Jaesa waited outside her master's chambers. She was called awhile ago by the young Sith Lord for most likely more training lessons. The young girl was about to open the door when she heard another voice coming from the other side, an unfamiliar voice.

"So he easily disarmed you?"

"That's not the part that's bothering me; it was what he said afterwards. He studied and observed me while we were in battle! It's like I have some sick stalker following me!"

"Well, he has been with you for some time. It's not unusual for him to be familiar with your ways."

"And what if he is reporting them to Baras? I still don't trust him. No matter how many times he has proven himself. There is just something about him…"

"Do you honestly hate the man or is this some sort of defense mechanism to disguise your feelings for him?"

"What?"

"You're in denial, cousin. You may be able to read minds, but I'm adept at reading body language. And my guts say he's growing on you. Everything he does surprises you and you're becoming intrigued with him. I can see it in your expressions and hear it in your voice when you were telling me about your little duel. You didn't expect him to even be able to disarm you, but he did. You're bother by the fact that he's some scrawny, by the book, Imperial officer not some powerful Sith or Jedi."

"I don't know what you are babbling about."

The voice chuckled, "Oh, it's so obvious, Xy."

"I need to go."

There was a moment of silence before the door slid opened, "Come in, Jaesa. I know you're there."

Jaesa stepped back, startled, but she quickly regained her composure and stepped into her master's quarters. The young Sith was standing at the other end of her bed, looking down at a small holocommunicator, "You summoned me, Master?"

"I just wanted to know how you are adjusting to this. All of this." The amber eyes looked to Jaesa.

"I…I'm getting used to it. It's somewhat strange to me. Back with the Jedi, we always have rules and strict routines. Over here, I have so much freedom that I don't even know what to do with. It scares me sometimes when I think about it. All my life I was always told to suppress my emotions and opinions. The Jedi had held me back quite a lot."

"Get used to it. I told you before your feelings are the key to gaining power. It helps you become stronger with the Force. Listen and watch me, and I guarantee you, you'll become just as powerful as me someday. Just what do you think our relationship should be like?"

Jaesa raised her brow at the question. Was this a trick question? "You are my master and I am your student. You teach me things and guide me through the ways. Is that not how it should be?"

"It should. But I also want you to be able to come and confide in me about anything. Anything at all. If you use your powers and see something amidst, come talk to me about it."

"Yes, Master."

"Is there anything you wish to say to me right now?"

Jaesa bit her lips, hesitating for a second. There were so many things on her mind, she wouldn't know where to begin, "Well, there is something. It's about Vette."

"What about her?"

"Well…it's just that...are you sure we can trust her, Master? She seemed so…soft."

"You don't need special powers to see that," Xy'liah smiled. "But I have known Vette for a while now. She had many chances to betray me, but didn't. Perhaps she's waiting for the right time, I'm not sure, but you let me deal with her. Now, I say we take this opportunity to train some more before the other two come back."

Jaesa bowed, "Yes, Master." She walked out of the chambers as the ship's droid 2V-R8 walked across her path, happily humming a small tune to himself. He caught sight of her and immediately bowed, "Mistress Jaesa, is there anything I can do for you? I am on my way to cleaning the engine room."

Jaesa shook her head, "No, R8. Do you know when Vette and Captain Quinn are returning?"

"Ah, well Mistress Vette said she will be gone a few days. She didn't tell me where she was going though. And Master Quinn will also be gone for a few days. He is en route as we speak to meet up with an old military friend of his."

"Thanks, R8."

"If there is anything you need at all, please do not hesitate to call me." The droid gave a short bow before continuing his way down the hall to the engine room.

Jaesa watched as the droid left and heard the footsteps of her master coming to her side. She turned toward the older Sith.

"Let's get going," Xy'liah said, leading Jaesa toward their cargo/training room.

Jaesa followed her master down the hall. A quick replay of everything that happened entered her head. How ironic it was for her to be here. She remembered a year ago when Nomen Karr had discovered her secret power during one of his trips to Alderaan. His eyes nearly budged out of his head in astonishment. How could a young girl possess so much raw power, she remembered him saying. And to test her even further, he had enlisted her help in his mission at the time.

It was one of the proudest moments in Jaesa's life when she heard about her potential of being a Jedi. Finally no more serving hypocritical nobles, no more trying to hide her power, no more living like a "freak". Her power was something special according to Nomen Karr and it could be use for the good of the galaxy.

He had offered the opportunity to join the Jedi right after their small adventure together and she had quickly accepted. She was desperate to leave her life as a lowly handmaiden behind. She knew she was meant for greater things. Living a life as a servant was such a waste of her potential.

The thoughts of her elderly parents entered her head and a feeling of sadness washed over her. They had been so sad when they heard of Nomen Karr's proposal. At that time, Jaesa couldn't care less what they thought. They had high hopes for her to marry one of the Organan nobles, so that they wouldn't have to live a life of servitude anymore. Jaesa had previously obliged. Her parents were getting old, particular her father. Age and time caught up with their frail, old bodies and it was a matter of time before they became useless as servants. Before that could happen, Jaesa had promised them that she would be married and their problems would go away in an instant.

Now they were dead, killed by her master. Jaesa looked at the older Sith as she continued following her. What was strange was that Jaesa beared no ill feelings toward her for her actions. She actually blamed her former master more for everything that had happened. It was not even a week since Jaesa had become Xy'liah's apprentice, but already the young girl felt as if she knew her master inside and out. Xy'liah was not a particularly hard person to figure out unlike Nomen Karr. She was actually pretty simple. She had little patience for time wasted dillydallying on irrelevant things and Jaesa couldn't help, but to think that if only she had confronted the Sith when all of this started, her parents would still be alive.

Perhaps what was most comforting to Jaesa was that Xy'liah was also from Alderaan. Born to two powerful Sith, she learned about the Force at an early age and quickly became an adept user. Vette had told her this the first night Jaesa came onboard. It was the twi'lek's way of making her feel comfortable. Jaesa never confirmed this with her master however and decided not to until their relationship was closer.

She admired the way the Sith Lord's two crewmates talked of her. From her words, they obviously held her in high esteem and had the highest respect for her. That was also comforting to know.

"Let's see what you learned from yesterday," Xy'liah said, piercing through Jaesa's thoughts. The Sith Lord tossed her young apprentice a training saber and walked over to take her usual position. "Now that it is just us two, you'll be able to concentrate more."

Today's training lasted quite a long time before Xy'liah decided to call it quits. Sweat poured down Jaesa's face and soaked her garment as a result of the rigorous training, but she did not mind it one bit. She felt her power base grew immensely from that session and she could now better focus on the Force, even learning a new trick or two.

Just as they were cleaning up and exiting the cargo bay, a new presence in the Force arisen. Jaesa looked up to see the ship's Captain, Malavai Quinn, walking toward them. He had somewhat of a displeased look upon his face as usual. Jaesa turned away to hide a small smile as he approached. She had to admit their Captain was a particularly handsome one. He even reminded her a bit of her Alderaanian fiancé with his dark hair and radiant blue eyes.

He hadn't said much to her since her arrival, only a small smile or greeting whenever they passed by each other. He mainly interacted with the Sith Lord and it was always about business.

"He's a straight up dull boring guy," Vette said when Jaesa had asked her about him. "He seems to think he's better than us just because he dons that uniform of his. Personally I think our Sith Lord would choose us over him if she had the chance. She didn't even want him with us as I remembered it. It was all so sudden and he somewhat invited himself along because he feels like he could "make more of a difference to the Empire" if he was with us. Honestly, I think it's just an excuse to leave that boring job of his behind."

Jaesa turned toward him again as he stopped short of them. Though she was forbidden by her master to use her power on anyone in the crew, she didn't sense anything hostile about him. Actually she sensed a deep level of devotion to their master. Everything he did proved his commitment to her including putting up with Xy'liah's sudden attitude change whenever he was near.

"You're back early, Captain," her master said. "Do you have news? How have your efforts with Imperial high command gone?"

Quinn shook his head, "Not well, my lord. I've gone up as high as the chain as I can. No one will confront Moff Broysc. He's too powerful and entrenched. He will serve until he's killed or willingly step down. And he will never willingly step down. It seems clear. I must deal with Broysc myself. Once and for all."

"Nice to know you're ready to do what needs to be done. This is your calling, Quinn. Get to it."

"Actually, my lord, if you don't mind, there is something else I wished to discuss with you."

Xy'liah and Jaesa turned their head toward the Captain and waited for him to speak.

"Um…in private," he added after seeing that the Sith Lord would not budge from her spot.

Xy'liah gave the rest of the sabers to Jaesa, "I'll be back."

Jaesa took the sabers and watched as her master followed Quinn out the room. She wondered what exactly had been so urgent that the Captain sacrificed the rest of his vacation for.

"Let's talk in the conference room then," said Xy'liah.

Quinn stopped and turned around, "As you wish." He followed the young Sith Lord into the room and watched her take a seat. He stood where he was, waiting for her to give him permission to speak.

"What do you have to say to me, Captain?" she asked him as she folded her legs, her head held up by the left hand resting upon the table.

"I came back early because there was something urgent that I needed to speak to you about," the Captain began.

"I figured that much. So what is it?"

"I…" Quinn stopped. He had rehearsed this a million times on his way back to the ship. Why couldn't he just say it? His blue eyes looked at Xy'liah as her impatient look overcame her. She was no longer leaning into her left palm, but sitting up straight awaiting the Captain's words. It didn't help either that her left fingers were now drumming the table, another sign of her patience wearing thin.

Quinn took a deep breath and cleared his throat, "My lord, thank you for your attention."

Xy'liah raised an eyebrow at him.

"I must officially ask to be reassigned."

The Sith didn't rush to say anything back, but continued to stare at him through those amber eyes of hers. She narrowed them as she stared and Quinn felt a small sweat bead running down his forehead. He couldn't tell what she was thinking by her facial expression and wished her to hurry up. This small wait was torturing him, but then again, it was the Sith Lord's style.

A minute later, her fingers stopped drumming and she opened her mouth to speak, "Is this assignment too harrowing for you, Captain?"

"No, I thrive on harrowing," replied Quinn. "But I am forced to admit… I am compromised. Lately thoughts of you have begun to…distract me. My feelings affect my ability to concentrate. I cannot in good conscience continue to serve." He quickly braced himself for the next few minutes. Knowing his master, she would probably play on that weakness for awhile until she was bored. It was probably going to be the last time that she could.

As he waited for her response, Quinn thought back to his meeting with one of his military colleagues. It was unusual for the Captain to abandon his post for personal meetings, but Quinn thought it best to get out, distant himself, and clear his mind before returning.

His friend went by the name of Beau Waglyn, one of the people Quinn had spent much of his time with at the Imperial Academy. The two hated each other during their first meeting, but through trials-and being forced to work together-they had developed a mutual understanding and mutual respect for one another. Now Beau was a close friend, one of whose opinion Quinn greatly valued.

It wasn't long or particular hard for Beau to get Quinn to admit what was bothering him. He, in fact, laughed at the whole story to which Quinn frowned.

"You find it funny?" Quinn had asked him.

"Very," he replied. His green eyes twinkled with delight as he calmed down from his laughter. "Forgive me, but it's not everyday I hear a story of an Imperial officer falling in love with a Sith Lord. You sound like cross-starred lovers."

"I don't think she thinks of me in that way…" Quinn eyed Beau. "Does she?"

"Do you really want my advice on this?"

"It's why I'm here."

"One word: reassignment."

"Re…assignment?" Quinn watched as Beau nodded, his jet black hair following his motion.

"It's the only way if you ever hope to achieve what you set out to do. You'll be doing her a favor and you as well. In the end, you get what you originally wanted and she...well, at least when she gets killed in action, you won't be able to blame yourself for it. Or if she lives, she'll probably marry some snobby, powerful Sith and together they'll make tons of babies and take over the galaxy!"

Quinn frowned at his friend's sense of humor.

"I'm kidding!" Beau said. "But seriously, I'm not. It is the only way and you know that too. You just need to muster up the courage and go through with it."

It took Quinn the whole ship ride here to muster up enough courage, but he was here and now he awaited her answer.

She folded her arms at the statement, "If you insist on reassignment, it'll be a shame, but I'll grant it." She got up from her chair. "We can have it official before I have to meet Baras on Dromund Kaas."

She walked toward the exit, past a dumfounded Quinn. Was she really going to let him go that easily? Were her feelings for him truly nonexistent? He thought he would be relieved to hear her grant his request, but somehow he found himself to be very disappointed. Quinn frowned as he watched her about to walk out of the room-and out of his life. He couldn't allow that to happen. He couldn't. Just like he couldn't stop from torturing himself with thoughts of her day by day no matter what he did.

If I leave, who would be there to keep her on track whenever she gets distracted from her mission? And she did get distracted too often and too easily. He couldn't let that happen. She would fall into Baras' bad grace and who knew what would happen then? Knowing the Dark Lord, he would probably have her executed for he had many apprentices to spare. If I stay, she lives. And with that logic in mind, Quinn shouted for Xy'liah before she touched the door frame, "NO!"

Xy'liah stopped and turned to see the young Captain shaking his head in disapproval.

"I'm an idiot!" he shouted to himself. His blue eyes looked to hers as she stood there, somewhat confused. "Permission to kiss you, my lord?"

"Wh-" But before Xy'liah could finish her word, the Captain grabbed her arms and pulled her toward him. His lips landed perfectly on hers. The young Sith stood speechless for a moment as Quinn's hands released her arms and travelled to her back, tightening his grip around her. Inside her mind, a million red flags went off and thoughts of her cousin's words rushed in and out. She contemplated pushing the Captain back, but found her body unable to follow through. Slowly she closed her eyes and returned the kiss as she relaxed some tensed muscles.

His scent rushed into her nose as she inhaled, causing the Sith to express a shiver. Her arms went around his neck, pulling him closer as their kiss deepened. She smiled against his lips as she felt him hug her tighter. There was something about the way he held her that made her feel so…secured, which was ironic considering the fact that she was the one that protected him. Yet whenever he held her, she felt a certain kind of security even when they were on Tatooine. It was the kind of security she longed for whenever Baras had tasked her with a mission so tedious and frustrating or whenever she would lay upon her bed at night unsure what was going to happen the very next day.

Being in FirmRess' arms didn't even compare to the Captain's. Please don't hate me, cousin. I'm still human after all. And humans needed that companionship.

Quinn broke off the kiss as he rested his forehead against Xy'liah's, "We should stop before I'm unable to contain myself."

Xy'liah silently nodded, unsure of what to say or do.

The Captain slowly pushed the Sith away and looked down upon her, "Now more than just duty and honor will be driving my work." He smiled at her as she looked up at him with those bright amber eyes of hers.

She smiled back as she regained her composure, "That was just a small taste. There's more to come."

"I'm counting on it." The Captain's lips curled upward into a wider smile at the thought.

Her eyes narrowed at the Captain as she regained her earlier expression. Her tone of voice switched back to business as she stepped back from him, "Now get going. You have a Moff to deal with."

"I'm ready, my lord," said Quinn. He gave her a small salute before walking off toward the Fury's exit.

Jaesa looked up at the beeping red light, alerting that a ship is attempting to attach itself to the Fury. She went back to her task as Vette handed her more tools.

Ever since Vette returned from her journey, she had brought back materials and metals that she found to be useful in their journey. Now the three ladies were busy inspecting the metals and materials to make sure it was up to their standards.

"This is what makes us money should we ever run out of any," said Vette as she flattened out a metal.

A few minutes later, Jaesa heard the deep voice of the Captain's followed by a more muffled sound. The former Jedi turned toward the incoming Captain to see him dragging an older man besides him. Once he reached where she and her master was, he literally threw the old man down in front of the Sith Lord.

"What in the galaxies is going on?" cried out Vette as her violet eyes stared down at the old man in shocked.

Jaesa's brow lifted in confusion. The older man was tied at the hands and his mouth was muffled by a white cloth. She watched as the old man tried to regain his balance and stand as the Captain spoke.

"My lord I've returned. I found Moff Broysc on a pleasure barge. He was on R & R while countless battles are raging. Despicable. I abducted him and brought him here to present to you." He grabbed at the white cloth from the Moff's mouth and turned him toward the Sith.
"Scab! Traitor! You, Sith! I commandeer your ship, your crew. I commandeer you! Mine now!" yelled the old man. His wrinkled face turned a deep shade of red which greatly contrasted the white of his beard and hair.

"Why did the Captain bring a lunatic onboard?" asked Vette, but her question went unheard.

"Do you see who has bettered you? The man you wronged has you dead to rights now," said Xy'liah.

"No. Never. Not possible. I shunned him. I exiled him. He was to waste away. You are my men now! I command you all! Kill! Kill yourself! I have spoken!"

"He's totally out of it," said Jaesa. "Poor fellow."

The three ladies watched as the old man shouted more profanity at them. He was quite a character, but then they noticed the Captain in the back. With each passing second, the Captain's face grew colder and redder. His fists tightened into balls as his blue eyes followed the old man about.

"My lord, I've resisted all along, but this is personal! Permission to execute the Moff?" yelled out Quinn after some time.

"What? Whoa!" cried out Vette. "Here? Should he not be taken to a hospital or institution or something?"

"If he is no longer of use to the Empire, then his existence is inconsequestial," said Jaesa coldly as the twi'lek turned to her in shock. The young girl looked to her master to see an approving smile.

"By all means, the kill should be yours," said Xy'liah, turning back to Quinn, whose hand was already on his blaster.

"As you command."

"You cannot kill me! You are nothing! I am a Moff!" cried out the old man as he backed away from the Captain.

"Not anymore!" Quinn took out his blaster and aimed it at the Moff.

"No scabs! All scabs!" yelled the Moff.

All eyes turned toward the Captain as he stood there, aiming at the Moff's head. His finger rested on the trigger as his blue eyes stared at the Moff. The same thought was going through everyone's head. Was he really going to do it? A few minutes passed before the Captain actually pulled the trigger.

The Moff's body hit the floor hard as blood came oozing out of him. His eyes still opened in fear.

The Captain stepped over the body as Vette turned away in digust. There was sense of relief that overcame him as he stood, watching the Moff's dead body. Finally, it was all over. Quinn had successful taken out one more obstacle that stood in his way to greatness. The man that had dedicated his life to ruining his was no more and he could finally move forward in his career without fear.

"He stinks!" cried out Vette, pinching her nose as she peeked out from behind Jaesa.

"Clean this mess up. I don't want a spot of it on my ship," said Xy'liah as she stepped over the Moff's body. She gave him a quick examination before turning to the Captain. "Well done, Captain." She left, walking toward the bridge, leaving Quinn and the two girls alone.

"Thanks, my lord," the girls heard the Captain said sometime after Xy'liah left. He stood there for a long while as what happened slowly hit him.

"I need to go lie down," said Vette as she headed for her quarters.

"I'll go with you," said Jaesa, hurriedly following Vette.

An hour later, Quinn stepped onto the bridge to find the Sith sitting in the pilot's chair. Her nimble fingers were upon the controls and she was gently steering Fury in random directions. He took a seat in the co-pilot's chair and turned toward his lord, "The body has been disposed of, my lord. No more of Moff Broysc's men will have to endure his whims and incompetence. Thank you for seeing this through."

"You earned it," was all she said as continued guiding Fury.

"The Empire is better off now."