"You will continue monitoring our surveillance of the Republic control tower as my apprentice's attack begins, Quinn. Make sure I am kept apprised of her progress. I will need to address her once she has placed the explosive," Darth Baras' holographic image twinkled over Quinn's computer console. He lowered his chin deferentially.
"Of course, my lord. I am already monitoring the station, watching for your apprentice," Quinn assured the Sith lord. He paused, frowning as he watched the interior of the Republic facility using the security cameras the Empire had sliced into, for access. It allowed him eyes and ears inside the compound, and now he counted the large number of milling troops and droids in the rooms and around the console that Lusiel was supposed to reach.
"You appear concerned, Quinn. There is no need," Baras asserted, sounding amused.
Quinn was uncertain. So much of what Baras was hoping to accomplish was hidden from his own consideration, after all. Which was hardly unusual. Sith objectives were typically hard to discern. Quinn certainly did not presume he understood what Darth Baras was truly focused on accomplishing here on Balmorra, even if his own understanding might help him accomplish the task Baras asked of him. No, when Baras insisted on privacy to address his apprentice, Quinn withdrew. Whatever Baras wanted done, his intentions were beyond Quinn's purpose. And he had no qualms over the issue, even. It was simply how things were done across the Empire.
"I only wish to properly calculate your apprentice's chance at success, my lord. To mitigate any challenge as it arises," Quinn responded, assuredly.
"My apprentice has prevailed in situations I thought would be unduly difficult, however. I have no doubt she will easily overcome this current challenge," Baras admitted. Quinn rather felt Darth Baras frowning, more than he discerned it from behind the mask Baras was always wearing. It occurred to Quinn, that Baras was uneasy of his own apprentice. That might prove dangerous for the younger Sith, he supposed. And that's when Quinn realized he thought of Lusiel like she was already an equal of Baras, than truly subordinate to him. As if leadership was innate to her.
And Darth Baras was frowning, too. Lusiel's growing strength and abilities remained one of his primary concerns, Baras thought. Only the most foolhardy of Sith underestimated their apprentices. Every Sith was doomed to fight for his every seat, his every position of power – to keep it for his own, even as the apprentice sought to take it. And Baras had watched Lusiel, had seen her approach into his office grasping the prized Ravager she ripped from the blackest reaches of the Dark Temple. It sent a thrill through him even now, thinking of how she looked right then, after he had assumed her incapable of surviving and then to watch her emerge victorious. It was not the first time she had surprised him. But it was at that moment, looking at her standing there unconcernedly - as if the sheer malevolence that prevailed in the Temple was just so insignificant to her - that Baras was suddenly sure this was the apprentice who might doom him. Her strength and power was already tremendous, and she was still so young! Only barely shy of twenty years! No, give her time enough and she would prove unstoppable.
For now though, Lusiel was absolutely necessary. Nomen Karr needed to be destroyed, the threat he posed was far greater right now than that of a young, growing apprentice. Baras only knew it would not be long before he needed to destroy Lusiel, as well. Hopefully before she noted his true intentions, even.
"My lord, your apprentice has arrived at the facility. She is breaching the doors now. She is ..." Quinn's voice tapered off as he watched the scene unfold, his eyes going wider and wider as he considered the scene.
The doors opened and Lusiel moved forward, swinging her lightsaber in what seemed near gentle arcs. Such gorgeous, elegant motions, until the screams and shouts assured her the enemy she battled was down and she moved on to the next. She almost appeared to be dancing, her battle rhythm was so sinuous, so fluid a thing. She never paused, never showed concern or doubt - she just pressed forward, always forward, while all around her Republic soldiers and droids collapsed in sodden heaps of blood and wires. Behind her came Vette, providing a constant barrage of covering fire and keeping enemies pinned long enough for the Sith to approach and destroy them.
It was a smooth and awe-inspiring display of synchronization between the two. But it was the Sith's own controlled motions that truly impressed. Quinn felt himself hardening again as he watched her, watched her legs firmly planted through her swings and her torso twisting in precise and controlled movements, thrusting her breasts upwards into hard, perfect mounds every time she raised her lightsaber. She was an extraordinary example of Imperial might and glory, a sight to behold, beauty in sheer power.
"Now that there, boyo, is a Sith," one of the Imperials behind Quinn breathed out to the assembled team, awed. The remark brought Quinn back to a semblance of reality. He had a job to do, and he looked back towards his men. He frowned as he saw they were all watching the screens like slavish devotees, rather than the Imperial support the Sith were relying upon.
"Be ready! They'll reach the control room very quickly at this rate," Quinn barked out the order, watching his men only long enough to assure they were focused on the task at hand once again. But then he could not help but return to his consideration of the Sith's progress. He tapped his fingers over the terminal, making his notes and marking every step of progress Lusiel made as she moved from room to room, heading unerringly towards her objective. He was totally fascinated.
Baras chuckled darkly. "She is succeeding, I take it."
"Yes, my lord," Quinn responded, almost as an aside. He didn't even look up from the monitors as he nodded. Baras was vaguely surprised how intensely Quinn considered the course. Such interest was completely unusual where the Imperial was concerned. Curious, Baras widened his perception, reaching out with the force to best divine what compelled the officer in that moment. It was a skill Baras had brought to almost perfection over the years, far beyond that of most Sith. He utilized the ability to discern the best means by which to manipulate his precious tools throughout the varied landscapes of power, whether in the Empire or the Republic. Baras was certain his abilities in this regard were without match. No one and nothing would threaten all he'd managed to accomplish.
Although Lusiel had guessed quickly where Baras' skill was strongest. An amazing feat in such a young, inexperienced Sith, actually. One that very much impressed him as much as anything else Lusiel accomplished. Most often, Baras was already able to methodically and systematically compel his subjects, had measured their weaknesses enough to direct them, and long before they were aware of his own Force-strong ability. But Lusiel countered Baras time and again, only remaining unfailingly obvious in her disdain and disgust of him. Initially, her temerity amused. But he realized quickly the real weapon her open emotions proved to be, as she actually used her blunt refrain and even outright insults against him to hinder him exploiting her. When it was difficult for him to discern what was true and what was a lie of hers, when her secrets were squirreled and obscured by her real disgust and upset, it became possible for her to neatly skirt Baras from blocking her into any one particular place. He often wondered where she'd learned such a remarkable feat of skillful maneuvering, actually. Or maybe it was some hallmark of her incredibly admirable will, rather. Whatever made it, though, it was exceedingly dangerous to him.
But Quinn had absolutely no defense against Baras' Force abilities. Most especially not after Baras had regularly explored his will using the technique many times over the years. So Baras easily discerned the emotional state in which the Lieutenant was struggling just then, the sheer tumult of fascinated attraction and simmering desires that occupied him. Baras was amused, if only because Quinn was typically aloof and even taciturn when it came to romantic entanglements. Not that he was adverse to female companionship. But Quinn hadn't formed any sort of lasting commitment to a woman that Baras knew of, tending to regard women with a sort of bored detachment. As if they were brief diversions from the real passion with which he approached his work, and regardless of how intensely attractive women themselves found him. Yet here Quinn wrestled with what Baras sensed was a budding absorption in one particular female. Interesting, he thought. Very interesting, indeed.
"My lord, your apprentice has reached the control room and is placing the explosive now," Quinn suddenly asserted.
