A/N: Another Koth conversation, set after Chapter 10 of KotFE. I have really mixed feelings about his writing, but he's probably one of the most moral people on the Alliance command staff. Thing is, even if his and Evren's senses of right and wrong line up pretty well, they still have serious differences of opinion as to what the Alliance is for. So that's . . . awkward.

Unsaid

o.O.o

"Hey," Koth says, one chilly morning in the base mess. He sits down across from Evren. "I was thinking, and I just wanted to thank you. For being, well, you. You saved all those people when Vaylin tried to blow up the Spire, you stopped Firebrand from killing civilians . . . It means a lot, that even in the middle of a war you're not stooping to Arcann's level. So thanks."

Evren drops his gaze, a bit embarrassed. "You are most welcome," he mumbles into his tea.

"Gotta ask, though. Were you tempted?"

"With Kaliyo? Not once. She can complain all she likes, but killing innocents will neither sway the people of Zakuul to our side nor intimidate Arcann."

"So it was all about strategy for you?" Koth says, an edge creeping into his voice.

Evren blinks, then laughs, shaking his head. "Apologies. I'm used to having to justify mercy. No—it was not entirely about strategy."

Koth relaxes a little. "Your Empire is really messed up."

"It is."

". . . You still hate Zakuul, though."

"I hate Arcann, and the fact that my Empire and all its horrors were built solely to feed Vitiate." To fuel his pursuit of this, his focus, his shining Eternal Empire and his much-vaunted vision for Zakuul. "But Zakuul's people? No." He does not say that the Zakuulans are just as much Vitiate's toys as the Imperials; he does not say that to Vitiate, people don't matter at all.

He does not say that he's almost jealous of them, for their gentler, kinder prison—almost, but not quite. His cage may not have been so pleasant but at least he's always known it was a cage.

Koth seems to search his face, frowning in consideration. "And the Spire, when Lana and I got you out of carbonite?"

"Tempting, but my life is worthless if it is bought with innocent blood." More innocent blood. And that's a line of reasoning he'd rather not pursue.

"Lana was tearing her hair out over that stunt," Koth says fondly. "I love her, I really do, but sometimes she can push pragmatism over the line."

"Mm." Evren's feelings about Lana's pragmatism are somewhat less friendly, but that's between him and Lana.

"Anyway," says Koth, "I'm glad you're . . . you. I mean, I'd hate to have to pick between our best shot at getting Arcann off the throne and doing what's right."

I am not yours, I am not Zakuul's, I am not doing this for you—I am Imperial, I am Sith—but Evren smiles. "I'll try to avoid forcing the issue."

o.O.o