"So how do you think it'll go in there?" Vette asked, still leaning against the wall behind her.
"I'm sure they'll be just fine," Jaesa replied, settling into her usual meditation position.
Vette snorted. "Highly doubt that," she said. "This is Captain Stuffy we're talking about, after all. If he knew someone liked him, he'd probably fall over dead from the shock."
"Would be quite a spectacle if he did," Pierce said. "Not that I'd bank on it if I were you. Between Clueless and Slightly Less Clueless in there, I think we'll all die of old age before they figure things out."
Vette laughed. "Those nicknames fit them so perfectly right now," she said. "Only problem is, which one is which?"
"Depends on the day and the topic," Pierce replied.
"Really, now. It's not nice to speak so of our lord," Jaesa protested. "After all, she does have a great many things she has had to both learn and endure. Of course there will be some that slip through the cracks."
"Awful lot of cracks for things to slip through as far as she's concerned," Vette retorted. "Besides, weren't you going to meditate or something right now?"
"Yes, I was. I..." Jaesa's statement was abruptly cut off when a sudden unintelligible shriek was heard, followed by the clear sound of a small shockwave. Though it was brief, it still managed to startle all three of them.
Jaesa's eyes grew wide. "I sense a disturbance in the Force," she said. "The Master is quite upset right now."
"Really?" Vette snapped sarcastically. "I really don't think you need the Force to tell that. It's pretty obvious."
A few moments later, Lycuneae appeared in the doorway from the cockpit. The trio could see she was significantly less than pleased with whatever had happened. Her makeup, so perfect and lovely earlier, was dissolving into smears and streaks that ran in colorful rivulets down her cheeks. Her blue eyes were narrowed in icy fury; Vette could almost swear that her fury was causing a small breeze to swirl around her, as her sharp eyes caught the slight twitching of that high ponytail.
"Pierce." Lycuneae's voice was dangerous, told them they better have satisfactory responses to her requests, lest things turn very ugly.
"M-my lord," he replied, standing up suddenly.
"You're heading into the field with me, Lieutenant," she continued. "Suit up, you need to be ready to head out in thirty minutes. If I am kept waiting, you'll wish you had been on time."
"Understood, my lord. I'll be prepared and waiting for you when you call."
As he left, she turned her attention to her apprentice. "Jaesa," she said, her low tone making the young former Jedi shudder slightly.
"Is everything all right, Master? Can I assist you in some way?" Jaesa replied.
Lycuneae hesitated briefly before speaking. "Everything...will be all right," she said. "It is something I will have to learn to endure." She walked past both Jaesa and Vette. "I will be in my chambers preparing for my next mission from my master," she told them. "I do not wish to be disturbed."
"Whatever you say, Lyka," Vette answered, sounding a little too cheerful as she headed back to her quarters.
"It shall be as you wish, Master," Jaesa said, giving a slight bow. "I will be here if you wish anything of me."
With the door to her chamber closed tightly behind her, Lycuneae leaned back against it with a heavy sigh.
"I am a fool," she said simply. "An utter, complete fool."
She felt her eyes burn with tears again, and she closed her eyes and let them fall. This day -and the prior few days, really- had seemed so full of hope and promises of new things for her. She had truly thought she and Quinn were growing closer, that he might finally be opening up to her about his own feelings. While he did share a hint of what he was feeling, he couched it in his request to leave. She regretted lashing out at him the way she had, but how was she supposed to react? He had totally blindsided her with his request to be reassigned, and her emotions were wound so tightly that she just...snapped. Not exactly her finest hour, by any means.
Hastily, she crossed the room to the wardrobe, where she selected the robes and garments that would make her look the most intimidating. As she was dressing, a metallic glint caught her attention, emanating from a small a small hook on the door of the wardrobe. Lycuneae smiled as she recognized her mother's amulet, gifted to her during her previous visit to Dromund Kaas. Reaching out, she carefully lifted the chain from its hook and held the amulet up, noting how her mother's personal symbol glowed almost ominously.
She smiled as she clasped the amulet around her neck. Prior to their reunion on Dromund Kaas, Lycuneae had not seen her real mother since she was a small girl back on Ziost; the woman whom she had grown up calling 'mother' was a pitiful caricature of the term. That woman could never hold a candle to Lady Detasa Gammon, no matter how she or her husband puffed her up in society. Lycuneae had long suspected her father had only married her stepmother out of anger at his inability to possess Lady Detasa; they had been betrothed until she broke the arrangement to marry a much more prominent up-and-coming Sith Lord. Though given to her father and his wife to raise from a young age, Lycuneae had never felt the same sort of bond as she had with her own mother. She often received letters from Lady Detasa, as well as gifts of books and holovids to educate and entertain her. She loved those gifts, and in fact had kept every last one. They were perfect for those long nights when she couldn't sleep...
A soft knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. "I thought I gave orders not to be disturbed," she snapped irritably.
"Forgive me, Master," Jaesa's voice was slightly muffled by the closed door. "I simply wished to pass the word to you that Pierce is ready to deploy."
"Thank you, Jaesa. Tell him I'll be there momentarily." Hastily, Lycuneae finished dressing. After the last straps and laces were tightened, she picked up her lightsabers, clipping them to her belt. Upon exiting the room, she saw Pierce leaning against the wall near the ship's exit.
"I am sorry to keep you waiting, Lieutenant," she said.
He shrugged. "Wasn't waiting long," he replied. "B'sides, it isn't my place to rush a Sith lord."
"I appreciate your consideration and patience, Pierce," she said. "Shall we get going? I know Darth Baras does not particularly like to be kept waiting."
As they began departing the ship, Lycuneae caught a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she squinted her eyes against the dim light and peered toward the doorway to the ship's common area. Once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she made out the figure of Quinn where he stood directly in the doorway. She couldn't make out his face, but she senses a jumble of emotions coming from him. Not that she particularly cared, at that moment.
Turning her full attention in his direction, she gave him her iciest glare, one that promised she was nowhere near through with him yet. Smirking as she sensed his sudden spike of fear, she turned away from him and exited the ship.
There would be time to ponder retribution and punishment later. Now was the time to be serious.