"38, are you sure everything's in place?" Izaya asked.

The astrodriod beeped in reply, indignantly.

"Okay, okay. Just making sure. Don't want anything bad to happen to my baby." He patted the side of his ship.

38 beeped in anger.

"Fine, our baby."

38 beeped happily.

Izaya just rolled his eyes.

"So, you actually gonna say good-bye today?"

Izaya looked up to the new voice that spoke above his head. Sitting atop the ship's turbine was a black-haired boy about sixteen years of age. He wore a full black attire, except for the red wookie fur that laced the cuffs, hood, and bottom of his jacket. The red matched his eyes perfectly, which were a dark crimson. His slender face was a near identical match to Izaya's.

"This one's new." The red raven stated, holding up a lightsaber with obvious Sith markings on it. "So I take it your mission was a success?"

"Roppi, I've told you before not to get into my stuff." Izaya said before using the force to pull the saber out of the boys hand and into his own.

"Oh, what's it matter?" The raven jumped off the turbine, landing by Izaya's side where he leisurely stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned back against the ship. "Not like I'm gonna report that you steal lightsabers, Dad." Roppi smiled.

Izaya glowered at him "It's not stealing. It's recycling. A dead Jedi has no use for a lightsaber."

"So, when I die, you'd steal my lightsaber too?"

That earned him an open glare. "That's not funny." He turned away to put his tools back where they belonged.

"Come on, Dad, where's your sense of humor?"

Izaya looked over his shoulder at him before sighing. He had learned to read his child years ago when he first started going through puberty. So he could easily tell why Roppi was openly trying to annoy him.

"I'm sorry I left on such short notice." Izaya said, turning around. "I had a limited window of opportunity. You understand, right?"

Izaya bumped heads with the red raven, who's smile quickly turned into a frown and a glare of pure annoyance. "...Fuck you. You're no fun."

Izaya chuckled before kissing him on the forehead. He had given up on trying to clean up Roppi's mouth a long time ago. Although it annoyed him that his son could be so vulgar, he had learned to live with it. So, instead of chastising the red raven, he instead turned and continued putting his tools away.

"So, what's the mission this time?" Roppi asked, leaning against the ship with his arms and feet crossed.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Going to go destroy a Sith Harrower's shield. Potentially die. You know—"

"The usual." Roppi chuckled dryly. Then he turned serious. "You've never been that deep behind enemy lines. Will you be okay?"

"Of course. You doubt my skills?" Izaya looked over his shoulder with a smile but narrowed eyes that spoke clearly a warning.

"...If something goes wrong, the Jedi won't be able to help you."

"I know. But don't worry, Roppi. I've never failed before, why would I now?"

Roppi stared at him, then chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. You are the best."

"Naturally."

The two chuckled.

"Hey, when I get back, let's go to that new restaurant—if it's still there. I heard they make great ootoro."

"You mean that Russian Sushi place?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. I don't wanna eat at a place when I don't know what the title means. I mean, what's a Russian?"

"Couldn't tell you. Probably one of their names."

"I hope so. Russian sounds weird."

"I think it sounds unique."

"Just because something's unique, doesn't mean it's useful. Or good."

"Well, we'll just have to see. You up for it?"

"...Fine. But if I get food poisoning, you owe me money."

Izaya rolled his eyes. "Fine."

Rapid beeping drew their attention to 38. The astrodroid was on the other end of the turbine, closest to the door. He beeped again before rolling away out of sight.

"I know." Izaya said before turning to the teen. "I've got to go now, Roppi."

"Figured." Roppi tilted his head away with an annoyed look.

The red raven pushed off the ship to stand fully then turned away.

"Hey," Izaya tapped Roppi's shoulder to draw his attention back. He then held up his pinky finger with a childish smile. "It's a promise, kay? Russian Sushi on me."

Roppi gave him an even more annoyed look and rolled his eyes. But he interlocked his pinky with Izaya's nonetheless.

"Fine." The red raven said.

Izaya smiled warmly, brought Roppi's finger to his lips and kissed it. Which made Roppi pull his hand away forcefully.

"Nasty!"

Izaya only laughed and turned away quickly. "I'll see you in a little while!"

The older raven waved good-bye as he dashed off. He disappeared inside the ship, the door closing behind him.

Roppi moved to the side of the hanger as the freighter powered up, all the while glaring at it. The glare remained even as the ship raised off the ground and flew out of the hanger bay.

Now alone, Roppi's expression soured significantly.

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

"So, that's the mission. Are you guys up for it?" Shizuo asked, turning to the four men he chose.

"Eh? That's not very exciting. Just protecting a ship that might get attacked." A man with fox eyes known as Walker stated as he rested his chin on the back of his turned around chair.

"No, it will be attacked." Shizuo's second choice said, standing with his arms crossed. "It's just a matter of when and where."

"But wasting four Sith for this one mission? If we get attacked, it'll be from Republic fighters. There's no way a Jedi would be able to get on it, Kadota-san."

"Well, regardless if its a waste or not, if Lord Malgus commands it..." A dark-skinned man with dread-locks as hair said.

"I know." Walker said as he stood up with a sigh. "When do we leave?"

"So...you're coming?" Shizuo asked.

"I'm with you, brother." Kasuka, the forth of his party, started.

"If Kadota-san's going, I'll go." Walker said.

"If Lord Malgus commands it." Kadota added.

"When do we leave?" The dread-locked man asked.

Shizuo smiled at them. "We'll be departing tomorrow. So make sure you have everything you'll need by tonight."

"Got it."

"Waah, such short notice."

"Well be back then."

"I don't have anything to bring, Nii-san."

Shizuo looked down at his brother. "You sure? We'll probably be stationed on Aalderan if we're successful."

"Yes, I'm sure."

"All we really need are our sabers." the dread-locked man said.

"Says you!" Walker balked. "This is going to be a long, boring flight! You've got to bring something to entertain you! And I for one believe a couple of my Waifu's would love to see Aalderan. Like Mia or Erza or even Touka—"

"We'll be back in time, Shizuo." Kadota said as he began pushing Walker out the door.

"Okay."

The door shut.

"Well, I'll head to the ship." the darker man said. "You two coming?"

"I shall come with you." Kasuka stated.

"I'll come later, Tom-san. Lord Malgus wanted me to check in after I made my party."

"Okay. We'll see you in a little bit then."

"Take care, Nii-san."

"See you soon." Shizuo called.

The two left.

Once alone, the blond sighed heavily and took a seat. He had lied about Lord Malgus' command. He just wanted to be alone to finally process what he had been told.

'Lord Malgus...They were friends, weren't they? I heard rumors that they were even lovers. He killed her because she was a weakness? How could he...how could he have the galls? How could he even stomach the idea?'

Shizuo tented his hands together over his mouth as he let his gaze wonder the walls of the room. Staring at the symbols, the idols, the sculptures and carvings and printings. Everything a Sith is represented by.

'Is that how one achieves that level of Sith? Do I have to become that heartless, that cold in order to become a Sith lord? Do I have to kill someone close to me in order to...'

Shizuo barely began to imagine pulling his saber out on Kasuka before he felt a sickening chill go down his spine. That chill nestled in his stomach and formed a knot that began to make him feel nauseous. He quickly forced those thoughts out of his head.

'I can't. I'll never become a Sith lord if it means that. I didn't want that title anyway.'

Shizuo sighed heavily as he buried his head in his arms and rested them on his knees.

'I don't want it. I'll continue to do as Lord Malgus asks but I won't become a Sith lord.'

He then sat up, sighing yet again.

'But how will I be able to explain that to Lord Malgus?'

He looked out the window.

"This is going to get complicated. I've got a bad feeling about this."

Izaya let out a relaxed breath as he stretched. He would be landing on the Sith outpost soon—the one he knew would be payed a visit by the Destroyer—and needed to decide on what approach to take. He could fake femininity again. It would bode well for him to pretend being a female. Sith or not, men were generally nicer to someone they believe they can lay. However, Izaya had his pride trampled enough from his last female play and wasn't really in the mood to getting groped again. So he decided that was out.

Next approach had to do with a male actor. He could stow away on the ship. But he wouldn't be able to move around freely. He could play as maintenance. It would get him close to the shield generator without question. However, that was only if they believed him and allowed him on the ship. He had no evidence to help his claim of being a mechanic so it would purely rely on coming across a particularly stupid Sith—which was not likely and too big of a risk to chance.

Izaya's last option was to pretend to be a padawan Sith or Sith knight who was newly appointed. The raven wasn't necessarily sure what caste system the Sith had but his aim was to be a doe-eyed new recruit to the Sith cause. He had the clothes, he had multiple red sabers to choose from. And with how young he looked, it wouldn't be a surprise he was a new recruit. From what he saw, many Sith Lord's were quite old, in their potential fourty's or so. All the 'apprentices', or whatever they were called, were in their teens or twenties and at the forever age of 21, Izaya was the perfect model for apprenticeship.

So, that plan was his best bet. And that was exactly what he was going to do.

"38, take over." Izaya said, as he stood.

The droid beeped in response before hooking himself up to the control panels.

Izaya turned and left the cockpit. He headed to his dressing room. Upon entering, he went straight over to his closet and pulled out a black trench coat. It was plain and thoughtless in design, just a simple black trench coat that Izaya didn't necessarily care about so if it became lost or damaged it was no loss to him. He went to the mirror to look at his current outfit: his normal tan body suit with its missing patches on the shoulders and sides along with the teal tabletop tunic was just barely visible underneath the heavy layers of black fabric. He buttoned up the coat to his chest to hide even more of his attire then dawned on some socks and black combat boots.

His whole outfit was far heavier than he was used to but a disguise was a disguise.

'I probably shouldn't risk wearing my usual clothes. Sith always wear black or dark. Maybe...'

Izaya took the trench coat off then went through his drawers.

'Hmm...I guess this'll do.'

He pulled out a black long sleeve shirt that had a relatively tight fit, taking away the concern that they may snag on something. The pants were just the same, hugging the flesh.

Izaya stripped off his bright attire and replaced it with the darker. He then put the trench coat and shoes back on. He twirled before the mirror.

'Much more appropriate, I think.'

Izaya smiled.

He turned and grabbed his satchel before going to a drawer in the wall. There was no handle to grab. Instead, he pressed his hand to it. It glowed light blue for a moment then opened, revealing several lightsabers—both Jedi and Sith alike. He shuffled through them before deciding on his usual two sabers—both holding yellow crystals—and the newest edition to his Sith saber collection. He then grabbed a second red saber and put that and the two yellows into his satchel. His new blade went on his hip underneath the trench coat.

Izaya knew it was a bit of a risk using the saber of a Sith that was recently proclaimed dead. However, the Sith had been a regular at that pub—from the massive tab the man had—and hadn't had the skill to even remotely sense Izaya's intentions. Thus explaining why he was at a bar getting drunk rather than being on a very important mission for the empire. He was a lowly foot soldier that probably had no credentials with his superiors—at least, not any good ones. So, it was very unlikely he was actually missed. With that deduction made, no one would most-likely notice that the custom saber Izaya held wasn't his. Making it a far better choice than the ones he had gotten from designated generals.

38 beeped quickly over the intercom, causing Izaya to look up from his satchel.

"Got it." Izaya put the satchel over his shoulder. "On my way back up."

The raven checked himself in the mirror one last time before heading up to the cockpit once again—this time to convince the watch tower of the outpost that he was Sith friendly.

'Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?' Izaya thought.

But as per usual, he shrugged it off and reminded himself of his plan to infiltrate.