isn't a fan of working with people he doesn't already know. He knows he doesn't have a choice, though, and that might be making him scowl a bit more than usual as he heads to the briefing, where he's going to meet this mysterious Targeter for the first time.
Draven is already there when Cassian shows up. "Andor. Good. Your partner should be arriving any minute."
"Why am I being given a partner on this assignment, sir?"
Draven scowls. "Not my call. But Targeter has a good reputation, so we can hope she lives up to it."
"I hope to meet your expectations," an unfamiliar voice replies. A girl steps out of the shadows in the corner of the room. She's wearing the typical brown secondhand clothes of a rebel with an added sleeveless jacket and pair of gloves. Around her hips is a belt with a holstered blaster. Her hair is glossy black and pulled back tightly, with only a few strands hanging around her face. Her eyes are slanted and her cheekbones are sharp.
She also looks like she's about fifteen years old.
"Targeter, I assume?" Draven asks. If he's surprised by her youth, he doesn't show it.
Cassian supposes that, considering he started fighting for freedom when he was six, he has no room to judge anyone else for being too young. But being a good intelligence officer requires experience, and he doubts someone as young as Targeter appears to be can have that much experience. And if that inexperience compromises his ability to do his job…
"You assume correctly, General Draven." The girl looks over Cassian quickly. "And you must be Agent Fulcrum."
"I look forward to working with you, Agent Targeter," Cassian says, his voice a little stiff.
Targeter inclines her head. "And I you. As I understand, you'll be undercover as an Imperial inspector, yes?"
Cassian nods. "And what will you be doing?"
"I'm going undercover as a student transfer," Targeter replies. "I'll be going in two days before you arrive."
Cassian frowns. "A transfer would have the knowledge from the previous academy they attended. Have you attended an Imperial Academy?"
"You don't need to worry about my cover, Agent Fulcrum." Targeter is just barely smirking. She looks a bit older when she does that, but Cassian still can't think that's she's much older than sixteen, if that. "I'll manage. We'll need to make sure we arrange a way to meet when you arrive without raising undue suspicion."
"I think an Imperial inspector is able to do pretty much anything they want," Cassian replies. He carefully drops his Festian accent and adds, "I do my investigations with the backing of the Emperor himself. It would be in everyone's best interests not to cross me."
"Of course not, sir," Targeter replies, her accent suddenly pure Coruscant - or, as they call it now, Imperial Center. Cassian wonders if she actually intends to use that accent during the assignment or if she's just showing off. If it's the former, well, he's going to be speaking with a false accent too, but if it's the latter, that's a bad sign. He doesn't want a young show-off as his partner on this mission.
Targeter looks at Cassian again. "Are you worried about my age, Agent Fulcrum?" she asks, the assumed accent gone.
"Age doesn't necessarily matter when it comes to being a good agent," Cassian replies automatically.
Even though Cassian's fairly certain Targeter suspects his doubts, she doesn't look offended. Instead, there's a knowing look on her face with a hint of smugness to it. She thinks she's going to be able to meet his standards despite her youth, Cassian can tell. He just hopes that she actually can.
"I'm sixteen, in case you were wondering," she says. "But I wouldn't have been assigned to this mission if both I and our superiors didn't think I could handle it."
"I'm sure we'll work well together," Cassian replies, his voice a little stiff. "General, do you have any further information for us?"
Draven looks a little less expressionless than usual, with perhaps something like amusement on his face as he hands Cassian and Targeter datapads. Cassian can't be certain that it's amusement, however, considering he doesn't think he's ever seen that expression on Draven's face before.
"Here are the details for your covers. Memorize them the best you can. Maybe you two can work together on them."
"Do you want to work together?" Targeter asks Cassian.
"Do you think it'll help?"
A small, secretive smile curls across Targeter's face. "I don't think I'll need it, but it's always a good idea to practice."
Cassian knows that Targeter is apparently a good agent despite her age, but she's still seven years younger than him. He doesn't really like the idea of taking advice from a sixteen year old, no matter how good she is. "I think I'll be alright."
"Suit yourself," Targeter replies. "I'll be going in the day after tomorrow, yes?"
Draven nods. "Is that enough time to memorize your cover details?"
Targeter smiles the same secretive smile again. "I think so, but I'd like to get started as soon as possible."
"Dismissed, then," Draven replies, and Targeter snaps a picture-perfect salute before she leaves.
"She's a child," Cassian says, because no matter what Targeter says, he still can't quite get over the fact that he's supposed to be working on a sensitive mission with a sixteen year old.
"She's your parter on this mission no matter how old she is," Draven replies. "You're dismissed too, Andor. Start looking over your cover."
Cassian salutes, being careful to make sure that his is just as good as Targeter's was, and leaves the briefing room. He powers up the datapad on the way and starts looking over the information. He'll go over it with K-2SO once he's read it a few times, and then he'll be ready in time to arrive at the academy in four days.
He just hopes Targeter is ready as well.
Imperial uniforms are, without exception, horribly uncomfortable. Winter, however, has worn far less comfortable clothes as the Second Daughter of Alderaan, so she's practiced at not fidgeting regardless of how much her clothing itches. A bit of her hair falls around her face and she tucks it behind her ear. It's still a little disconcerting to see black hair instead of her natural white, but it's far less noticeable. With white hair, she's distinctive, but there are half a dozen other students with ink-black hair in her new academy class, so she blends in fairly well.
"Corinna Elysar?" a voice states. Winter steps forward without hesitation. Her perfect memory is always helpful when it comes to going undercover. She can remember every detail of her fabricated backstory, just as it was written on the datapad.
"The Imperial inspector is ready for you now," the protocol droid assigned to aid the supposed inspector adds. Winter leaves the line of fellow students and enters the office, her posture ramrod straight and her hands clasped behind her back.
Agent Fulcrum is sitting at the desk, wearing his own Imperial uniform that looks about as comfortable as Winter's. "Cadet Elysar," he says, his voice just on the edge of a drawl. "Sit."
Winter sits obediently in the chair in front of the desk. "Is something wrong, sir?" she asks, her Coruscanti accent crisp. She hopes Fulcrum can read her underlying message: Is everything going according to plan so far?
"That has yet to be determined," Fulcrum replies, which Winter takes as a tentatively positive answer. "I am here by order of the Emperor to investigate this academy. I understand you transferred here recently?"
"I transferred two days ago," Winter replies.
Fulcrum purses his lips and drums his fingers on the table. At first, Winter tries to decipher any sort of message out of the rhythmic tapping, but if Fulcrum is using a code, it's not one she knows. "From where did you transfer, cadet?"
"The academy on the Imperial Center, sir."
"Hmm. What is your opinion on this academy thus far?" Translation: Have you found anything interesting?
"It seems quite similar to my last one, sir." Translation: Not yet.
Fulcrum's eyes narrow. "I might need to speak with you again," he tells her, which Winter knows perfectly well. She nods, the picture of a subservient underling.
"I've seen your test scores, by the way," Fulcrum adds. "They're very impressive."
"Thank you, sir," Winter replies. She knows the exact numbers for her falsified test scores, of course, and they are impressive. They'd hoped that her position as a newcomer, especially one with exceptional test scores, would make it more natural for Fulcrum, in his guise of an Imperial inspector, to spend time with her. A cadet like her would make an ideal informant for an inspector like him.
Fulcrum holds out his hand and Winter takes it without hesitation, shaking it and discreetly palming the comlink that Fulcrum's holding. She closes her fingers over it quickly enough that no one else notices, and she flickers her eyes up and down in lieu of a nod. It's a common enough tactic for intelligence agents, and Fulcrum seems to understand. Winter clasps her hands behind her back, the comlink hidden between them.
"Best of luck with your classes, Cadet Elysar," Fulcrum says in a clear dismissal. Winter bows her head respectfully and leaves the office, returning to the line of cadets outside. She was close to the end of the list, so it doesn't take long before Fulcrum makes his way through the rest of the cadets. When he finishes, they're all dismissed back to their rooms.
Winter keeps her fingers around the comlink until she claims the fresher in the dorm room under the guise of taking a shower. She turns on the sonic shower the second she enters and finally uncurls her fingers around the comlink. It's text based and thin enough that she can hide it easily. There's one message waiting on it, in a code that Winter can decipher easily.
It's untraceable, but be careful. We'll exchange daily updates. Don't send unnecessary messages.
Winter doesn't reply, judging anything of the sort to be an unnecessary message. She's hoping to get some information at dinner, and then she can send an update before going to bed. She strips quickly and steps into the shower, cleans up as fast as she can, and then she gets redressed and leaves the fresher, the comlink tucked into her brassiere.
"Corinna, what did you think of Inspector Aldrecht?" one of Winter's roommates, a girl name by the name of Kyra, asks.
"He seems efficient," Winter replies as she sits on the bed.
Bri, another roommate, giggles. "No, we're talking about how cute he is!"
"I didn't find him cute," Rhylla, the fourth and final of Winter's roommates, remarks.
"Yeah, but you've got a crush on Jalaila, so your preferences are clearly different," Bri counters.
Rhylla shrugs. "She is cute. Can you blame me?"
"I suppose Inspector Aldrecht is attractive," Winter says dubiously.
Kyra rolls her eyes. "We should have known you wouldn't have noticed."
"You can focus on things that aren't protocol, you know," Bri adds.
"I want to make the Empire proud," Winter replies.
"I want to make Inspector Aldrecht proud," Kyra counters, and she and Bri giggle madly.
Winter wonders what her roommates will think if Fulcrum starts calling on her more often. She just hopes none of them spread rumors about it. Kyra is a horrible gossip, something years of Imperial academies apparently haven't trained out of her yet. The whole academy thinking that Winter and Fulcrum are having an affair probably won't have an impact on the mission, but it's a complication Winter would prefer to avoid.
"If you're done talking about Inspector Aldrecht, dinner is in five minutes," Rhylla informs them. "We should go."
"It's not like the food is even good," Bri whines, but she and Kyra follow Rhylla out of the room. Winter brings up the rear, wondering if there's any way she can discreetly bring up the topic of the missing students at dinner. She knows Fulcrum is likely to have more information than her, but she's hoping that she can at least have something to tell him, other than the fact that two of her roommates apparently think he's attractive.
The perfect opportunity comes halfway through dinner, when Bri looks around and frowns. "I don't see Bennar anywhere."
"Maybe he's not feeling well," Kyra offers, but she doesn't sound particularly convincing.
"Or he's gone, like the others," Rhylla mutters bitterly.
"The others?" Winter asks, trying to sound puzzled without showing her eagerness to hear the answer.
Kyra looks uncomfortable. "We're not supposed to talk about it."
Considering how Kyra normally loves to talk, Winter's curiosity is only more piqued. Still, she can't pry too much without putting up red flags. "Are they just switching to a different path?" she asks, taking a bite of her food and pretending that she's not desperately hoping for an answer. "Students did that at my old academy as well."
"If they are, no one's telling us about it," Rhylla replies. "Almost a dozen students have disappeared recently, no word on where they are now."
Bri wrings her hands. "Rhylla, we're not supposed to-"
"What, and leave Corinna the only person here who doesn't know?" Rhylla retorts. "A lot of the kids were top students. She should be careful."
Winter blinks. The Rebellion hadn't known that. It might complicate things. Her performance can't drastically drop without prompting questions she doesn't want to answer, but if whatever's taking students is taking the ones at the top, Winter might be in danger.
Then again, if she does get taken, it might give her more information than she would have expected to get otherwise.
"I don't want to get you in trouble," she tells Rhylla. "If someone hears-"
"Fine." Rhylla shoves a mouthful of food into her mouth. "I'll play by the rules, like you want me to."
Winter knows that, although it's not officially a part of the mission, it would be good if she could recruit some future double agents. Rhylla seems like she might have potential for that.
"Thank you for warning me, though."
Rhylla looks begrudgingly pleased. "No problem."
Kyra and Bri quickly steer the conversation into safer waters. Winter is quiet, turning around the new information in her head. It's not much, but even just the hint of a link between the students might be enough for them to figure out what's going on. Still, there must be more to it than just top students. The previous undercover agent at the academy, as far as Winter knows, was supposed to just be an average student. If they were only taking the best, they wouldn't have taken him.
So there has to be more to it, but what?
When they finish eating, the girls go back to their dormitory. The easy teasing about Fulcrum's attractiveness is gone, the strain of dinner not yet dissipated. Winter thinks of what she's going to say in her report to Fulcrum. She wants to type it out as quickly as possible, so she needs to have idea of what she's going to say before she gets the comlink out. She's not going to mention that her roommates find Fulcrum attractive, but she needs to report on the fact that many of the missing students were at the top of their class, that there's a new one missing named Bennar, and that one of her roommates thinks she might be at risk. She doesn't particularly like the idea of admitting that she might be in danger, but she's not going to leave it out and risk endangering the mission because of her pride. She's not a child, despite her youth. If she wants Fulcrum to believe that, she needs to act like an adult.
When it's Winter's turn to use the fresher, she pulls out the comlink and types out her quick message: Almost 12 students missing, no one knows where they are, student named Bennar potentially missing as of dinner, many of the missing were at the top of their class, roommate believes I might be in danger of being taken. She sends it quickly and tucks the comlink back into her brassiere after a minute with no response, then strips out of her uniform and into the shapeless sleepwear that all cadets have to wear. She hopes no one notices that she's still wearing her brassiere underneath. She would take it off, but it's the best place to hide the comlink, and she doesn't want to risk it just for the sake of being a bit more comfortable.
She goes into bed quickly, pulling the covers up to her neck. Hopefully, Fulcrum will send her an update, but she won't be able to check the comlink again until the morning. Anything else will be too risky.
Turning off her mind enough to fall asleep is difficult, but Winter has acquired somewhat of a talent for it. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and within a few seconds, she's fallen asleep.
Cassian eats dinner with the head of the academy, hates every second of it, and retreats to his room the second he can politely do so. He checks his comlink to see if Targeter has given him her report yet and finds a message waiting.
Almost 12 students missing, no one knows where they are, student named Bennar potentially missing as of dinner, many of the missing were at the top of their class, roommate believes I might be in danger of being taken.
It is, irritatingly, more concrete information than Cassian has been able to find. He has some suspicions, and he has class lists to look over, but Targeter has somehow gotten her hands on numbers and a name and a potential thread linking the missing students together. She really is good.
The last bit of the message worries him, however. They've already lost one agent to the disappearances at the academy - although, if the others were all at the top of their class, then perhaps their previous agent was taken for other reasons - and Cassian doesn't want to lose another one. Extracting Targeter before their planned extraction time will be too suspicious, however, and if her performance starts to worsen, it might add trouble they don't have time to deal with.
But Cassian is the adult here - because no matter how competent Targeter is, she's still sixteen - so he needs to come up with a way to protect her. He frowns down at the comlink in his hand and finally types out a response.
Good intel. I have some suspicions, but nothing concrete. Be careful. Don't be at the very top of the class. I'll start showing interest in you so they can't snatch you away easily. If they try to take you, break cover if you have to. Do not let yourself be taken, no matter what.
It's risky advice. Draven probably wouldn't agree with it, and Cassian knows it's not the most practical solution. But he's not going to tell Targeter to just let herself be taken. This mission isn't important enough for the Rebellion to lose two agents over it. They've lost one, Cassian's not going to let them lose another. He's had to make that call before, and it's always a difficult one. Cassian has a lot of deaths on his conscience. If possible, he'd rather not add Targeter's.
He sighs and pulls out the class lists. He pours over them all night, trying to come up with a list of names. He comes up with fourteen former students that are no longer at the academy, but Targeter said that less than twelve were missing, so some of the names must be regular transfers. He'll look into that when he's not quite as exhausted.
A ninety minute nap and four cups of caf later, Cassian dresses in his uniform and strides out of his room. He was invited to watch a lesson, and since he knew that Targeter will be attending that lesson, he agreed. The underling who comes to fetch him is stammering and almost struck dumb in the presence of someone as important as an Imperial investigator, so Cassian doesn't get any useful information from him. The head of the academy, whom he meets at the lesson area, is a different story altogether.
"Ah, Inspector Aldrecht." The woman, as always, looks almost disgustingly eager to please. It takes Cassian a second to remember her name: Ora Namore. "I trust you had a pleasant evening last night."
"I am not here for pleasantries, Headmistress Namore," Cassian replies in the haughtiest voice he can muster. "I understand I am to watch the Year Four classes today."
"Yes, Inspector," Namore replies. "Right this way, sir."
The Year Four students, including Targeter, are lined up and ready. Their teacher yells something at them, and then the students dive into motion. It's a sort of obstacle course, and even though he should be watching everyone, Cassian's eyes keep drawing back to Targeter.
To be fair, he's not the only one. She's ahead of the rest of the class, moving with a grace that the others seem to lack. Cassian wonders what else she does, other than working as a rebel spy. She moves like a dancer, and Cassian isn't at all surprised when she finishes the obstacle course first.
He's not thrilled either, though, considering he told Targeter not to be at the very top of her class. This is definitely being at the very top of the class. Still, it makes it easier for Cassian to point her out, which he supposes might have been her goal in the first place.
"That's Cadet Elysar, yes?" he asks. "The transfer from the Imperial Center?"
"Yes," Namore replies, nodding. "She's very good. Her test scores were very impressive. We only take the best here, of course."
Cassian allows himself to pass a lingering glance over the other students, a few of whom are visibly struggling. "I see."
Namore flushes. "Well, we-"
"I'd like to talk with Cadet Elysar again," Cassian announces. "I think she might be a valuable resource."
"Of course," Namore replies. The extent to which she's tripping over herself to do whatever he asks is almost sickening. "I can get her now, if you'd like!"
"If you would," Cassian replies. Namore scurries off quickly. She says something quickly to Targeter, then the two of them return.
Targeter snaps to attention and salutes sharply. "Sir, I was told you wished to speak to me?"
"Cadet Elysar." Cassian nods once. "You seem very adept at the training here."
"I do my best, sir."
"What do you intend on doing after you finish your time at the academy?"
Targeter blinks once, but recovers quickly. "I've considered going into the Imperial Navy, sir, but I've also thought about being an inspector."
"Hmm." It's the right thing to say. Now Cassian's excuse for spending time with her is all the better. It wouldn't be too out-of-place for him to take on a temporary protégé, and it would allow him to spend much more time with Targeter. "I think you would make a good inspector."
Targeter's eyes go wide. "You do, sir?"
"It's not an easy job," Cassian warns. "But perhaps I could show you the ropes. You could help me with this inspection."
"Really, sir?" Targeter looks thrilled, but she quickly covers the expression. "Would it be allowed?"
Cassian looks at Namore, whose back goes ramrod straight in an instant. "I'm sure it could be managed."
"Of course," Namore replies, nodding. "We always want our students to have the best experiences, and working with an Imperial inspector would be a great experience for-"
"It's settled, then," Cassian interrupts. "Come with me, Cadet Elysar."
"Now?" Namore blurts out.
Cassian gives her a dirty look. "Yes, now. Unless you have a problem with that?"
"Of course not!" Namore shakes her head. "Go ahead, sir. I'll inform Cadet Elysar's instructors of the change in her schedule."
"Good." Cassian beckons to Targeter. "With me, Cadet."
Targeter falls into place a few steps behind him. "With me," Cassian repeats, pointing next to him.
Targeter frowns. "But sir, protocol-"
"For star's sake, Cadet, just get up here."
Targeter meekly steps forward. Cassian thinks he sees a flicker of amusement in her eyes, but it's gone as quickly as it came.
"Yes, sir."
"I've been looking over class records," he announces. "I want you to look over them with me. See if you can find anything that stands out, anything at all."
"Yes, sir."
Cassian leads them to his quarters and lets Targeter in. She walks in and stands at attention near his desk. Cassian closes the door behind him. He gestures for Targeter to sit at the table and she does. He brings the datapads to the desk and gives Targeter the stack he's already looked at.
"I've looked over these, but I'd like a second opinion. Tell me if you see anything at all suspicious."
"Of course, sir," Targeter replies. She picks up a datapad obediently, looking at it studiously. Cassian waits until they've each begun looking at their datapads to put a hand in his pocket and surreptitiously press the button inside. After a few seconds of waiting, it emits a quiet beep.
"The surveillance systems are disabled," Cassian says in a low voice. "It should look like a glitch, and it'll affect the whole wing. They shouldn't be able to trace it back to us."
"I'm not going to break cover if they try to take me," Targeter says in response, calmly setting the datapad down next to her.
"Excuse me?"
"If they try to take me, I'm going to go." Targeter folds her hands together. "It makes sense. I can see what they're doing, and I'll have a way to be in contact with you. And I'm certain we'll be able to figure out an extraction if we have to."
"This mission is not important enough to take those sorts of risks."
Targeter shrugs. "I think it is. Something is happening here, and I don't think it can be good. Why would the Empire be taking away their best students? Whatever they're planning, I don't think we're going to like it very much."
Cassian scowls. He and Targeter are the same rank, technically, and neither of them is in charge on this mission. Cassian is regretting that. He wants to order Targeter not to do something that stupid, but he doesn't think she'll take that very well.
"Hopefully, it won't come to that," he finally settles on. "Have you found out anything else today?"
"Nothing of interest," Targeter replies, shaking her head. A slight smile on her face, she adds, "Two of my roommates think you're attractive, though. They're very jealous that I get to work with you."
Cassian blinks. "Um."
"I don't think it'll be very helpful for the mission." Targeter's smirk makes it clear that she finds Cassian's distress very amusing. "But I thought you ought to know, just in case."
"I don't-" Cassian shakes his head. "Any helpful intel?"
"No," Targeter replies, shaking her head. "You?"
Cassian gestures at the datapads. "I've got a list of fourteen students who are no longer at this academy, but you said that there were less than twelve who disappeared."
"Rhylla said it was almost a dozen," Targeter agrees. "She said they disappeared recently. I'd guess she probably means within the past few months. How many disappearances were that recent?"
Cassian frowns down at the datapads. "Eleven, I think."
"So almost a dozen. Were there any common threads among the missing students?"
"Well, other than the previous agent we sent in, they were all at the top of the class."
Targeter frowns. "Do you think the previous agent was found out?"
"It's possible," Cassian replies. "But if they were, I would think the Empire would make an example of them. Our agent just disappeared. That's not what usually happens."
Targeter doesn't look entirely convinced, and there's still an unhappy twist to her mouth, but she nods. "You're right. It's not the way the Empire usually works."
"In case our predecessor was found out, though, we have to be extra careful," Cassian adds. "No unnecessary risks."
"I wasn't planning on taking any," Targeter replies. Cassian bites back his remark about her refusal to break cover if she's taken. "I have a family I want to get back to."
Cassian blinks. He didn't expect Targeter to have a family. He assumed she was an orphan, like himself. Most young Rebellion recruits are. "We'll get you back to them," Cassian says, even though he had no way of being sure that they can.
Targeter smiles slightly, although it doesn't reach her eyes. "We'll do our best, and if I don't come home, they'll know I died for a good cause."
Cassian presses his lips together. "Be careful."
"I will be," Targeter promises, and Cassian is fairly certain he can believe her.
Winter's roommates are predictably excited when she comes back from her meeting with Fulcrum. "Oh my stars, Corinna, how are you so lucky?" Bri cries, grabbing her hands and pulling her to the bed. "You get to work with Inspector Aldrecht!"
"He just wants my help because I'm a recent transfer," Winter demurs, pulling her hands out of Bri's. "He thinks I might be able to notice things that are odd, since I just came from another academy."
"Yes, but you get to work with Inspector Aldrecht," Kyra says, her voice laden with meaning. "What's he like?"
"Is he still that cute up close?" Bri demands.
"What did you do?" Kyra cries.
"Probably the same boring stuff she would have done if it were any other inspector here," Rhylla grumbles. "It's not that amazing."
"But he's so cute!" Bri protests.
"I'm working with him professionally," Winter states firmly. "Anyway, he's much older than us-"
"He doesn't look that much older than us," Kyra counters. "Probably less than ten years."
"We're sixteen," Rhylla says, sounding somewhat scandalized. "He's got to be at least in his mid-twenties-"
"That's not that big a difference," Kyra protests.
"Regardless of how old he is, I'm working with him as a colleague and an aide, nothing more," Winter says. "I want to be an inspector myself, once I graduate from the academy. I think that's why he's letting me work with him."
"Hmm, I might want to be an inspector too, in that case," Bri croons. Kyra giggles.
"They're impossible," Rhylla groans. "Ignore them, Corinna."
Winter offers Rhylla a small smile. "Thanks."
"But if anything juicy does happen, tell us," Kyra demands.
"I'm certain nothing 'juicy' will happen," Winter says. "What did I miss in lessons today?"
"Nothing important," Bri dismisses. "Anyway, you're the top of the class, you'll get it all down in a second."
"I"m surprised the Imperial Center gave you up," Rhylla remarks. It's an innocent enough statement, but something about the way she says it makes Winter's warning bells give a little chime. "Normally, academies don't like to give up their top students."
Winter shrugs. "I requested the move, and they allowed it."
"I don't know why you would want to leave the Imperial Center, though," Kyra says, lying down on her stomach and kicking her legs up above her. "It's so nice. I've only been once."
"It's less nice when you live there," Winter replies. She doesn't live on the Imperial Center, but she goes there often enough with Leia and Bail to be able to fake it. "I wanted to go somewhere that wasn't a city."
"If I lived on the Imperial Center, I'd never leave," Bri announces.
"It's not that great," Rhylla scoffs.
Bri scoffs. "Your priorities are weird, Rhylla. I'm not surprised you don't get it."
Rhylla flushes angrily. "Just because I don't fawn over the new inspector-"
"Rhylla, could you give me the details on what I missed today?" Winter cuts in. "I don't want to fall behind."
Rhylla still looks angry, but she deliberately turns away from Bri and faces Winter. "Sure. Come on, I'll let you read over my notes from the lecture."
"Thanks," Winter replies, leaving Bri and Kyra to gossip. She's hoping that she can get Rhylla on her side, for a whole multitude of reasons. It'll be good to have support at the academy, and if she thinks Rhylla is really trustworthy, Winter might even be able to turn her into a new Rebel recruit or, even better, a double agent. She's not counting on it, but it would be nice.
"Don't let them bother you," Winter says quietly, once she and Rhylla are out of earshot. "You're right, Imperial Center isn't all that great."
Rhylla's smile is strained, but the fact that she's trying to smile at all is a good sign. "It's not just that, but thanks for trying."
Winter allows her lips to quirk into a small smile. "I don't think Inspector Aldrecht is all that attractive either," she admits. "But Jalaila is cute."
Rhylla looks at Winter in surprise, then she starts smiling tentatively. "You really think so?"
Winter shrugs. "I like girls just as much as I like boys, and I like Jalaila." None of that is a lie. Winter would prefer not to lie to Rhylla more than she has to. She has to keep some things back, of course, but the more truthful she is, the better it'll be in the long run. If she wants to try and recruit Rhylla, her truthfulness might come in handy.
"I don't really like boys at all," Rhylla admits. "But Bri and Kyra just talk about them all the time. And Yvana would join in too, before she-"
"Before she what?" Winter prompts gently when Rhylla doesn't continue.
"She's one of the ones who disappeared," Rhylla says quietly. "We're not supposed to talk about it. I think it's stupid, but…"
"Don't get in trouble on my account," Winter says quickly, although she tucks the information away to tell Fulcrum later. "Let's just look over the notes, shall we? Then maybe you can tell me if there are any other cute girls here. I haven't noticed that many boys that catch my interest."
Rhylla grins. "Sounds good to me."
They look over the notes fairly quickly, but dinner comes before they can chat about girls. Winter makes eye contact with Fulcrum for a moment, when he enters the dining hall. He nods in acknowledgement and then proceeds to ignore her for the rest of dinner, at least by all outward appearances. Winter does the same.
Later, she'll wonder if she could have done anything differently to change what happens next. But it's already too late, not that Winter knows it, and there's nothing she could have done.
"Cadet Elysar," Namore calls when Winter is leaving the dining hall. "Might I have a word?"
Rhylla looks at Winter in surprise. "Do you know why she wants to talk to you?"
"No," Winter replies, frowning. "I hope it's nothing bad."
"Do you want me to wait for you?"
Winter shakes her head. "I'm alright. Thank you for the offer."
Rhylla heads back to the dorm, leaving Winter and Namore alone. "Is something wrong, ma'am?" Winter asks respectfully.
Namore studies her for a long moment. "There was a discrepancy in your transfer files," she finally says. "I didn't think much of it. It's a common enough error, and everything else was right."
"I apologize for the error," Winter replies, her heart starting to pound. "Is there anything you need me to do-"
"But after the inspector asked to work with you, I thought I should look over your files again," Namore continues. "There was only the one discrepancy, true, but I contacted the academy on the Imperial Center to inform them of it."
Winter goes cold.
"There was no Corinna Elysar at that academy," Namore says. "There has never been a Corinna Elysar at that academy. You are not who you say you are."
Winter wishes she had a blaster on her, even just a little holdout one, but it would have been too risky. She has the comlink for Fulcrum, but she can't get to it easily, and certainly not without Namore noticing.
But her cover is already blown, and the situation doesn't seem likely to get any better than it currently is, so Winter turns and sprints towards the doors, pulling the comlink out from under her uniform as she does.
She doesn't make it.
Pain explodes in her side as a blaster bolt hits her. Winter staggers forward, crying out in pain. She manages to stay upright through sheer force of will alone, but she knows she's lost. She sends Fulcrum a quick Namore knows before she crushes the comlink in her fist. Then she turns to face Namore, who is standing across the hall with a blaster in her hand.
"Go ahead. Kill me," Winter scoffs, trying to sound brave. "There are more people like me out there. More people defect to my side every day. There's no way you can win."
Namore's lips are twisted into a scowl. She raises the blaster again, aiming at Winter's head.
I'm sorry, Leia. I'm sorry, Mother and Father. May the Force be with you, even if I'm not.
"Any last words?"
"Long live the Rebellion."