Chapter 5- Agent Aris
Kyrah's senses didn't fail her. The area behind the shop was a large room with several doors leading to smaller ones. In the main room, many screens covered the walls and some computer stations in the center. Several men and women stood in front of the computers, fixated on the data they offered with great intensity. She assumed they were analysts. What perplexed Kyrah the most was that this all appeared to be temporary - as if it were set up in a hurry.
"You'll want to go through the door at the end," the Twi'lek agent directed.
"Very well, thank you…" she trailed off, hoping he'd take that as an invitation for a proper introduction.
He didn't. Instead, he offered her a curt nod - not unlike the one she'd initially offered him - and turned back towards the storefront.
She returned her attention to the room and observed the analysts for a moment more.
Kyrah entered the back door. The room she entered was only slightly larger than her quarters at the temple. In the center was a datapad-ridden desk. Behind it stood a man who, unsurprisingly, held a datapad in his hand. His gaze remained fixed on the screen, but she could sense his attention had shifted to her.
The Jedi noted his distinct appearance. He stood tall and with a broad build. His skin was fair and his eyes a shade of blue that represented his icy and calculating disposition well. It almost made him look inhuman. Kyrah could argue that she seemed warm by comparison.
What caught Kyrah's attention the most was his hair. Though primarily black, it had a distinct white stripe that ran through it. She wondered what phenomenon must have occurred to achieve such a unique feature.
"I see you successfully figured out how to get here."
Kyrah shouldn't have been surprised, yet she was still taken aback by his greeting. His tone was direct and devoid of any genuine pleasantry. It was only when he spoke that he shifted his gaze up to her.
"And I appreciate your choice to wear civilian clothing," he continued, motioning towards her attire.
"It made the most sense at the time," she responded.
"Very good," the man responded. His choice of words made her feel as if she was undergoing an evaluation. "I wanted to see how you handle information. I must also note your handling of the street beggar, not the typical response I'd expect from your type, but effective nonetheless."
"You've been watching me this whole time? What, was this some kind of test?" Kyrah asked, irritation creeping into her voice. She'd had quite enough deception and evasive answers over the last few days. Kyrah didn't bother to ask what he meant by her type; she figured he was referring to the Jedi.
"We have eyes everywhere. You'll figure that out quickly. What I wanted was to give you an impression of how you'll be operating from here forward," the man replied.
"That so? You still haven't said who you are," she retorted.
"My name is Armand Isard. I am the director of Republic Intelligence."
"I see," she acknowledged flatly. A small part of her wanted to make some remark about how long it took to introduce himself, but she held her tongue.
"You will have to excuse the state of things," he continued, gesturing towards the door. "The Republic military base is in its final stages of construction. We will relocate there shortly."
"I'll be honest, that's the least of my concerns at present." The director narrowed his gaze.
"If you have a concern, Zamora, I suggest you say your piece now."
"Why me?" she asked. "All I've received from the Jedi are vague and cryptic answers. From what I understand, most of us are commanding on the front lines of this conflict. So let me ask you this, director, why are things different for me?"
"Good, you're finally asking the right questions."
The director walked out from behind his desk. His steps were slow and meticulous. He seemed to be circling her like a Firaxan shark. Glancing briefly at his cold eyes, Kyrah could sense his careful observation of her. The man only stopped moving once he was standing right behind her. Kyrah was too unnerved to turn and face him.
"The truth is, I wanted to see what a force-sensitive operative could do for Republic Intelligence. I requested a suitable candidate from the Jedi Order, and they sent you. If you want to know why they chose you specifically, you will have to ask them."
"So I'm to be some kind of grand experiment?"
"If that's how you choose to see it. Though I suggest you change that attitude of yours quickly."
There was little Kyrah could do. The assignment was finalized and, to her dismay, the director was right.
"Where do you want me to start?" she asked, doing her best to suppress a resigned sigh.
The director let out a low chuckle.
"I'm not sending you into the field without any training."
"I'm quite experienced with infiltration and stealth techniques. Not to mention- "
"That's not everything this role entails," he cut her off. "Do you know how to blend in with the common man? How to spot red flags in the field? How to handle a- "
He stopped short. Suddenly, the director was now inches from her backside. Kyrah realized he had drawn a concealed hold-out pistol and was holding it to her neck.
"Blaster?" he concluded.
On instinct, Kyrah's hand went to her waist to grab her saber, but Isard's free hand was already on the hilt, effectively blocking her.
"Your actions during your arrival told me you know more than I expected. However, you still have a long way to go."
The director released her from his grip. Kyrah froze upon noticing he had taken her saber. She'd never admit it, but the fluidity of his movements impressed her.
"I said I wanted a force-sensitive operative, but I won't have you fully dependent on Jedi techniques. They are an asset, but you'll need to learn to work without a- "
The director observed the dual-ended hilt in his hands.
"This is a lightsaber?"
"Yes, it is," she replied through gritted teeth. "May I have it back?"
"Fascinating," he mused, ignoring her. "Going back to what I was saying. There are many field techniques you need to learn. I'm assigning a senior field operative to guide you for a short time. You would be wise to learn everything you can in that timeframe. In fact, I'll give you an incentive. You can have this back once you've convinced me you're not dependent on it."
The director paused for a moment as he keyed a button on his desk. Kyrah was fighting to suppress her frustration.
"You can't- "she began to protest.
She was cut off by the office door opening.
"Is this the newest recruit?" A voice asked from behind her.
The speaker was female. Her voice didn't sound rough or aggressive, yet it still carried an air of assertiveness.
Kyrah turned around to meet a Mirialan woman. She was tall, lithe, and had black hair pinned up in a bun. Her tattoos created fascinating geometric patterns on her face.
"Yes," Isard answered. He returned his attention to Kyrah. "This is Agent Evaliya. She'll be the agent guiding your training."
"A pleasure," the woman said, extending her hand for a greeting. Kyrah unconsciously responded in kind, still dumbfounded by the conversation that ended just moments ago.
"I think we've taken up enough of the director's time," she continued. "Meet me back in the main room."
"Certainly," she replied, all too eager to get out of Isard's office. Recollecting her thoughts, she decided arguing the confiscation of her lightsaber would prove fruitless.
After the woman left, Isard spoke to Kyrah a final time.
"Remember what I said - you would be wise to learn everything you can. Succeed, and you can have the lightsaber back. Good luck, Agent Aris."