Nar Shaddaa

Layne receives an urgent message that there is a problem at her ship. She needs to come immediately. The message is from Ensign Reshir and is marked urgent.

Tonight marked the first night that Layne had hoped to actually, well.... go out for some of the night instead of sleeping in. So it was with some mild annoyance that she returned to the ship upon receiving the message.

The interior is quiet but seated at her table tapping his fingers is Baras with his hood up, but his face visible underneath. Ensign Reshir off to the side and Daz sitting at the table looking nervous and actually quiet looking at the dark lord; he focuses his gaze on Layne and says, “Greetings, my apprentice.”

Off to the side stands Jaina Von in silence leaning against the far wall.

Layne looked at those gathered, taking note of Jaina with a slightly confused blink before turning to Baras.

"Master," she said after a moment. "I was not expecting your arrival until tomorrow."

“I arrive precisely when I mean to, Layne, remember that. Master Karr is on the moon, I could smell his wretched calming cowardice from orbit. Has he made contact with you, my apprentice,” Baras says.

"He did. Sylvain too, on a separate occasion. He seems quite interested in your operations, master."

“He went deep cover as a Sith, nearly got his way to the Dark Council before I discovered his ruse. My inability to kill him has been a lasting thorn in my flesh for decades now. Trust nothing he says apprentice, he is more Sith than he realizes and soon he will dead,” Baras says with cold rage.

He holds out a portable holo-comm and an image of a woman forms. Baras says, “Fixer 71, report.”



“My lord,” she begins with crisp Imperial calm, “I have news. I have tracked Magpie to The Dango, I tracked Sylvain entering and leaving the Hutt pleasure barge. The structure is a fortress; I can provide little else on the interior security.”

“Shaisha Vreysk has made tracking Magpie her top priority and did not go for the ruse that eliminating Torsin was the best option.”

Baras says, “She is a sentimental fool, just like Torsin. How disappointing.”

I fucking told him. Naieve.

Layne stood there, listening, keeping a calm exterior as Baras so casually revealed he was tracking Sylvain. And then something about a ruse to eliminate him? Well, of course Shaisha wouldn't go for that.

She waited to be addressed, not wanting to interject.

"Thoughts apprentice?" Baras asks.

She looked at him, contemplating how best to respond. What combination of words would be most useful here? After a few moments, she came up with something she deemed satisfying enough.

"Were you intending to see Sylvain dead, or just testing Vowrawn's apprentice?"

“Perhaps both. Sylvain is a victim of his own… compassion and that is a weakness that may never be cut out without losing those bits of him I find useful. Fixer 71, stand down any operations to eliminate Torsin. I have a better plan,” Baras commands.

Fixer 71 says, “Your will my Lord.”

Baras keeps the holo up and says, “You have questions, apprentice?”

"Many," she said, briefly looking at Jaina before focusing on Baras again.

"Perhaps they might be answered if you included me in the planning?"

“Feeling left out, apprentice? I feel like I have had this exact conversation and it did not go well then either. Speak your mind, I give you leave to do so,” Baras says.

Ensign Reshir pours tea for the dark lord.

Right. Of course Sylvain would've pushed to be included. Probably in a lot more verbose a manner though, so hopefully Layne wasn't quite as high on the annoyance scale.

"I suppose I'd ask to know what exactly it is you intend to do about Sylvain. As well as this Magpie. Is she why you're here on Nar Shaddaa? And what will my role be in all of this?"

“I am debating your role, you have value to me but that value is not so great that I am not willing to exchange your life for victory. Magpie is a chief concern for me and the Empire and she will be dealt with. I have a task for you when you are done with your prattling,” Baras replies.

The dark lord glances to the holo and says, “Fixer 71?”

Fixer 71 says, “As you command my lord, I have a destination that is uploaded in your nav-computer. If correct it may be the stronghold of Magpie, if not it will be a clue to its location. It is in Hutt Space, my lord.”

Baras adds, “Recruit those you trust, Layne. I sense this will be a challenge like none you have faced.”

She gritted her teeth as he spoke of exchanging her life.

"You taught me not to trust anyone, Master."

She looked at Jaina again. "Will Von's apprentice be accompanying me?"

"If you so choose, he is of no concern to me. Jaina is here for other reasons," Baras says.

"I leave the task for you to sort out. Just do not fail me."

She glanced at Jaina again fpr a moment, wondering what that reason might be.

"Surely such an operation requires a proper assault force, rather than a civilian freighter and whoever I can find willing to join me in this endeavour? Or am I missing some means by which we might breach this stronghold with such limited means?"

“This mission needs secrecy, you have the resources you are given. You survived the challenges of Korriban, this will be no different,” Baras responds.

“You will be using a Hutt transport for insertion, it should allay any suspicion and allow you ingress to the station. From there I suspect a well trained Sith can handle any surprises,” Fixer 71 adds.

"I understand," she said. "When will this transport depart, and how long is the travel time?"

Fixer 71 says, “Early afternoon, a short trip no more than perhaps four hours at speed. I will provide support from here at our lord’s command.”

"I see," she said, looking back at Baras. "It will be done, master."

"Then you have your task, I will commandeer your ship for my base of operations for the time being. A temporary arrangement while I tend to a few clandestine affairs," Baras responds.

"You have a guest, or is this an apprentice?" he says not looking at Daz.

"I am uncertain, master."

Of course Baras would sense the force off of him. Dismissing him as a mere guest would not work.

"Is it even possible for an apprentice to take an apprentice?"