Nar Shaddaa

Sylvain set his feet up on his couch as he continued to communicate with Varl and other spy cells throughout the galaxy well into the night. His work kept his mind off his major concern for the evening, even helped him focus more to make sure his thoughts weren't wandering to Makeb.

He glanced out the window where the dining room table still lay chopped in half. They had brought a new one, but had left the old one until the next day... something about some Hutt having all rights to repossessing damaged goods and the other not... Sylvain looked out at the gloomy and seedy city for a moment as he caught his breath and let his mind wander for only a moment.

There was a notification at his door, a woman was standing there. Blonde, not the tallest of the bunch but carried herself in such a way that it was hardly possible to look down on her. Dressed in another set of casual Imperial wear she stood there patiently. Waiting for Sylvain to answer the call.

He answered the call without looking at the camera, "Yes?"

There was no answer, Kristal merely waited for him.

Sylvain checked the monitor and stood quickly to walk to the door. Pressing the button he looked down at Kris with a look of relief and welcome.

"Hey beautiful."

"You could stand to use my name more often, handsome," she said, stepping in just past him. Looking up with a light smirk as she did so. Stepping off into the room she had decided on owning this space as if it were her own.

He smirked and chuckled through his nostrils as she walked in, "In my defense, I believe that's the first time I've called you that in a while."

He closed the door and followed her inside, "Want something to drink? I'm assuming you just got in. Must be tired."

"I slept on the flight in," she corrected, glancing about his room before deciding on what was the most comfortable place to sit. "However, it has been an eventful time since I have spoken with you last."

He sat and offered a spot next to him on the couch, "Well let me hear the story then. I slept earlier too... figured it'd be a good time if you kept to your schedule."

Kristal joined him on the couch, half torn between leaning on him slightly and just sitting there casually. For now, she remained somewhere in the middle.

"I am not much one for tales of my exploits, you know this well Sylvain," she said, looking to him.

He smiled and schooched over closer to her an inch or two, "I know Kris, but I'm the one who'll listen to anything you have to say for hours... or seconds as it normally takes."

He grinned playfully, "What made it so eventful? I'm guessing it wasn't the beautiful beaches."

"There was a wonderful resort, but I do not think I will be staying there again any time soon. Unfortunately," she said, looking to him as he got closer. Not moving with the exception of her arm which now rested along his thigh, crossing back toward herself.

"However, I was named as Darth Marr's Champion. Far from my days of merely being an apprentice already, it would appear."

He smiled and put his hand softly over hers. "You do good work Kris. And you have a master who respects that and rewards it. I'm happy for you."

There was something more to his words, something else. Not directed to her but himself, and Kristal had every intention to poke and prod at whatever that was. Catching his gaze directly she asked directly, "Is there something troubling you Sylvain?"

He shook his head, "Nothing really. I'm glad that you have Marr... things could be much worse, and you deserve the best. The more people I talk to... the more I realize how rare people like you and I are. It's nice not to have to swim through an endless stream of deceit when I'm with you."

"You say nothing bothers you and yet I cannot shake the sense from your words that there is something, someone, who is causing you trouble," she said, keeping them eye to eye. Kristal turned her hand over against his thigh, taking a hold of his.

He smiled and closed his eyes slightly, "So many people promise so much... and give me only lies and vague responses in return. Baras most certainly lives... and yet i am in the dark. Mother refuses to tell me of her plans and assets... she works with the Republic to kill the standing Minister of War. Vengean is my master in the interim and won't talk with me. I spoke with Magara-sha and she tried only to lie to me again. It would be nice to have a master who reciprocated devotion with further development and strength."

"It is important to remember who decided upon this path," she said, pulling his hand more into her lap than his. "Darth Baras is a man who manipulates and twists those to his will. A man who knows well where your allegiances lie and how they lie against him. Darth Baras is your Master but he cannot trust you, or use you directly for he knows you."

"Your mother... she has spent her whole life in service to a man that, by what I have learned, she despises. Only to finally have a chance now to eliminate him. You may be her blood, you may be her son and her crowning trophy when this is all over but she too aims to use you for her own gains. As for Vengean, I cannot speak but your connection to Baras certainly tarnishes any direct use he feels comfortable making of you."

"Then Magar-..." she paused, "Magara-sha lives?"

He nods, "She is Queen of the Massassi. Implanted into her new self by Moyr on Yavin IV."

He then squeezes Kris' hand softly, "I am aware of the reasons my dear... and tend to deal with them well enough on a day-to-day basis. But it can get tiresome... even for me. This is the path I have chosen as well, I do not regret it... it is perhaps more stifling than I would have hoped, but blood and sweat spent today will only reap greater rewards in the future."

He looked up into her eyes and smiled weakly, "Forgive me if I let my exhaustion show a bit when I have the chance... I don't open up to just anyone."

There was a scowl, wishing she had known of the devil's continued existence before-hand. How she even got to where she was now was...

It wasn't the point of this moment. No, right now Kristal just wanted to have what she'd wanted last year.

"I know, Sylvain," she said, removing her hand from his and bringing it up to brush his jawline. "You are stronger than all of them. Smarter than all of them. In the end, you will come out on top. Despite whatever pitfalls they may place in front of you. You will find a way around them."

He chuckled and smiled, "You're much too kind to me my dear. Always there to give me the little boost when I need it..."

He smiled and looked down before looking back up and wrapping his arm around her shoulder to pull her in tightly to his chest. "With you at my side, I'm sure I can do whatever I need to."

Pulled against his chest she let her head lay into him. Careful to hide her light sigh as she brought her arm around to hold onto him for a moment. Just, relaxing like that for the time being. There wasn't really anything more to say in that moment, she felt, but to just let the time between them pass in the comfort of one another.

He leaned back into a slightly more comfortable reclining position and tilted his body to gently support her neck as she continued to lean on him. He gently moved his hand along her side, scratching softly as he looked up to the ceiling.

"I had a vision the other day... Of our future... Would you like to hear it?"

"I do not trust visions of what is yet to come, but I will listen to the story," she said, keeping a lighter voice given their proximity. "I do hope it is an interesting tale."

He chuckled, "Probably more of a wishful dream than a true vision I must admit. Though one that was guided by the force..."

He smiled and continued to rub her side gently, "There was a battle on Dromund Kaas. We had a home together... banners of House Serasai and House Torsin adorned our walls. There were two boys... both fighitng as Sith against the invading forces. One had your hair and your bearings... Most certainly a Serasai in name as well as looks."

He smiled, "A wonderful thing I might add."

He then continued, "And there was a boy like me... undoubtedly a Torsin. I was forced to make a choice between which one would live and which would die. It was obvious that only through the sacrifice of house Torsin could we win the battle and protect our home."

He smiled, "I know it to sound outlandish and perhaps a bit silly... but it gave me ideas on how this could work. I would never wish to see you lose who you are and the name you are so proud to bear. I wish for that lineage to be passed on to our children just as I wish to see my own name continue on."

He tightened his arm around her and smiled, "It will require a bit more time to bring multiple children into the world... but our firstborn being Serasai and second being a Torsin is something I could see as potentially great for both of them."