"The Ewok is awake."

Badesh had been meditating in an effort to expel the tiredness that had taken hold of him. Kalda's voice surprised him, he hadn't felt her presence. Perhaps it had been unwise to go without food and sleep – his concentration had suffered.

"I will be there shortly," he retorted and registered after that she had left that Kalda hadn't used his honorifics. Badesh decided to let it go this time. He got up and walked to the cargo bay.

Theron was still working on the droid, Badesh glanced at him before he turned his attention to the bound Ewok. Kalda was already sitting next to her, whispering something in her ear. When she saw that Badesh had arrived Kalda gestured towards him and said with in a soft and almost childish voice: "Treek… please tell me everything you know. The Sith is going to hurt you and I can't protect you from him!"

Usually Badesh didn't care for this quaint and laborious approach when interrogating a prisoner, but since Kalda had apparently already started to work with it he decided to give it a shot. The whole situation strangely reminded him of Corellia when he and Vette deceived a Jedi.

"We don't have time for this," growled Badesh and focused to let a spark of force lighting crackling at his fingertips. Suddenly he felt Theron's gaze upon him, he had his complete attention and it satisfied him deeply. After a few moments of silence he shot lighting at Treek, she convoluted under the force and when Badesh stopped she began swearing at Badesh in quite a colourful language.

Badesh wasn't even annoyed by the metaphors Treek used and simply shocked her again.

"Stop it! You are going to kill her!" yelled Kalda and moved right in front of Badesh. Her voice expressed horror and concern, but none of these emotions were visible on her face.

This game already bored Badesh, he decided to leave before he really lost his patience. "I give you an hour, Agent Biss. Then I will question the prisoner myself."

With these words he stormed out of the cargo bay and wanted to go straight to the conference room, but when he passed the mess hall he reconsidered. He hadn't drunken anything since almost two days and felt suddenly a longing for a cup of tea. Hopefully the SIS-Agents had enough sense to have a decent tea programmed into their replicator.

After some scrolling he found ortholan green tea. He opened several cupboards before he finally found the one with the cups. Badesh took a red one and was surprised to see that it had "For my beloved son" written on it. Was it Theron's? It would be strange for a senior SIS-Agent to take something personal on a mission… it was probably a leftover from the previous crew. Badesh pushed a few buttons and let the tea stream into the cup.

Footsteps drew closer, Badesh knew that it had to be Theron. Sure enough the Agent entered and was obviously taken aback to find the Sith in the mess hall. Then his sight fell on the steaming cup of tea that was still standing in the replicator. The expression on his face quickly changed from startled to amused, he even chuckled a little.

Badesh grew angry, nobody had the right to make fun of a Sith!

"Oh, if my mother could see you… it would probably kill her to see that a Sith is using this mug," he said light-heartedly.

Badesh's anger tickled away. He hadn't laughed about him… Badesh was curious to learn more about Theron. At the same time he couldn't come up with a sensible response. What would Quinn do?

"Care to elaborate?" Badesh said hesitantly.

Theron shrugged. "There is not much to elaborate. It was just a funny thought."

"I see… so, uh, have you made any progress with the droid, Agent Heian?" Badesh took his cup but lingered next to the replicator.

Theron stretched his arms. "Yes, most of the circuits are fried but I was able to salvage the location sensor; we will see all locations the droid has been in the last six months."

Badesh remembered that Quinn always complimented work well done. "Good work, Agent," he said stiffly.

Theron was visibly surprised and looked at Badesh as if he were waiting for something. Badesh remained silent and simply stared at Theron, an uncomfortable silence spread out. Finally Theron cleared his throat.

"Well, I thought you would add something insulting after the nice thing you said, and now I'm almost disappointed that you didn't bank a comment like 'Good work, Agent… at least for a republic worm'."

Badesh was confused. Was he making fun of him after all? Then he recalled that Vette often joked to lighten up a tense situation. Theron was probably joking with him… what now? Time to take a leave out of Vette's book – she would banter back and soothe the dialogue partner with playful physical contact.

Badesh put his mug on the counter, stepped right in front of Theron and growled: "If that is what you want, I will call you worm, you republic filth!" Then he slapped him so hard on the shoulder that Theron almost lost his balance.

"Ow!" Theron rubbed his shoulder and shot Badesh an angry look. "I was just joking, you know. No need to get violent!"

This hadn't played out like Badesh had intended. He was obviously lacking experience in this kind of communication. "I know – I was joking too," replied Badesh with in an even voice.

"You mean… I just witnessed an example of Sith humour?" asked Theron disbelievingly.

"Yes," retorted Badesh curtly.

"And I bet you are laughing under that mask of yours?"

Quick! He had so say something entertaining, something less aggressive than before. "It's the sole reason that Sith wear masks at all," he deadpanned. Vette would have been proud.

It took Theron a moment to take in what Badesh had said, but then he burst out with laughter. Badesh was surprised and felt gratified that he had managed to actually jest in such an entertaining way. He had of course shared some witticisms with Vette and Quinn, but this was the first time he had tried it with an outsider.

"And here I thought that all force-users have lost their sense of humour." Theron smiled at him and Badesh felt a certain hot feeling spread in his lower abdomen. "May I?" The Agent gestured towards the replicator and Badesh moved out of the way.

Theron replicated a steak with pasta. He pulled the plate out of the machine and went to the table. "Aren't you hungry? You haven't eaten since you arrived… my Lord."

Badesh hesitated, he didn't need sustenance to survive as long he could meditate. But on the other hand he primarily decided to abstain because it would show the SIS-Agents that he was a tireless enemy. It seemed a little pointless now after his display of power against the assassins. Before he could make up his mind Kalda appeared in the doorframe. If she was surprised to see Badesh standing in the mess hall she didn't show it.

"The Ewok is filibustering… a smart strategy. It will take a lot of time to verify her information and since we don't yet know if she is cooperating we can't push her further." Kalda strode to the replimat and pushed a few buttons. After a few seconds she pulled a fish dish with rice out of the machine and joined Theron at the table. She took the cutlery in her hand, but before she started eating she glanced over her shoulder at Badesh. "Don't you ever eat?"

"I just said the same – it won't kill you to eat some republic food, besides, the steak is actually decent," added Theron while chewing on a piece of meat.

"I don't eat meat," replied Badesh in a low voice and turned to the replimat. He scrolled through the menu and found a potato stew which he replicated. He took the bowl and sat down beside Kalda.

"You really don't eat meat?" asked Kalda while cutting her fish.

"No, I don't." Badesh reached up and pulled his mask from his face and put it on the table. Of course he registered Theron's and Kalda's amazed gazes when they laid their eyes on his features for the first time.

"And here I thought that Sith wear masks to hide their ugly mugs," remarked Kalda dryly and turned her attention again on her food.

"It's a tradition, the mask symbolises…" began Badesh.

"She is just joking," said Theron amused.

"A Joke. Of course," replied Badesh lamely. He shortly mused whether he should again insist on his honorifics but then he decided that it would have been out of place. He shoved a fork full of stew in his mouth and was pleasantly surprised by its flavour.

"Sooo, I just have to ask – why don't you eat meat?" inquired Theron and leaned back in his chair.

"It's personal," answered Badesh. He regretted that he had told them in the first place.

"Yeah, well, I always thought that Sith Purebloods were the real deal – brutal and bloodthirsty as they come. It's just strange…"

Badesh looked at him blankly. "I don't understand. Why is it strange?"

Theron began to stammer. "Because… because you actually like to kill people, don't you? One could assume that this, uh, lust for blood extended to the dinner table."

"How come that suddenly the Sith isn't the creepy one?" frowned Kalda.

Theron threw his hands up in despair. "Alright, let's just change the topic; have you heard from the Major or Vette?"

"Yes, they are following a trail… I hope to hear from them soon. But I suspect very much that the assassins are our only chance to discover the whereabouts of the cult."

"Then we have to verify Treek's stories as fast as possible. But I have the strong feeling that she hasn't given us anything substantial."

"I could torture her, she will talk within the hour," commented Badesh calmly.

"That is not how we…" began Theron, but he was interrupted by Kalda.

"Yes, that would be a viable option for a humanoid species. But we simply don't know enough about Ewoks and how resilient they are; in the worst case you will kill her and we got nothing."

"I can't believe that you would resort to torture!" exclaimed Theron.

"Don't be such a hypocrite! You brought in a Sith and you knew fully well that Imps aren't going to play nice. But I guess you counted on that so that you don't have to bloody your own hands," replied Kalda coldly.

"Perhaps you are right… but violence should be our last resort, not our first." Theron said crestfallen.

Badesh was puzzled again, not only did a veteran SIS-Agent hesitate to torture a prisoner, he seemed hurt by the thought of it. Theron was truly not what he expected. Or was it all an act? But what would he gain by appearing to be weak?

"We should meet with Quinn and Vette; Quinn is an exceptional medic and could monitor the Ewok during the questioning," suggested Badesh.

Kalda nodded. "Sounds like a plan, we need anyway more manpower to look through all the intel Treek has given us."

"Alright, we could rendezvous on Rishi," concurred Theron.

"I will tell them as soon as they call." Badesh had finished his meal and took a sip of his now cold tea.

"You surprise me …my Lord." Kalda said cautiously. "Don't you usually snap with your fingers and expect your subordinates to drop everything and rush to your side?"

Badesh looked at her coldly. Did she take him for an idiot? "Agent Biss, they are on an important mission; of course I won't harass them while they might still be in danger."

He didn't miss that she and Theron exchanged glances. Badesh was aware that he was slowing betraying how deeply he felt about Vette and Quinn. At the same time it seemed pointless to hide his affections and put on an act that the Agents would see through anyway.

Badesh grabbed his mask and put it back on, then he took his plate and the cup and returned to the replicator and put them into the refresher. Without looking at Theron and Kalda he left and returned to the conference room.

ooOOoo

A few hours later his holocommunicator beeped and the caller ID confirmed that someone from the Fury was trying to reach him. Despite the recently discovered force-bond he shared with his friends Badesh was relieved to see Vette's bluish figure over the holo.

"Hey! How are you doing, my Lord?"

"Everything is fine, Vette. How are things on your end?"

"We gathered some interesting intel. Perhaps it would be best to meet up and discuss it in person?"

"Very good, I was about to suggest the same – I'm sending coordinates now. Contact me as soon as you are in orbit," replied Badesh and smiled. He was looking forward to see them again.

"Sure thing, boss!" Vette saluted him mockingly and then her picture vanished.