Only Shadows in Coruscant

[Dark Link]

"What part of 'first thing in the morning' did you fail to comprehend?" Those were the words that finally interrupted the long and awkward silence that had settled in after the duo found themselves in the middle of Herman's office again. They were spoken by the Colonel himself, who, like yesterday, was sitting behind his desk. However, his behaviour was different from the day before; this time, he wasn't polite or displeased, but was outright angry. As it turned out, it wasn't standard procedure for Simmons to escort them after already showing them the way the first time around, nor did he announce himself at the apartment several times purely out of impatience. The two Primes had long missed their appointment and Brandt sent his subordinate to look where they were.

The Captain was even more upset about this than the man he served under. He had numerous responsibilities as the battalion's executive officer, so he was none too pleased with the fact that he was once again forced to neglect his regular duties and play babysitter for two rookie Primes. Nevertheless, he was content with remaining on the sidelines, leaning against the nearby wall as he quietly observed the meeting that was taking place.

Brandt continued to eye the teens sternly...or, more accurately, he was eyeing the girl sternly; in his mind, he had already come to the conclusion that the boy was too much of a moron to comprehend anything worthwhile, so he mostly ignored the swordsman even as he was paying attention to what was going on. After another brief silence, the Colonel resumed speaking: "I don't know how things are done where you come from, but here, people can't just come and go as they please. No matter what you think, I don't have time to be lollygagging about all day. I'm a busy man with many obligations to fulfill and duties to perform, so I expect everyone I have dealings with to be punctual. Either you choose to respect my time and arrive for any of our appointments at the designated hour...or you choose to be permanently dealt with. Is that clear enough for you?"

Sarah calmly payed attention to the officer, maintaining her best poker face in the process. Though her rest last night was certainly troubled, she still felt much better than she did the first time they were in that office and was able to think more calmly and clearly. Figuring she had already pushed her luck enough as it is, given the incident at the fountain and now their late arrival, she firmly stated: "Perfectly clear, sir. My apologies...I assure you, it won't happen again." She wanted to add how this had been an exception due to how she was still getting used to this new universe, but refrained from doing so, figuring that Brandt would interpret that as her making up an excuse and that it would only serve to upset him further. The Ghost had dealt with enough authority figures to know that, in those kind of situations, it was best to just apologise and weather the proverbial storm until it blew over.

The blonde-haired man took a deep breath, releasing some of the pent up annoyance, before bluntly saying: "See to it that it does not." Considering the matter settled, he picked up a tablet device from his desk and began typing: "Your full name."

"Sarah Louise Kerrigan," the girl replied. The commanding officer merely nodded to this without looking up, continuing to input data. He didn't bother to ask for the boy's name; apparently, he was aware of the swordsman's "unique" circumstances and came to the conclusion that there was little point in doing so. Meanwhile, the person in question continued to observe this exchange, mostly remaining out of the loop due to his ignorance and just confusingly blinking in response. However, when the warrior in black heard the word "name", he felt a tug in his head, almost as though his line of thought was an actual object and an unknown creature was pulling it. He didn't know why, but the phrase reminded him of something...something he already knew, yet could not bring to mind no matter how much he thought of it.

His effort to recollect whatever was hidden in the depths of his mind was interrupted when Herman, who seemed calmer than before, put down the device and turned his attention to the young woman: "Alright, Miss Kerrigan. Let us finally get down to business." Placing his elbows on the desk and intertwining his fingers, he resumed speaking as his gaze was locked with hers: "As you have no doubt surmised, Coruscant is the capital of the Galactic Empire. Thanks to the wisdom and guidance of our emperor, the strength of our armed forces and the will and ingenuity of our people, we have become the dominant power in this universe."

Swivelling his leather chair around, he looked outside before he continued: "We have certainly derived great benefits from that position. Coruscant has grown immensely and stands as a testament to the Empire's power and success. Under the law and order that we provide, our citizens here and in our colonies have been able to enjoy tremendous peace and prosperity." The majestic view that could be seen through the office window lent at least some credence to the Colonel's words. The top tier of the city somehow managed to be even more impressive and grand during daytime as the natural sunlight reflected off of the towering glossy structures and the sea of aerial traffic. But the Ghost wasn't even remotely deceived by this grandeur nor by the officer's "sales pitch"; as impressive as the city was, it still painted a picture that was all too familiar to her and she had no doubt she would very soon be faced with the ugly truth hidden behind the facade.

"However, success always comes at a price," Brandt spoke on as he once again turned to face Kerrigan, his voice containing a certain gravity. "The Empire has many enemies, both from outside and from within, who represent a threat to everything we have managed to build and who wish to plunge us into anarchy and ruin. Though the Empire Peace Division has, for the most part, been successful in quelling internal threats, one serious jeopardy to our security remains...that jeopardy being Primes, individuals like yourself who have been bestowed the power of creating and manipulating matter." This information helped the emerald-eyed girl understand more about the nature of this Omniverse, such as the fact that not all of its residents were granted the power of using Omnilium.

Leaning forward, the officer continued his explanation unabated: "Whoever...or whatever....Omni may be, he is certainly not one for consistency. Some of the individuals he has chosen to bring to this universe are exceptional talents who are worthy of the powers they now possess. Others...not so much." It was at this point that, for the first time in the entire meeting, Herman glanced at the grey-haired individual who had been observing the conversation with a now almost trademark perplexedness on his face. The warrior did not fail to notice the sideways look the person behind the desk gave him; he even managed to recall the first being he ever encountered, the white figure that appeared in the dark void, when the name "Omni" was mentioned. But due to his mostly non-existent knowledge of verbal language and mannerisms, the pale boy lacked the context to understand the implications of the glance and thus offered no meaningful response to it other than his usual confusion.

Returning to the matter at hand, the blonde man went on: "Regardless, whatever designs Omni might have for them, some Primes have opted to use their abilities in an attempt to bring harm to the Empire and its citizens. In fact, in recent times, the amount of incidents involving Primes has skyrocketed and some continue to operate against us at this very moment. They represent a clear and imminent threat....which is where you come in."

Straightening up, his piercing stare remained fixed on the assassin as he brought his speech to a close: "Given the stunt you pulled at the Nexus fountain, you will have to forgive the fact that some of my colleagues began to think of you as yet another rogue menace. But I knew better...you see, part of the reason why I am sitting in this chair at this very moment is because I have a knack for recognising talent. When I learned of you, I began to suspect that you might very well be the answer to our problems....and now that I've met you, I know. I can see it in your eyes...you are a person who can "eliminate" problems and use any means to achieve that goal. For this reason, I have convinced my superiors to drop all charges against you if you are willing to pledge your allegiance to our cause. And that is not all...the Emperor recognises those who show him loyalty and rewards them for their efforts. There are many perks that come with the job, like that apartment where you are currently staying and more."

"So...tell me, Sarah Louise Kerrigan. What will you do? Will you offer your services to the Empire?" he finally asked, albeit this time with the grin they had already seen on his visage before. For the girl's part, it took all the self-control she could muster to not respond in kind. For all their differences in order and appearance, the Empire was, at its heart, little different from the Confederacy she was forced to leave behind. The corruption and decadence that seemed to pervade the military apparatus was so familiar that she found it almost comforting in a way. This...this was all so predictable. Yet, all the same, it was like music to her ears. This was exactly what she desired. It was there in Coruscant that she would once again have a place and purpose. It was there that she would once more be able to do what she did best.

Sarah was about to respond to his offer when a beeping sound came from the door, signalling that someone wished to enter. The Ghost operative just barely noticed that the two men in front of her tensed up in response to this, the smile on Herman's face quickly evaporating. It was then that she also took note of the fact that they were armed. This in itself was not unusual; they were members of the military, after all. However, upon the warning from the visitor, Simmons lowered his arms closer to the blaster rifle that was openly slunk over his shoulder while his superior reached out for something strapped to his side, most likely a sidearm. Instinctively, Kerrigan tightened her grip around the barrel of her own rifle that she held next to her. Meanwhile, the mute teen merely turned curiously to see what the source of the noise was.

After the commanding officer pressed one of the buttons of the control panel built into his desk, the door gave way and four individuals walked inside. The two that came in last were stormtroopers, much the same as the ones that had escorted the two Primes to Coruscant. The ones in front were also soldiers, yet their equipment was somewhat different from what seemed to be standard gear. The armour they wore was larger and had a dirty white, almost grey, colour. Instead of projectile weapons, they carried large metallic staffs with bulkier ends. From this, it was rather simple for the girl to deduce that they were specialised troopers intended for close-quarter combat. Alarmed by this development, she pondered whether this was a trap...but quickly dismissed the thought. After all, if the authorities had wished to apprehend them, they would have had much better opportunities prior to that point.

"Ah, so you're finally here," Brandt spoke up as the faceless soldiers came to a halt, ready to receive orders. Turning his attention to the red-haired teen once more, he explained: "I must apologise for the interruption, but there is something I need to take care of before we resume. Parting is such sweet sorrow, after all." Sighing, he added: "Though I'm sure he made for an...interesting guest, it is time for you and the boy to each go your separate ways." This was when Sarah realised something that, in hindsight, she should have noticed before....during the entire conversation, Herman made no mention of her companion. He was never planning on recruiting him as well. Whatever the Empire's designs for the male teen were, they did not involve keeping the two Primes together.

As the officer gave a single nod, the boy continued to stare at the newcomers thoughtfully as one of the better armoured troopers approached him. The term that the being that had been speaking up to now used reminded him of what "her" told him yesterday. "Stay with me. Don't let them separate us." Though he understood what the first part meant, he was unsure as to the meaning of the rest. He recalled how the brown-haired figure at one point used "don't" in a harsh tone as he was doing something it did not want, so it must have meant to not do that thing. When the greyish being in front of him grabbed his arm and started pulling him away, the action ended up making the warrior think that that was what "separate" meant. But the girl specifically told him to stay with her and to not "separate". And with "them" being the white figures...the meaning of "let" and that of the words as a whole finally dawned on him. He wasn't supposed to allow the white figures to make him not stay close to "her"!

"W-wait!" his female companion spoke up, both because she wished to put a stop to this and because she was concerned how the swordsman would react. But her intervention wasn't quick enough. Now that he understood what he had to do, the boy's reaction was instantaneous and he pulled his arm in a violent manner. Before the heavy trooper that was dragging him along realised what was going on, the warrior had managed to free himself from his grasp and drew the sword and shield that were strapped to his back.

The counter-reactions were swift, the group having seemingly anticipated this. The stormtroopers at the back raised their blasters. Their heavily armoured counterparts swung their rods threateningly as the emitters on them began to discharge a steady steam of violet electricity, one of the guards even shouting out provokingly: "Bring it on, punk!" Simmons aimed at the Prime with his rifle while the Colonel sprung to his feet and whipped out a pistol. Even the Ghost instinctively picked up her rifle, though she ultimately did not aim it at anyone.

In mere moments, the situation had turned into a standoff. A tense silence gripped the room as none of them showed any sign of relenting. However, it was quite clear who held the advantage. Glaring at the teen with his piercing gaze, Herman stated coldly: "Stand down, boy. Resistance is futile." The person in question did no such thing, though he did not attack either. Though his red eyes glanced around him, the focused expression on his face remained unwavering. During those incredibly strained seconds, the warrior in black almost seemed like a completely different person. The fact that he did not budge an inch in the face of such immense pressure made some of them wonder if it was courage or ignorance that was making him behave in such a manner.

Gripped by panic, the Ghost frantically reached out to the boy with her mind: "Stop!" Turning to the battalion commander, she addressed him again, albeit more firmly than before: "Colonel, wait!"

"Hmm?" Brandt glanced at her curiously, though his aim remained fixed where it was.

"I accept your offer, but I have a con-...rather, I have a request," the girl continued, thinking it wise not to test his patience any more than necessary. "Please allow the boy to stay with me. You don't even have to assign him special quarters; I don't mind him staying in the same apartment. He knows how to fight and I can communicate with him. He could be of great use to us."

"Awww, is our little lady feeling lonely already?" the officer briefly chuckled. However, his visage quickly became stern again: "However, I cannot grant your wish. Oliver informed me of this boy's nature. Even if he can fight, mentally, he is but an infant. His lack of knowledge and common sense make him a liability on the field, even to you. He will be of more use to the Empire's Research and Development division, which has already taken a keen interest in him."

Though she didn't consider herself much of a talker, Kerrigan still attempted to make him reconsider: "Colonel, you are a man of considerable power and influence. You are the head of the Coruscant Guard, after all. I know that you can make arrangements in order to fulfill my request. And you said it yourself....I am good at eliminating "problems". If someone had a special "problem" they needed to deal with, it would certainly benefit them greatly if I owed them a favour..."

The blonde man didn't respond straight away, though he did at least turn his head to look at her as he mulled over her words. A few seconds later, his lips slowly curled into a wide smile. The young woman found this unnerving, though not because it was sickly or malevolent; in fact, that is exactly what she would have expected. No, she found it disturbing because it seemed....genuine. At that moment, Herman didn't look like a corrupt official; he looked like a father who was proudly looking at his offspring. The approval in his voice only served to make it even more unsettling: "Why, Miss Kerrigan, I'm impressed....You know exactly how this game is played."

After remaining silent for almost the entire conversation, Simmons finally spoke up while still keeping his sights on the target: "With all due respect, sir, I would strongly advise against letting the kid stay. If word reaches Lady Melantha that we didn't let R&D get a new test subject, it could be trouble."

His superior was lost in thought, carefully weighing his options...until he lowered his sidearm and snorted derisively: "That witch? I couldn't care less about what she thinks. If R&D wants new lab rats so badly, she can recruit Primes on her own." Putting away the pistol back into its holster, he addressed the girl: "Alright, Miss Kerrigan, we have come to an agreement. If you pledge yourself to the Empire, I will see to it that the boy remains with you. As far as I'm concerned, you may do with him as you please. But note this....the military has no time to play babysitter. From this point onward, he is entirely your responsibility. If he does anything wrong, it will be on your head." Finally, he also addressed the guards: "Gentlemen, thank you for your time, but it looks like your services won't be required after all. You are dismissed."

"Tch.....understood, sir," replied the heavy trooper that challenged the swordsman before, the rancorous tone in his voice barely coming through the helmet's speakers. As the blasters were lowered and the electrostaffs turned off, the Ghost was able to tell that they had been itching for a fight; apparently, they had lost some of their comrades to renegade Primes and were practically craving for an opportunity to exact their revenge. But cooler heads prevailed; with their business there done, the guards left the office one at a time. Seeing that nobody was trying to drag him away anymore, the warrior in dark garments slowly put away his armaments as well, though his alert expression did not vanish straight away.

Sarah sighed, both out of relief and frustration. She was glad that they were able to avoid an armed confrontation and that she kept her only ally by her side. However, the Colonel's concerns regarding her companion weren't unfounded. Raw strength alone wasn't enough to do the work of a secret operative and, on the field, it wouldn't always be possible for her to direct him. For this reason, she feared that the boy would be as much of a dead weight as he would be an asset and that he might end up putting both of them in jeopardy. The only thing that helped at least somewhat assuage her concerns was that he not only remembered what she told him, he even managed to figure out the meaning of her words all on his own. She thought that, perhaps with a bit of guidance, the swordsman could very well become quite invaluable to her.

Regardless of her thoughts, however, it had been far too late for second guesses at that point. After the two officers and the Primes were alone in the room again, Brandt wasted no time in preparing all the necessary data and paperwork. After a few bureaucratic explanations and the girl's signatures, their fate was finally sealed. They were now agents of the Empire, sworn to uphold the order and serve the Emperor. The Colonel could not have been more pleased with his success, a slimy, yet victorious, grin plastered on his face. Opening his arms in a welcoming manner, he stated: "You have made a very wise decision this day, Miss Kerrigan. It is my privilege to be the first to welcome you among our ranks. I am most certain that this will be a mutually beneficial partnership."

"Now...since enough precious time has been wasted, you will begin your preliminary assignment right away," he continued. Reaching out to another button on his built-in panel, he spoke up a bit more loudly: "Lieutenant Ellis, report to my office immediately." After receiving confirmation from the other side, the officer closed the line. Leaning back in his chair, he turned to his subordinate: "Alright, Oliver, I think we'll be fine from here on out. You may return to your regular duties. Dismissed." Grumbling to himself in annoyance, the Captain saluted and then left the room without a single word. It seemed that the person that was called was prepared ahead of time just for this occasion; as soon as Simmons had stepped out, an extremely eager person rushed inside just before the door closed.

The person that entered was a brunette girl of roughly the same age as Sarah and her dark partner. Her nearly pristine uniform consisted of a grey jacket, white trousers and black boots. Upon entering, she straightened out the crevices in her garments before she saluted in a rapid, almost exaggerated fashion. Speaking out loudly and clearly, she began to say: "Reporting for dutyyYYYYY-!!!" Mid-sentence, her overly energetic salute had turned into a high-pitched shriek as her hazelnut eyes met the vermilion ones of the boy in black, frightening her in the process. She promptly covered her mouth to silence herself and, after a few moments, her expression turned into one of embarrassment over her reaction. Allowing herself to speak, she profusely apologised: "I-I'm deeply sorry, sir! I...I was surprised!"

The Colonel chuckled for a bit before he continued unabated: "Miss Kerrigan, I would like you to meet Second Lieutenant Sophie Ellis of the Empire Peace Division. She will be serving as your liaison within the division as well as your support during missions; in practical terms, she will serve as your direct superior for the foreseeable future." The Ghost wasn't the least bit amused by this, staring harshly at Ellis. She was able to tell straight away that this Lieutenant was a greenhorn, fresh out of officer training. It felt almost insulting to the assassin that Brandt would saddle her with this rookie; as a result, she could not help but wonder if this was some form of punishment for her previous transgressions.

It apparently didn't take a telepath to know what she was thinking as Herman chuckled again and immediately added: "I admit, she is still inexperienced. But as I mentioned before, I am good at recognising talent and Lieutenant Ellis here graduated at the top of her class. I have full confidence that she will be more than up to the task of fulfilling her duties." This didn't make Sarah feel any better about this arrangement, but the head of the battalion proceeded onward regardless. "In any case, Lieutenant, I have here all the data regarding their preliminary assignment. Please escort Miss Kerrigan and her...dark friend here to the EPD headquarters. Once they had undergone their medical examination, debrief them on their assignment and immediately begin any necessary preparations."

"Y-yes, sir! Understood, sir!" Sophie exclaimed, saluting once more. She smiled nervously as she stepped past the two primes and took the tablet device that Herman had extended to her. "P-please, follow me!" she instructed her charges before proceeding towards the door. Sarah turned to leave and the boy followed her shortly thereafter.

They were about to exit when they were interrupted: "Oh, Miss Kerrigan..." Sarah turned her attention back to the man behind the desk. Giving her one more of his usual sly grins, the Colonel simply stated: "Good luck. I eagerly await Ellis' report on your success. I am certain you will not disappoint my expectations."

Merely nodding in response, the group then left the office and headed for their new destination, the Empire Peace Division headquarters.