Myriad Reckonings

Spoiler

Tarkin would probably bite, but he'd get hisnass kicked in the end.

I do love Killian and I hope he'll be at least a little okay.

"Indeed you are." He glanced behind him, deliberately letting his gaze sweep over everyone but Killian. "Lord Vader will brief you on what we've learned so far, once the prisoner is brought aboard the ship."

"There is precious little to say," Vader rumbled. "Her name was Qiall Saraat, and she was an assassin."

"She served someone who went by the alias Rido Gavon," Tarkin added. "A man of some influence from the Outer Rim."

"A man who is soon to be dead."

Spoiler

Sirejj would fight him without the force simply because he'd be accused of cheating otherwise. He'd have some kind of reputation he was trying to uphold.

he'll survive. He'll just have to toughen up a little

Interesting, an alias. That would be extremely useful. Hiring an assassin was not something one just woke up and decided on. Whoever was responsible had deep connections, that much was obvious. They had potentially hired similar characters before. One of those would be the weak link, if Qiall proved utterly useless. He feared she may.

"Intriguing." Killian had begun to analyze those around him. He was surrounded by some of the highest ranking officials in the galaxy. He began to explore different outcomes of this situation. Asking too many questions would give him trouble here, asking not enough would give him trouble back on Coruscant. Placating words would have him disregarded as a desperate child, and boldness may anger those superior to him. Lightly, now...

Thalassa kept silent for now, listening with undisguised amusement to her husband. It was clear she was enjoying his little show.

Vader, being a difficult man to read, offered very little in the way of body language. He kept the pace with everyone, facing straight ahead without giving any indication of where he was looking. Sirejj would be able to tell his focus was trained on Killian, though.

Tarkin gave off an aura of confidence and preoccupation. He projected himself as a busy man; this rapscallion couldn't be made to think he was important in any way. The boy was an insect as far as he was concerned. Who was his supervisor, he wondered? Why send someone with so little experience, with such a clear air of naiveté about him? Tarkin was very eager to see how he would react when confronted with the mindless heap of flesh that had once been a thinking, speaking being. The Phindian would rattle him, surely.
He elected to keep quiet for a little while to see how long it would take the lieutenant to break the silence, hoping the others would play along.

Sirejj wished Vader hadn't been there. He would have loved to needle this one. He would have if it had only been the two Tarkins.

Killian was content to muse for the time being. Vader was certainly unnerving, but so far Killian hadn't given him a reason to be displeased. Tarkin on the other hand seemed to have a chip on his shoulder the moment he'd stepped off his ship. Not that there was anything he could do about it, but it was useful information to him nonetheless. He must defer to him while avoiding grovelling completely, that simply wouldn't do.

There simply was not much to say. No one had asked him a question, and he had no questions he wanted to ask just yet. He instead focused on walking quickly, doing his best to keep up without scampering like a cadet.

They eventually made it out to the kennels, and Tarkin unlocked the door. He considered advising the lieutenant to steel himself, then brushed the thought away. "After you," he said to Killian. "She's in the last cage, toward the end there."
Thalassa gave him a long look, which he met readily.

Spoiler

Actually it seems like Killian is the only one willing to play mind games with Tarkin. He may be of use later when Tarkin turns on the empire. He's got spunk.

(tarkin, off in the distance. "I hate spunk")

oh poop i shoulda had the troopers come with him unless Killian plans on dragging her off himself. can i pretend i didn't say that lol

Killian felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Oh, there was something terrible here. The deathly silence was a giveaway, as well as the expectant glances from those around him. He nodded to the governor and stepped into the kennel building.

It was dimly lit and humid, not as well ventilated as the sentient living quarters. Many of the bars were rusted from years of abandonment. He slowly stepped down towards the end, both apprehensive and wildly curious of what he might see. He'd heard of the aftermath of their own interrogations back at the ISB but had never seen one up close.

Spoiler

Tarkin is Grouchy Smurf confirmed.

And yeah the troopers may want to come along for this.

Once Killian had passed, Thalassa narrowed her eyes at Tarkin. He responded with the most shit-eating grin possible--the most expressive thing he'd done in front of Sirejj--and stepped in after him.

Qiall Saraat had not moved from where she had been lying when Vader left her. Her eyes were still vacant, the kennel still foul-smelling, and the air still thick with fear. She stirred only slightly when the shadows of the visitors fell on her, and she curled up a bit more. Her cheeks were hollower than before.

"There is hope for her," Vader remarked as he gazed down at her. "Perhaps you may yet learn something from her, Lieutenant. Fragments of her still remain."

Be that as it may, Tarkin thought, she was probably insensible at best.

Spoiler

I'll go edit away the evidence of my mistake lol.

tarkin is a grump. Can't wait till he loses his rank and Sirejj can unleash the roasting without worrying about the empire coming after him. I mean he'll still probably suffer for it.

(Sirejj, face down in a swamp somewhere after "accidentally" getting yeeted out of the "allegedly" open door of a Treacle transport because of a smart comment he made about Tarkin's piloting skills: worth it...

The stench reached him first. He forced himself to maintain the same pace as before and reached the cell. His eyes swept the cell and rested on the pitiful creature huddled in the corner. There was hardly a response from her as they entered.

Killian felt his stomach turn. His face paled for a moment, and then flushed red. Nothing in his mind prepared him for what she looked like, barely alive, starved, covered in her own filth. Whatever Vader had done to her had rendered her almost comatose. Conscious of all the eyes on him he made an effort to maintain his composure as much as possible.

"Impressive." He said, turning for a moment from the corpse-like figure of the phindian to Lord Vader. There was some awe in his tone, with just a hint of uneasiness. "If there is any activity left in her mind, we will make use of it."

Sirejj didn't look at her. Not because he cared, but because he could still smell the fear coming from her cell. And it felt all too familiar. He didn't like being back here in light of recent events.

Spoiler

They'll be insufferable together

"I have no doubt."

"We both have great respect for the diligence of the Imperial Security Bureau," Tarkin agreed, the cold lighting making his face a ghastly near-mirror of the Phindian's gaunt features. The shadows made pits of his eye sockets as he looked at Killian. "Will you be handling her processing, or merely the retrieval?"

"I wouldn't expect someone as young as this one to be interrogating just yet," Vader mused thoughtfully.

"No," Tarkin agreed, and unlocked the cage. "Nor would I." The Phindian made no move to escape.

Spoiler

Thalassa: you two cut it out or im turning this ship around

Killian had almost begun to feel like they were trying to intentionally frighten him. He stiffened a little, but still stood up as straight and uptight as ever. He'd faced this kind of treatment before and while Partagaz's words about treading lightly still rang in his head, he would stand firm in his competence.

"I've been assigned to the research and retrieval of this prisoner. I will be part of the many hands working to discover the identity of her employer." He was honest, not ashamed of the fact he hadn't been trusted with a larger position just yet. He was bold, not power-hungry. There was a difference. He motioned to his troopers to come forward and gather up what was left of the Phindian.

Stars, it sounded like he was quoting a textbook. Tarkin offered him a condescending smile. "The ISB must be grossly understaffed. It's admirable that you've accepted this responsibiltiy." He stepped aside for the troopers. "Will you be staying until tomorrow or are you leaving promptly?"

A glimmer of amusement showed in Vader's mind; this was not the first time he and Tarkin had run this bit and he certainly did not believe it would be the last. He was pleased by how swiftly the lieutenant had wilted when he saw the Phindian, but it was somewhat impressive that he'd picked himself back up. He could sense how much Tarkin was enjoying this, too. It was rare they had time enough to torment the easy pickings like this, to establish the pecking order so clearly.

Spoiler

Tarkin and Vader really are the school bullies

Killian elected to ignore the comment about the staffing. He was not defiant, he simply had no time to get emotionally involved here. It was however difficult to not feel cornered by these two.

"I plan on leaving promptly, I am soon expected back." Now here came the delicate bit, the questioning. "I do however have a few questions, if you both have the time for it." His tone was unlike many snaking imperials. Every word was spoken with sincerity.

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They're gonna ask for his lunch money next

Tarkin and Vader exchanged a deliberate glance. "To the parlor, then," Tarkin said. "This is regarding our knowledge of the events, yes?"

Spoiler

Killian comes back like dad they shoved me in a locker again

At least Killian has a really long fuse, unlike Sirejj.

"Yes Governor. Not that your report wasn't thorough, it was. I simply have a few additional inquiries." He was glad to leave those stinking kennels. He saw the exchange of looks and felt a little uncomfortable on the inside. He was used to being made sport of but he would have thought two commanding officers of such rank and influence would be above that.

But then again, they were soldiers. And all of them had to be at least a little brutish.

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Ha imagine a normal healthy young person assuming two full grown adults would actually be mature about anything

These boys are IDIOTS, through amd through

Oh yeah also Meryl Streep is who I would cast as a live actuon Thalassa, in case you wanted a visual

"Of course, of course." Tarkin led them to the nearest parlor possible. "Sit down, make yourself comfortable." He and Vader remained standing.

"Would you like some tea, Lieutenant?" Thalassa said purposefully.