The Dark-side?
"So what do you think, sir?" said Sam to her CO.
Jack was quite shocked by her question.
She wants my opinion? My approval, maybe? Like hell she's getting that I just don't like the guy. Ah well let's try honesty, and we'll see how far that gets us Jack
"He's defiantly not how I imagined." Her face fell slightly and she looked floor.
Well if in doubt turn to what your best at
"I imagined some little Yoda like guy, keeping you away from 'the dark-side'!" he added with a grin.
She laughed aloud, her smile dazzling and blinding anyone in a 10-mile radius.
"Yeah he kept me right, I wonder what happened?" she quipped, her eyes shining with laughter.
Bowing his head as if in guilt he told the ground, "Must have been my influence."
Glancing up at her his eyes contained a similar glint to her own. The pair burst out laughing, luckily this was over looked by most others in the room as they all where currently concentrating on now finding a seat among the rows of chairs near front.
"It's not been all that bad has it?" he asked half seriously as they moved with the crowd.
"No, sir. It's not been bad at all."
They sat companionably near the back, smiles ever present on their faces, standing out amongst the myriad of sullen faced officers.
The pair chatted amongst themselves until all those around them silenced, looking to the stage, they saw why they had gone quiet.
Paul was standing at the plinth, obviously about to introduce the greying man that was almost hidden beneath the shadows on the stage.
"Oh shit." Whispered Jack, slouching into his seat and looking to the floor at the recognition of him.
"... may I introduce Derek Ford." Said Paul cheerily.
"Colonel, what's wrong?" mumbled Sam amongst the polite clapping.
"Him. That's what's wrong." Pointing his thumb angrily at the man now standing before the microphone.
He was quite short, in comparison with Mason at least, but he clearly had a presence about him (an air of arrogance perhaps) which most people would flock to.
Sam, was not most people, one of the joy's of joining the 'dark-side' was that you gained a different perspective on the world, the perspective of the colonel (just one of the thinks she was thankful to him for). This outlook allowed her assess situations better, to read people better, to see through this man's façade, and what she seen she didn't recognise. But she didn't like it. She took an instant dislike to the man, knowing she would need to be wary around him; the dislike was only fuelled further by the reaction of Jack and his obvious hatred.
The greying man, now talking for all it was worth, still had the foundation of a good looking young man, however it was clouded by the lines of time and age that now etched his face. His exuberance was just another quality he manipulated to draw people in.
He was in his sixties at least, his eyes were where it showed this most, there was a great wisdom there and yet a private smile, as if sneering at all those around him, all those below him.
His voice was smooth and well spoken, spellbinding and enchanting to everyone else in the room, reeling them in. This was his primary weapon, some say the pen is mightier than the sword, the tongue is far worse. A double edged knife that could lure people into a false sense of security then strike them down when they least expect it. Any word from this man's mouth could empower or destroy someone in an instant.
With each word he spoke Jack sat lower in his chair his eyes glinting in pure anger and frustration.
As the man drew his epic speech to a close, the room erupted with applause now firmly under his control, a stark contrast to the polite appreciation he received before.
"Right people stations!" called Mason.
Jack watched closely as Ford glided off the stage and out a door to the right.
The clatter of chairs and roar of voices concealed the only tow officers still sitting.
"Who was that, sir?" she said concerned.
Very rarely did the colonel show such scorn for someone unless they where Russian, NID or Gou'ald!
"That," he said venom in every syllable, "would be my professor."