Myriad Reckonings

Tarkin suppressed a smile; oh, he'd really upset him then. He led Sirejj into a small parlor with a holotable and keyed in Thalassa's number. After a few rings, a full body hologram of her came into being.

"I recognize that room," she said, squinting. "What the devil are you doing back home?"

"There was a complication," Tarkin replied. "Pirates. We're regrouping in a couple days to return. But Sirejj has a few questions for you, dearest."

"I'm sure he does," Thalassa said with an irritable sigh, seating herself in a comfortable armchair. "Go on then. How can I help?"

Spoiler

whenever the assassin shows up Sirejj may wait until the very last second to step in. Unless you think Tarkin is capable of beating her. He'd love to watch him struggle and then gloat about it

Sirejj could easily read the thoughts targeted at him. It was almost as if Tarkin wanted him to hear proud he was of riling him. He would not let him win.

"Lady Tarkin. A pleasure as always." He at least pretended to be respectful to her, his upbringing commanding it. He maintained a patient and reserved tone. "I am further piecing together the story of your son. I understand he was close to you?"

Spoiler

Tarkin might be able to beat her unless he's caught very off guard. Which I expect he will

"He was." She gave a nod, resting her chin on her hand. "We had an understanding of each other."

Spoiler

it would be funny. He's plotting a way to get back at him

"If you wouldn't mind telling me about him. I am trying to get to know him, but it's proving a little more difficult than I suspected." He fought the urge to cast a glance on Tarkin. "What was he like? His fears, hatred, loves..." He clasped his hands behind him. "Anything you may have even slightly suspected that led to his disappearance."

Thalassa did glance at Tarkin, who crossed one leg over the other and folded his arms.

"He was kind," she said after a pause. "Despite everything, he was a kind person. He did right by his friends and family, he put others before himself. That caused some tension, naturally--mercy's a weakness, you know."

Tarkin smiled wryly at that.

"He loved to play Sabaack," she went on. "Not for money, just for fun. He had few friends; Eriadu is an isolating place and he didn't get along with the people at the academy. The Judicials expected him to be like his father, I think."

A much different picture than what Tarkin had painted. Sirejj began to picture a clearer version of Garoche in his head.

Sirejj remained standing, pondering. "Was he one to keep secrets?" Garoche's reasoning for going to Atoa made even less sense now. That part was missing

"He had his private thoughts and wishes, I'm sure." Thalassa's gaze grew distant. "Who doesn't?" She was quiet for a few minutes.

"Thalassa," Tarkin prompted quietly. She stirred, sat up a bit straighter.

"He came to me with most of his grievances," she continued. "He used to be outgoing, as a little boy. Always talking, always excited about something. After the Carrion he withdrew."

"He was shy," Tarkin clarified.

"Reserved," Thalassa corrected. "Cautious, always lost in thought."

The Carrion would be a question for Tarkin later.

"Did he have any special extra-curricular interests? Even of insignificant things." Something had to be there. A clue. Anything that may lead to Garoche's motives for going to Atoa.

"He enjoyed drawing and sports." Thalassa thought for a few moments. "He was a good dancer--a bit self-conscious, but he enjoyed the parties I took him to."

"He wouldn't have had time to do any of those things during the misison," Tarkin pointed out. "How would they be relevant to eliminating insurgents?"

Sirejj sighed sharply. "I know little of your son, Governor. How am I supposed to find him if I don't know who I'm looking for?" You don't even know your son, perhaps that's why you've failed to find answers.

"All valuable information My Lady." Sirejj turned back to her. He thought for a moment, storing each word Thalassa spoke in his mind. "Now tell me about the last time you saw him."

"It was about a year before he diaappeared," she said. "He'd come to visit me on Phelarion. I congratulated him on his promotion to admiral. We had a game of Sabaack and ate dinner." She glanced at her husband. "He was anxious; it was a big responsibility. He and Wilhuff had just argued not long before that, so I think he was still sore about it. We talked it over and he attended a few meetings with me. There wasn't much out of the ordinary." She frowned. "He did seem to be fluttering around a subject, though. He didn't want to talk about it and he never said what it was, but there was something bothering him. I chalked it up to his tiff with his father at the time."

There was an interesting thing. Perhaps Garoche had been hiding something other than contention with his father. One more variable added to be sure, but now he had a direction in which to explore.

"And where was he stationed during that year?"

"He had a Star Destroyer stationed over Eadu," Tarkin said. "I passed down the order for him to deal with Atoa. There was a minor Rebellion that we needed to quash."

Sirejj glanced at him. He hadn't heard that part mentioned before. So he went on the Grand Moff's orders to crush a rebellion. What went wrong from there? What took him a year?

"At what point did you lose contact with him? What happened to the crew and his soldiers? Did they disappear with him as well?"

"They were dead when Vader arrived. He reported that no one was left alive but Garoche."

"And Garoche had apparently been held prisoner. Here's what I want to know." Thalassa leaned forward. "Why did they wait so long to kill him, and why in such a mutually destructive manner? They must have known Wilhuff's reputation."