50[]
The woman knelt before the holoprojector, waiting for several minutes despite the discomfort. She had endured worse. The stub of her arm throbbed from where it had been amputated and capped by medical droids with ungentle ministrations. Various other bruises and lacerations acquired in combat were still fresh on her body. Finally, the holoprojector activated and a glowing representation of Lord Tierno’s head appeared floating above her.
“You failed, Lorith,” the Chiss told her angrily, his glowing red eyes malevolent. “Give me one reason why I should suffer your continued existence.”
Lorith felt the terrible glare of her master on her and she knew it was not an idle threat. Tierno was cold and calculating, and she knew he would not tolerate repeated failures nor rogue Force-users in his employ. Eliminating her could even be his most logical choice. She stopped herself from continuing down that train of thought, determined not to be yet another doomed lackey who had condemned themselves through their own words to Lord Tierno. Instead, she clung to the single discovery that she knew might redeem her.
“I saw her, my lord,” she said. “There can be no mistake.”
Tierno’s eyes glittered.
“I have other spies who reported a Sephi named Jhiranae,” he said. “This is not news to me. We knew that before you were dispatched to Yanibar.”
“Have your other spies done battle with her?” Lorith asked. “I defeated her in combat.”
“It would appear otherwise,” Tierno observed.
“She had help, my lord,” Lorith said. “I did not sense the other until it was too late.”
“Another?” Tierno asked sharply.
“Yes, my lord,” Lorith answered. “There were two others with her. I did not sense the attack until it was too late.”
“How very unfortunate,” Tierno replied darkly. “And even more so that the fleet entrusted to you is no more such that you are powerless to do anything about it.”
“My lord,” Lorith pleaded.
Her knees seemed riveted to the floor and she could sense the air in the room growing thicker. Had Tierno trapped the communication room to asphyxiate or poison her? Could he reach out across the light years to choke her with the Force? She wouldn’t put either possibility past him.
“Fleets, Lorith, are only useful when they exist,” Tierno hissed. “If you believe you have any other information that might give me reason to spare your life, I suggest you divulge it now.”
“My lord,” she gasped. “The Sephi I fought carried a lightsaber and used the Force. She did neither well and was easily defeated, but the other intervened first.”
Tierno glowered balefully at her.
“Last chance, Lorith,” he said mildly.
“My lord, the other hid himself from me in the gray,” she spluttered. “There can be no other explanation as to why I did not sense him at first.”
Lorith felt some of the pressure subside and nearly collapsed on the deck from relief.
“In the gray?”
“He was trained in its use, my lord. I swear it! I would not have been defeated if I had known what he was.”
Tierno leaned back.
“Well, that changes things,” he said.
“What things, my lord?” Lorith asked, pulling on her collar with her free hand.
“It means that the Five Worlds have been ignored for too long,” he said. “It’s time we revisited that subject. Return to me, Lorith, and we will devise a way to strike back.”