"Is everything all right, Vette?" the agent asked.

Vette nodded, but she moved through sit-ups more by rote than enthusiasm.

"You usually hate me a lot more by now," the agent continued.

"Yeah," Vette said.

"Did he do something to you?"

Vette shook her head. "He's good about that. Barras wanted Mau'te to kill me at the end of that mission.

The agent sighed. The rumors about Barras and the slave rebellion must be true.

"Barras is known for not liking loose ends. Or witnesses," the agent said.

"I figured," Vette replied. "I could understand Korriban, but he wanted to kill me for doing the job right. I thought all I had to do was act like a good girl for a little while."

"Actually, you're one of the best people I know."

Vette laughed a little. "I've got a muddier past than you think."

"Compared to all the other people on Dromund Kaas?"

"Oh, yeah," Vette said. "Good point. At least Mau'te protected me. This time anyway."

"I suppose he did," the agent said.

"You don't like him, do you?"

"I don't like it when Sith Lords let their arrogance, or their passions, get out of hand," the agent replied. "And I don't like the infighting. It weakens the Empire."

"Why are you doing this, by the way? If Mau'te didn't ask you."

"I was asked by another Sith Lord, one more in control of her passions."

"Her?" Vette said. "Really? Why? Never mind. I don't want to know."

The agent smiled in spite of herself. "She has an interest in Lord Mau'te, and you're there to keep him alive."

"Oh, okay. So, back to the sit-ups."

The agent stood and held out a hand to help Vette up. "It's time for combat training."

"I thought I wasn't ready," Vette said, standing up.

"You just became ready." She took Vette to a target dummy and gave her a practice knife. "Do you know how to use a vibroknife?"

"Basically."

"Force sensitives predict your attacks by seeing the future, reading your surface thoughts, and reading your body language. You can confuse their foresight with multiple feints." She made four quick stabs at the dummy, but only one connected. "If you practice enough, your movements become muscle memory, and you can disconnect them from your surface thoughts. Learn enough different techniques, and your body language won't give you away."

"Is it really that easy?" Vette asked.

"No," the agent said. "They're trained to watch for it. But, it is the basis of everything else I will teach you. By the time I'm done with you, your chances against a Force sensitive will go from zero to... one in twenty. One in ten if you're really talented."

"Any Sith Lord?"

"An acolyte or an apprentice, yes. A Sith Lord, maybe. A Darth, run."

"I can do that," Vette said.

"Let's get started."

Two hours later, Vette dropped to the floor and groaned, "I can't lift my arms anymore."

"I believe you. Wait here. I've got something for you."

The agent recovered a small case from another room, sat next to Vette, and handed it to her. The case contained a high-end, military grade vibroknife. The blade was slender with a fine point and made of a black metal with a matte finish. An assassin's weapon. Moderate length, easy to conceal, and it fit Vette's hand perfectly.

"How much did this cost you?" Vette asked.

"Not much," the agent said. "I made it myself."

"Wow. Really."

"Thank you," the agent said. "The blade and guard are coated with phrik, and it uses a class two fusion cell. It should last you a lifetime."

"Phrik?"

"A special alloy," the agent said. "It's resistant to lightsabers, but not immune. It will stop a glancing blow but not a solid strike. It's good backup if the shield generator is damaged. It makes the knife heavier, but it's worth it." She ran a fingertip along the flat of the blade. "I made something like this for my sister."

"I'm betting she's not a chef."

The agent smiled again. "I haven't seen her for a few years, but I know she wanted to be a soldier. I wanted to give her a little extra protection against Force sensitives."

"You really hate them, don't you?"

The agent shook her head. "Not all of them. I know some that I would trust with my life, but they are definitely a minority."

"Any Force sensitive you have in mind for this one?" Vette held up the vibroknife.

"Yes," the agent said. "Any Force sensitive that attacks you."


The assassin opened the door to her apartment with a smile.

"Agent," she said, greeting the other Twi'lek woman. "And you must be Kaliyo. I've heard so much about you."

"Nice meeting you, my... Lady," Kaliyo said. "Sorry. I'm not much for formalities."

"Neither am I." the assassin said.

"I didn't think Imperial Intelligence got along with Sith," Kaliyo said.

"We don't," the assassin replied. "I'm blackmailing your agent with something juicy."

"Anything I can use?" Kaliyo asked, looking at the agent.

"I'd have to kill you if you found out," the assassin said. "But it'd be quick and painless. I promise."

"That's nice. Who's the big, scary whatever?"

"That's Khem," the assassin said. "You're not Force sensitive, so he won't eat you."

"Why doesn't he eat you?" Kaliyo asked.

"I'm not ripe yet."

"We're here to talk," the agent said.

"Quite right," the assassin replied. "Kaliyo, I was wondering if you could help me while the agent I are talking." She showed Kaliyo to a table with a dozen framed designs on it. "I've recently become interested in Rattataki tribal tattoos. I know some of them have additional meaning. I was wondering if you could assemble some these into a phrase I might like."

Kaliyo skimmed the designs and said, "I'll do what I can."

The assassin thanked her, and took the agent to a secure room.

"What do you think of Vette so far?" the assassin said.

"She's annoying, argumentative, sarcastic," the agent began. "Too damn good for him."

"Good for him is what I need. How are her skills?"

"Her stealth skills are nearly as good as mine," the agent said. "Her slicing is better. I'd love to know who taught her. Her combat skills need work. She's not a killer by nature. But she learns fast. I can get her ready."

"Excellent," the assassin said.

"I like her," the agent said. "If he hurts her, even once, I'm getting her out. Your vision be damned. I won't let him do that to anyone else."

The assassin nodded. "If her hurts her, she's hasn't helped him. It won't matter."

The agent had rarely seen the assassin at a loss.

"What happens if you fail?" the agent asked.

The assassin sighed. "Mau'te and Agenord lead armies against each other. Their war becomes the galaxy's war. Billions would die."

"There's another option," the agent said.

"No. They're here for a reason. Something else, something... clouded, will kill as many or more without them to stop it."

She exhaled in disgust. "The galaxy needs him or else. That's just perfect."

The assassin waited in silence.

"I saw what you did to Kaliyo," the agent said at last. "How bad is it?"

"I'm sure you've seen worse."

"It's bad enough to cover a family tattoo."

The assassin said, "That says more about Kaliyo than what she did."

"That I believe," the agent replied. "I can tell her I didn't ask. She'll trust me more. Now tell me, what do you know about Darth Jadus?"

"Never let your guard down around him," the assassin said. "I've never seen a Sith Lord that could cover his tracks as well as that one."

"Does he need to survive?"

"No. He does not."

The agent smiled. "Let's see what Kaliyo has for you."

They found Kaliyo leaning against the table. Four of the designs were separated out and placed in a line. She appeared relaxed, but she watched the agent's face for any changes.

"What have you got for me?" the assassin asked.

Kaliyo motioned to the designs. "These tattoos form a common phrase, 'Strength though Intellect; Power through Knowledge.'"

The assassin pointed to another design and said, "Doesn't that also mean knowledge?"

"Yes," Kaliyo said. "This one-" She pointed to the first design. "-means information, research, study. That one suggests experience. Either could be used."

"Thank you, Kaliyo," the assassin said. "I guess I have a decision to make. It's been wonderful meeting you. And, agent, keep up the good work."

Once in the elevator, Kaliyo said, "I suppose she told you."

"I didn't ask," the agent replied. "I need you to trust me. Besides, she said it wasn't that bad."

"Not that bad?"

"By Imperial standards," the agent replied. "It's quite all right. That was just a gentle reminder. Everyone is vulnerable."

"That was gentle?" Kaliyo said.

"By her standards."

"Got it," Kaliyo said. "Don't piss off scary Sith bitch. Lesson learned. Does she really have something on you?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"Would she really kill me if I found out?"

"Yes," the agent said. "But she likes you. She'd make it quick and painless."

"What would you do?"

"I'd also make it quick and painless."

Kaliyo smiled like she'd just been given a new weapon to play with. "Cool. This job just got a lot more interesting."

The agent thought, yes it did.