Class: Sith Warrior

When: Episode III, Post Transponder Station

The moment the door shut safely behind him, Quinn slumped down in the officer's chair on the bridge. Generally, he prided himself of never sitting down while on duty, but he didn't actually know if he was on duty, did he? Anyway, he simply couldn't stand on his feet any longer. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him.

Maevry's body language all but screamed 'stay away' when she stalked into their quarters. He could bunk in the men's barracks for a bit, but Pierce would be there. And the man would either laugh or try to kill him. One thing Quinn could not fault Pierce for was his loyalty to their lord.

That left the bridge as his only refuge, and even it provided no comfort. Every inch of the bridge had memories which haunted him. In that corner, Quinn experienced the happiest moment of his life, when Maevry agreed to marry him. Then across the way, stood the wall they made love against a number of times.

What had happened?

Everything had made so much sense before the fight. Darth Baras had contacted him while they were on Voss, explaining what they needed to do for the good of the Empire. Quinn, naturally, resisted the idea at first. Maevry was his wife. But the more Baras spoke, the more Quinn realized she put her own goals ahead of the Empires. That simply could not be tolerated and he began the calculations at once.

But now…

Quinn rubbed his temples, trying to lessen the pounding in his head. How could he have doubted Maevry, even just for a moment? Like him, she only wanted the best for the Empire and fought for that vision every day. It was one of the things that made him fall in love with her.

And yet he overlooked all of that and tried to kill her. He had tried to kill his wife. Thank the stars he hadn't succeeded. Glancing at the door behind him, Quinn wondered how many minutes of life he had left. She didn't kill him on the station, as was her right, but perhaps she didn't want to lower herself to kill a traitor. Perhaps Pierce or Broonmark would walk through that door any minute now. Quinn wouldn't resist if they did.

He thought of all the dreams he had that would never see fruition now. A week ago, he dreamed of standing by Maevry's side as they brought glory to the Empire. Then there was his most cherished hope, watching his wife grow heavy with their child, raising a son or daughter together, ideally with her eyes.

His eyes closed and Quinn leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. Becoming so overwhelmed by his grief for the child he would never meet, he almost missed the door opening then closing behind him. Quinn choose not to react, not wanting to give his executioner the satisfaction.

But then he heard Maevry's soft footfall and he gulped. So she had decided to kill him herself. Quinn had not expected that honor. At least the last thing he saw in this galaxy would be her face…

"Malavai."

Her tone was soft and gentle, not angry at all. Quinn inhaled sharply at the use of his given name, then stood at attention at once, staring out the viewport. "My lord."

She let out almost an inaudible sigh before saying, "At ease, Captain."

Quinn heard the weariness in her voice and it killed him, knowing he was the main reason it could be heard. He wanted nothing more than to hold her then and protect her while she slept, letting her truly rest. Instead, he turned to face his wife, settling into a parade rest.

"Thank you for giving me time to meditate," Maevry said, clasping her arms firmly behind her back. Quinn knew that move. She did that when she wanted to fret, wanted to twist her fingers together, but needed to look professional. "I know we really couldn't speak on the station, not in front of Jaesa. Perhaps we could talk now."

"Of course," Quinn said at once, amazed she would give him a chance to speak at all. "My lord, if I may apol-"

"Don't you dare say you're sorry," Maevry said angrily. The calm demeanor she had walking onto the bridge snapped away. She started pacing the small bridge space. "This entire debacle is completely my fault."

"Your fault?" Quinn asked in disbelief. "My lord, I tried to kill you."

"Yes, and you failed miserably, which leads me to believe Baras coerced you. Droids, Quinn? Really? Do you not remember Balmorra when I single handedly destroyed the station. You told me then I was not a typical Sith." Maevry stopped pacing and placed her hands on her hips. "If you truly wanted me dead you would have killed me in my sleep. You know plenty of methods to make it appear I died a natural death, I'm sure."

"The thought hadn't even occurred to me," Quinn admitted. Why hadn't it? He could have had her killed a dozen different ways, thanks to her trust in him, and he only begun to think of them now. The pounding in his head grew stronger, like a dozen drums in sync.

"When did you start the calculations on the droids?" Maevry asked softly.

Closing his eyes, Quinn answered, "Just after we arrived on Voss. Baras contacted me through Darth Severin's office."

"And used the Force to manipulate you, no doubt," Maevry said. She sat down on one of the chairs and leaned back, crossing her legs. She looked absolutely exhausted and it pained him to see. "I was overconfident. I should have realized Baras would try to use you. But you hadn't sent him a report since we wed and I just assumed…"

"A report?" Quinn asked in surprise. "My lord, you knew I sent him reports on your activities?"

She gave him a look that told him she questioned his sanity at the moment. "Of course I knew. I assumed you knew that I knew, which is why you gave him hardly anything of value." She smiled weakly. "Baras must have been quite frustrated. Placing a spy on my ship and he hardly got anything for his trouble."

"I tried to serve you both faithfully, in the beginning," Quinn admitted.

"I know," Maevry said. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you." She brought her knees up to her chest and Quinn was struck by how young she looked. "I failed you, Malavai. I let you became a pawn between two warring Sith."

"There's nothing to forgive," Quinn said at once, meaning the words. He was a Captain in the Imperial Army, after all. He understood the risks of working for Sith.

"Don't say that so quickly," Maevry said, her voice sounding miserable. "I need to ask you to do something first." She stood up, looking stronger. "I worry that because of your years dealing with Baras he might have left more of an impression on you than you realize. A sort of foothold into your mind."

"That would explain why I deferred to him so quickly on Voss," Quinn said. He remembered protesting, saying that Baras tried to kill his wife and would never receive support from him again. But Baras kept talking and the next thing Quinn knew, he had a pad of droid algorithms in his hand.

"May I check?" Maevry asked. "If there is any corruption, I believe I have I the skill to dispel it."

Quinn raised both eyebrows. "Do it!" he said, his voice almost a shout. The thought that Baras left anything lingering in his head that could cause him to hurt his wife again pained him almost more than he could bear. She nodded and took a step towards him, biting her lower lip. "Why the hesitation? Maevry, please."

His voicing her given name spurred her to action. Any trace of doubt left her face as she stood in front of him, raising her hands, until they rested on either side of his temple. "This might hurt a bit," Maevry said, closing her eyes.

He couldn't imagine anything could hurt more than the moment the fog cleared and he had realized what exactly he had done to Maevry on the station. But then he felt the pressure in the center of his brain, which almost brought him to his knees. Quinn reached out to grab the wall to steady himself, taking deep breaths, willing the vice that held his mind hostage to loosen.

"Just a little more, Malavai," she whispered. "It's a stubborn little speck, but I'm stronger."

The confidence in her voice eased his pain a bit. Physical pain and he were old friends, but this, this mental pain was unlike anything he had experienced before. Quinn shot out his hands before he could stop himself, gripping Maevry's waist, hard enough to leave small bruises.

"There," Maevry said, her voice triumphant. The pain cleared at once and any will of staying upright left Quinn at her words and he collapsed to the floor. She followed him to the ground and he felt her hugging him to her body. "Damn Baras. He will never hurt you again, Malavai. I promise. He will suffer for what he's done to you."

Sleep, he needed sleep. Perhaps sleep would stop eluding him now that Baras no longer kept residence in his mind. Keeping his eyes closed tight, Quinn relaxed as Maevry stroked his hair, before resting his head in her lap. Everything would work out now. Baras would be defeated. Maevry would be the one to end him. She promised.

She always kept her promises.