"What kind of decrepit, brain-rotted sod would do that? Do they think the overseers are imbeciles?"
Aaron wakes up at the sound of Sailens's voice, but finds himself alone in his dormitory. He blinks and rubs his eyes. "Sai?"
No answer.
He sits up and looks around the room, but aside from his bed and cramped armoire, the room is empty. He scratches his head.
"Not that I am unskilled at noticing such an egregious change, but doubtless there are Overseers more observant than I."
He thinks, I know it's her voice, but she doesn't have a voice, she talks with the droid. And where is she anyway?
Sailens's critical rambling pauses. Aaron..?
"Sai?" He leans over the side of his bed and looks underneath it, but there's still nothing. "Where are you? Can you hear me?"
Again, there's no answer, but Aaron feels a prodding inside his head. His mind flashes back to his master doing something to him that resulted in a similar feeling. He yelps and curls back up in his sparse bed. Get out of my head!
If this is as I believe, there is no chance of that, Aaron. Her voice is in his head, soft and gentle in a way it never is with the droid.
What's going on? He asks in his mind.
I believe we've a Force bond, now. A distinct sense of curiosity comes with her words in his head.
He takes a shuddering breath and stretches out. I didn't realize a Force bond meant… Telepathy. Rencarn was just asking me the other day if I'd made any Force bonds yet.
Sailens doesn't answer immediately, but Aaron's brain starts calling up memories of her yelling "Suspicious!" at him. When she does respond, the words are slow and measured. Why would he ask you such a thing?
Aaron relaxes and smirks. They're fairly common between strong Force users. He said I should form them easily.
More silence.
Aaron jumps a meter out of his bed when his morning alarm goes off. He stares at it for a moment before shutting it off with a touch of Force.
I do not believe I will allow you to form Force bonds with others. Her mental voice is firm.
You're not jealous, are you? Even though he asked the question, he's not sure if he means jealous of his ability to create Force bonds or jealous that he might connect with someone else.
Anyone else you bond with will be able to delve into my mind from our connection. That is unacceptable. Her tone is clipped and brokers no argument.
In a deeper, more private part of his mind, Aaron thinks, I never woulda thought she had so much emotion in her voice. Then he frowns when the implications of her words sink in. You're right. I don't want to put you danger. ...I don't want to leave myself vulnerable like that, either, actually… Should I ask Rencarn about how to prevent them?
No!
Aaron thinks he feels a spike of fear from her. He rubs a hand across his face.
No, Aaron. I believe I can acquire a… a trinket that will prevent you from forming more bonds. Her mental voice is shakey and… unsettled? It's nothing Aaron's ever heard from her before.
Right. Whatever you say, Sai.
Don't tell Rencarn! Her voice is sharp.
I won't, I won't. His eyes go wide and he stares at the alarm clock he'd shut off. "I'm going to be late!" He scrambles around the tiny room and yanks his academy robe on. As he rushes out of the room, he sends Sailens one last thought. I trust you when you say not to tell him. Trust that I won't.
Aaron touches the trinket underneath his robe and watches the milling Sith and Imperial socialites. It was nice to be off of Korriban, but now Aaron felt like he was spinning his wheels as Recarn's apprentice. We're supposed to be learning, not play-acting in front of these nobodies.
Are you not impressed by this luxurious hall and decadent food? Sailens smirks and tilts her head, the gold tinsel in her hair shifting and sparkling in the bright, artificial light. She was having a much easier time of it. Being mute had the advantage of no one deigning to speak with her.
He pulled at the collar of his robe. Maybe if they spoke Basic. Or if these robes were comfortable. Across the hall, he sees another apprentice trip and drop a tray of drinks. Aaron cringes. That won't end well for him.
Not at all. Sailens subconsciously leans forward to get a better look at the resulting strike of Force lightning. One benefit of Rencarn not teaching you is that he isn't punishing you.
He reaches the rub the back of his head, but stops just short of messing up his hair. Raven says I'm lucky for it. Apparently, Recarn is pretty free with his Force lightning. Aaron pauses. Yes, I know, suspicious.
At least you're- Sailens cuts herself off as a short, bejewelled pureblood approaches them. She smiles, large and false, and gives him a polite wave. Don't forget your greeting.
Aaron resists the urge to chew his tongue off and then begins the usual song and dance for speaking with an unknown Sith. He plasters a smile on his face while the stranger responds.
He's just bragging about his estate. Sounds like a gaudy mess. She pretends to take a sip of her drink.
Aaron compliments the man appropriately, though he stumbles over the pronunciation. Rencarn and Sa'alle wouldn't be caught dead speaking to these nothings.
Of course not, that's why they have us. She flicks her wrist and the champagne in her glass splashes out and lands on the floor rather than her dress. Sailens tenses.
What- Aaron leaves his own question hanging as a tall, lithe woman with sharp features and dark hair sweeps in front of them. His eyes drift to the neckline of her scalloped, black gown.
The newcomer bows first before Sailens and then gives Aaron a formal nod. She addresses Sailens. "A pleasure to see you here, my lord."
Sailens frowns, her mouth pulling its tattoos down with the motion. She gestures to Aaron. Tell her, "This is unexpected."
He echoes her words. "This is unexpected."
"Old habits die hard, as they say." The woman's lips are dark red, a stark contrast with her milk-white skin. She turns her gaze onto Aaron. "I am Na'li'a, my lord. A professional of the court, thought I have kept to myself in recent years."
"I'm Aaron… Apprentice to Darth Rencarn." Professional of the court?
Later.
"An honor." She bows. "Our friend is wondering if his gift is working properly." She raises the hairless ridge above one of her eyes.
Tell her it is doing its duty and that our friend need not worry.
"Uh… It's working. They don't have to worry." This time his hand makes it to the back of his head before he remember not to ruffle his hair.
"Always good to hear. Do remain in contact." She bows and Aaron sees her elaborate headdress shift forward. "And congratulations on your upcoming nuptials."
"Er, thanks." He stares at her as she walks away with her train of her gown sweeping away her steps. What was that about? Who was she? Who's watching us?
Sailens ignores his mental questions, instead turns her attention to a steward to hand over her empty champagne flute.
Sai, I trusted you about the trinket…
It's my father. He made the trinket. She turns her face away from him, but he can read her emotions from their Force bond.
You're father? The Moff? How could he…
The Moff isn't my father. His blood is tainted, unworthy. The one who made the trinket is a pure human, as am I.
Aaron's mouth opens and closes as he tries to process this information. And that woman?
My father's wife. A courtesan before my father caught her eye.
"Sai…" He lifts his hand to touch her shoulder, but drops it just before making contact. In the private part of his mind he thinks, I cannot show that I know any of this. He shakes his head. "Suspicious is right."