Chapter Five.
"Enter."
Janos Zoeller looked at his raised hand, now that is just showing off, he thought, this damn Sith could have at least let him knock. Janos marched into the Garrison Commanders office, came to a precise military halt in front of the long desk. He clicked his heels and nodded his head in salute.
"My Lord, reporting as ordered."
"So I see. You have conducted your self well, the Dark Council itself shall hear of your conduct."
"Thank you my Lord." The less he said the less chance he had of getting himself into trouble. Dondinas looked at him, Janos fixed his gaze on a small mark of the wall and stood rigidly to attention.
"You show wisdom, wisdom enough to not let your thoughts pass your lips. I have read your post action report. It is detailed, concise and to the point. How ever it does not tell me what you thought of how the operation was carried out."
"My Lord, I carried out my orders to the best of my abilities. The overall operation I believe was to return order and stop any interruption of work from the indigenous slave force. This has been achieved. I have no other comment my Lord."
"Do not play the simple automaton Sniper, your file states that you have a firm grasp of strategic as well as tactical situations. Be honest and open with me. You fear to speak your mind, you are worried that in my anger I may well destroy you. Well know this, I could kill you now and no one would dare to question me. Now give me your opinion or incur my displeasure."
Sweat began to form oh Janos's forehead, oh here we go he thought.
"The overall mission went exactly as it should have my Lord, the presence of the Republic could only have ended in a confrontation. The Jedi only confirmed this. If left this could have had the potential to be a major threat to the Empire on this planet, loosing not only the natural resources but showing a weakness that other planets may exploit. The Empire cannot show any weakness. Not one crack, cracks will spread, and bring the entire wall down. The only thing that I was unprepared for, my Lord, was your act of mercy to the Evocii. If you will excuse my boldness, the Sith are not exactly known for their clemency. I do not understand why you did not make an example of the entire village."
"You do yourself and Imperial Intelligence well, you hide a keen mind, a good thing, I see a bright future for you, if you live long enough."
Dondinas, un clipped the dead Jedi's lightsaber from his belt, he turned in around in his hand.
"Once to the Jedi's presence was confirmed, the slaves became meaningless to me, of no more importance than the biting insects that enjoy your blood so much. You may physically endure their feasting on you, but I feel your anger, your hatred for them, were you a Sith, you in turn could feed off that rage. But alas, you are not, so you must, as you do, endure. The corps of that young foolish Jedi, will be the example they need. In time it will become a shrine to the power of the Sith and the Empire. Without the influence of the Republic, the slaves will return to their tasks. I let them live because they are not worth the effort to destroy. How does that make you feel ?"
"I have no opinion on the matter, my Lord. The Sith will do as the Sith wishes to do. I do as I am ordered. No more than that. I serve the Empire my Lord. Even though I do not follow the Sith ways, I have been taught, painfully, to respect the Sith, and I will continue to do so."
"No opinion, very well. I release you from your duties to me. Report back to your master back on Dromund Kaas. You are dismissed."
With a click of his heels and another nod of the head he said
"My Lord." Then about turned and marched out of the office. He kept his mind neutral until he was half way to the small accommodation hut assigned to him. Then he allowed himself to relax. He then threw up. How close had he come. How he hated working for the Sith. If they could keep their lust for power and their hatred for the Jedi in check the Republic would have been destroyed centuries ago. He felt sure they would be the undoing of the Empire, but they ruled the Empire, no way around that.
He continued to his hut, collected his few belongings and then made his way to the cantina to collect Kaliyo.
When he entered the dark hot interior of the bar he looked around, a few civilian contractors, a couple of of duty Troopers, and there up by the bar stood Kaliyo, she had her most dazzling smile on full beam, and fully focused on the young Imperial officer who was doing his utmost to impress her, he had his hand on her waist. He knew he had to move quick.
Walking at a fast pace he approached the couple,
"Kaliyo !" He said in greeting. " we have to leave now, duty calls on Dromund Kass, excuse me Captain, but we must be going." He looked hard at Kaliyo and said"Now."
" Ooh, such a shame I was just about to get to know this dashing young Captain. Oh well maybe some other time." Giving him one more smile Janos and Kaliyo walked towards the exit. The Captain called out,
"I look forward to our next meeting !"
Kaliyo looked over her shoulder at him, raised on eyebrow.
"Really ?" She said back at him, the Imperial office looked a bot confused at her reply.
Janos said to her as they crossed the compound to the Imperial shuttle.
"I wonder if he will ever know I just saved his life."
"Sometimes Janos, you take ALL the fun out of life."
The End.