Checking in on Theron...Enjoy.


Theron paced back and forth in one of the communications rooms on the Republic Fleet, feeling more angry and dejected than he'd ever been. He'd just been put on indefinite leave from the SIS for the events on Ziost.

Yes, he was prepared to take full responsibility for the lives of the Jedi he'd sent to the doomed planet. Both the deaths and the possible permanent damage done to Master Surro's psyche from being dominated by the Emperor's mental control were basically his fault. He'd realized the Sith Emperor's true power too late to save all his people, but the military presence on Ziost was not his doing, even though Chancellor Saresh was using him as a scapegoat for their loss. Saresh had been the one who ignored Theron's plees to pull troops off the planet. Their deaths were on her hands, even if Theron was being blamed.

All of this was only compounded by the fact they were still unable to locate Vala. His daughter had disappeared from Coruscant the same day she arrived to collect a group of younglings. She'd had dinner with her grandfather, then just seemed to disappear. They'd learned that she had taken a shuttle to Nar Shaddaa, but have no idea where she went from there, though Theron had his suspicions.

Satele was adamant she hadn't felt Vala die and that it was unlikely her death would go unfelt by both herself or Vala's most recent master, Hellina Graft. They were both strong enough in the Force and close enough to Vala to be confident they would feel her death. She was alive, but was she a captive again or was something more serious going on? Had she gone back to her former captors or was she somewhere else entirely? Whichever was the case, she had yet to show back up on anyone's scanners. Not yet.

Theron had spent enough time in Darth Marr's company to wonder, if Vala had indeed gone back to the Sith, what had he promised her upon her return. Had he made some type of threat? Not knowing was the worst part.

After being released from the SIS, Satele had asked for Theron to go back to Coruscant, to meet with her. It seemed weird that his mother wished for an in person meeting with him, which worried him more. What had she found out about Vala which couldn't be communicated over the holo?


Master Satele knelt quietly on her meditation mat. She'd sensed her son's arrival on Coruscant and knew he wouldn't waste any time coming to her.

Satele hadn't agreed with the chancellor's decision to reprimand Theron for the events on Ziost. There was no one to blame except the Sith Emperor, but the Republic needed someone to take the heat for Ziost and Theron just happened to be a convenient target. She would have fought his suspension, but the Force was telling her that this is what needed to happen. Theron was needed for something beyond the SIS. Being a spy was part of his identity, so she hoped the news she was about to convey wouldn't push him too far.

Satele wasn't sure how long she sat meditating before Theron arrived at her door. When he entered, she noted he looked good for a man going through more than one stresser in his life. Though she's given him up as a baby, she'd never experienced a missing child. It was bad enough as a grandmother. She couldn't even imagine what her son was going through.

"Thankyou for coming, Theron." Satele said, standing to greet her son.

He nodded but said nothing. He looked alright, but Satele could feel his turmoil.

"I have news about Vala." She said, taking a seat while Theron sat across from her. Normally, he stood when he visited her apartment on Coruscant, but this time he sat without being encouraged. Theron had never been comfortable in her presence. With time, it had gotten better, but he never fully forgave her for giving him up, even though he insisted he understood and accepted her choice.

"I figured as much. You wouldn't have called me here to discuss my suspension again. I knew this had to be something you didn't want to say over the holo."

"Vala's been found. She surrendered to an Imperial camp on Balmorra and was taken offworld. We have a mole at the Sith academy on Korriban. He reported back that Vala has been training as a Sith acolyte."

"Training? You can't mean she's a Sith now."

Satele sighed. "It appears she is, but I feel something else is going on here. I don't think she's been corrupted, at least not in the traditional sense."

Theron stood suddenly. "What do you mean, the traditional sense? She's training to be a Sith!"

Satele did her best to ignore Theron's anger. It bothered her, but she understood his feelings, even if she didn't share them.

"I think she returned to Darth Marr, entirely by choice. He has either offered her something or she's looking for something she thinks she'll find with the Sith. Her path has become frustratingly cloudy, but I must believe she's made this choice for a reason."

Theron stopped pacing and looked at his mother. "So, you don't think she's being coerced?"

"I do not believe so. I also think we shouldn't try to save her or bring her home."

"What!"

"If she went over voluntarily, which it seems she has, trying to extract her by force would only push her further down the dark path. I can still feel a connection with her. She is not lost to us. Not entirely."

Theron began to pace more vigorously. "Forgive me if I don't believe you. Unfortunately, I'll be on my own to try to get to her, since I'm taking all the blame for Ziost."

Satele sighed again. She had been hoping this topic would not come up. She'd sided with the chancellor on Theron's suspension, though it pained her to do so. The Force guided her to the choice, though she doubted Theron would take the excuse. He, like many force nulls, did not like being told something was being done because of Force guidance.

"I don't believe you are to blame, but I think it was important for you to be suspended."

Theron scoffed. "Let me guess, the Force told you this."

"I know it's not what you want to hear, but I truly believe your suspension and Vala leaving are both for larger reasons, even if we don't know those reasons yet."

Surprisingly, Theron only sat back down with a huff, not complaining about Satele's reasoning.

"I'm too tired to argue. I only hope you're right." Theron replied after a long pause.

So do I. Satele thought to herself.


To Be Continued...