Barriss blew out a breath as the whine of the engines began dissipating into nothingness. Her mind a tumult of exasperation, confusion, and questions with no answers. With the recoil of the landing struts the rear boarding ramp began hissing open creating the finality of the moment for which she wasn’t quite ready. Trepidation began to wrap its tendrils around her core as she sat for a long moment unwilling to remove her gaze from the reconfigured temple before her. She knew it would be perceived as fear, even though reality was the furthest thing from. It didn’t matter to Sidious, and she knew it.
“I am wasting time.” She said to herself as she pushed herself out of the acceleration chair and folded her hands deeply into her thick robe. With one last look forward she steeled herself and turned to leave.
“You are expected.” The heavily modulated voice said upon Barriss’ approach. Not quite sure which of the three Imperial guards made the comment she didn’t even bother lifting her head, just continued gliding past them. She looked up in time to see the turbolift open and waiting for her and immediately began scouring the emotion from her facial expressions. There was no need to key in her destination as she turned upon entering, it had only one stop she knew. As the door slid closed, she began scouring the emotion from her mind and heart, knowing full well they would be liabilities if she didn’t. The passage to the uppermost parapets took no time at all and the door was already sliding back open as she gazed upon a phalanx of red garbed Imperial guards, staves held before them in perfect symmetry.
“Let her pass.” The command issued in a rasping whisper yet heard as a booming echo from the other side of the chamber. The guard’s broke formation in unison to form a corridor between them. The Emperor seated upon his throne, hood draped loosely over his forehead, arms resting gently upon the controls set into the rests, betrayed no emotion whatsoever.
Barriss stoked her own resolve and was certain she had sufficiently left all her emotions behind her as she strode forward with determined strides, the lower hem of her robe gliding over the polished black stonework without so much as a rustle. She began unfolding her arms from the sleeves of the dark garment to present her Emperor with open palms as was customary.
“I would have you reveal yourself so that I may more accurately ascertain the effects of your…. encounter.” The raspiness taking on a life of its own, compelling her to obey without thought. She placed her hands on either side of her cowl with a slightly audible wince and revealed to her Emperor her mangled face, never once taking her eyes off him. “It would appear you have sustained substantial injury initiate, as I had expected. Although quite alive, contrary to Sylde’s initial report.”
“I am not strong enough master.” Barriss managed with significant effort, realizing only then that the damage she had sustained was far greater than she had thought. “The Togruta is all but unassailable with my limited knowledge. The Mirialan on the other hand was close to breaking.” She exhaled with great pain upon finishing, understanding then how Ahsoka’s Force wave had affected her vocal chords. “With your permission master?” She asked in a crackled whisper. She did not make a move however, waiting for his reply.
It came in the way of a simple nod directed toward her and she reached into the folds of her robe for the holochip she had been guarding with her life. Barriss dropped to a knee before him and bowed her head as she lifted her hand to present it to him. He extended his long sinuous fingers and gently took it from her palm. She lifted her head as he slid the chip into the reader at his arm rest, his yellow eyes concentrated fully upon her. The emitter within the throne sprang to life and began playing out the encounter on Mustafar from her perspective. She watched the holo as her Emperor was, betraying no emotion from beginning to end. She was surprised, however, when he began to replay the holo.
“My Lord?” She managed.
“There are several key points in the exchange I would like to bring to your attention.” He issued; in a tone she had not expected. “For whatever reason, they knew the clones were not Force sensitive.” He got up from his position and held his chin between right thumb and forefinger, his attention focused on the image before him. Crossing his left arm before him he rested his right elbow in its crook. His change in tone and stance signifying to Barriss that this would be a lesson not an admonishment, her shoulders relaxed somewhat.
“The Mirialan seemed to know before the Togruta.” She hissed. “Her training has benefited her greatly my Lord.”
“Yes, it appears so. We may need to revisit the academy initiatives.” He agreed without malice. “Note, just here.” He added pointing to the interaction between the Togruta and the clones at her sides. He paused the image and directed his gaze back to Barriss. What of note would you suggest is happening in this instant?” He asked.
She was now assured that this would be a lesson and not the reprimand she had expected.
“Ahsoka Tano is utilizing all aspects of the Force to nullify a multitude of weaker opponents simultaneously. Including myself.” She said without redirecting her gaze, boring straight into his sickly yellow orbs. Silently cursing his insistence that she speak. She clenched a hand to redirect the pain in her throat, catching his attention briefly.
“You were not meant to defeat her initiate, do not consume yourself with your inabilities, focus your efforts to broadening your knowledge. You in fact did survive and that pleases me.” He said returning his attention to the frozen image before them. His choice of words not lost on her.
“Continue.” He said, bringing the image back to life.
“Ahsoka killed without conscience. Brutally.” She said, watching as her ‘sisters’ were dispatched in horrific fashion. Her facial expression began to betray an undeserved confidence she sensed as she watched herself deflect precision blaster bolts then unleash a flurry of lightsaber forms, some new and some old. She watched as the Togruta made her look foolish, however, and the misplaced confidence evaporated into absolute embarrassment. She was certain now the reprimand would be coming.
“My Lord, my saber technique is quite lacking.” She said with difficulty, turning her gaze to the ground.
“Do not remove your gaze unless it is your will to remain simply ordinary.” He barked out in a lashing tone. “Your skill with a saber is paltry at best, but that is not why you are an initiate Thana. This exchange teaches us a great deal about the Togruta,” he said changing topics quickly. “She could have dispatched you without effort several times with the blade yet did not, even after brutally dispatching your ‘sisters’ not moments before.”
“Contrition?” Barriss asked truthfully.
Sidious trained his attention toward the image, furrowing his brow. “I think not. Indecision seems more appropriate.” He watched as the image of the Togruta dropped the hilt of the saber he himself had been drawn to in earlier footage of her. His puzzlement was growing at her actions, they were sporadic and random, her decisions made in the moment with no past actions to relate to. This form of adversary was incredibly dangerous, unpredictable. “Here, this is what I need you to understand. Tell me what you see.”
Barriss knew the holo version of herself was conjuring an inner flame and self-incapacitation. She could see it taking hold within the Mirialan and by the Togruta’s actions. She could sense that she had indeed broken down some minor defenses between the two and was in fact succeeding in her efforts. Then something changed. The Mirialan broke down into a fetal ball of agony. “Pause…. please.” She wasn’t sure how to direct the emitter, but it obeyed her command, nonetheless. “What is that?” She asked in sincere curiosity, extending a finger to point out a blur in the frozen image. She walked into the image to get a closer look forgetting her surroundings momentarily, as well as her place. Sidious said nothing, only watched her play out her enthusiasm for the time being.
“May I, my lord?” Barriss asked, peeling him out of his thoughts. He looked as she motioned toward the control set into his throne. He granted permission with a soundless nod as she reached out to tap the controls. The image responded in kind in slow motion reverse, the blur seen in real time entering the form of the Mirialan. She stopped the playback again and continued forward, watching again as the blur now left the Mirialan sending her to the ground. The blur continued in a graceful arc directly into the Togruta. It was at that moment Barriss realized her attempted sorcery had in fact failed completely. She let the remainder of the encounter play out in standard time, forgetting about her failure as she watched Ahsoka stare straight through her before annihilation ensued. Hearing a short gasp of breath, Barriss turned on her heel to watch her master’s reaction to the destruction. She knew him to fear nothing, to be surprised by nothing. Although it wasn’t fear she sensed there was a weakness emanating from his very being, a weakness which now explained his reaction to her failure. She had never witnessed destruction the likes of which Ahsoka had unleashed and she doubted that Sidious had either judging by his reaction and quickly decided that this was now turning into an opportunity of sorts.
“Master Sidious, there is an unknown element at play here. Allow me to discover it’s meaning.” Barriss said with truthful exuberance, extolling all the voice she had left to give.
“As promising as your enthusiasm is initiate, I need you to work toward one objective I’ve been unable to dedicate myself to fully…. after you’ve healed of course.”
“I am prepared to leave immediately my Lord.” She replied.
“Do not attempt to placate my intentions initiate. And do not confuse acquiescence with piety. Where you are going, you will need all your strength. Now, off to the med center and await further instruction.” Sidious hissed in a scolding tone.
Barriss backed up slowly with a deep swaying bow, her sleeves silently brushing the floor. She turned to leave but only managed five steps before turning back around, “Where is it that I am headed my Lord.” She asked.
Sidious was torn between annoyance and genuine satisfaction. The initiate was brazen and had no lack of courage but she was also impetuous and naive, a collection of qualities that would get her killed quickly where she was going. “Ambria.” Is all he said in return. She motioned to comment further but he raised a hand in protest and Barriss could hear a slight shuffle of booted feet behind her. She took the message immediately and turned back around, proudly strolling toward the turbolift.
As soon as the turbolift door had hissed its way shut, a shadow rose from the wall to the left of Sidious. A human form emerging from the recess of conjoining columns moved to join his master’s side.
“I still say you waste your time with her my Lord.” A deep gravelly voice advised from under its own drawn, hooded cloak.
“And I say you’ve been wrong before, Sate.” Sidious responded. “Subject twenty-one embodies the highest level of force sensitivity to date and is learning at an accelerated pace. And if nothing else is the center of all things going forward.”
Sate Pestage withdrew his hood slowly and decided it best to change subjects to something he may agree with his Emperor on. “The plan to draw out the Togruta worked my Lord, as you had suspected.”
“Foreseen Sate. There is a vast difference between suspicion and vision.” Sidious reprimanded coldly, his eyes still on the turbolift at the far end of the chamber.
“Be that as it may my Lord, I don’t think she could have survived...based on Sylde’s report that is.”
Sidious adopted an incredulous look turning slightly to the lanky man at his side, “She did.” He said simply, an arced finger pointing toward the turbolift door. “It is unwise to assume the events we hope to happen do. If you question her survival then either prove or disprove it, do not waste my time with conjecture.” He finished with a lavish exhale, turned, and placed himself onto the seat of his throne. “I would like to revisit the academy initiatives Sate, after what we’ve seen, those cadets are more capable than I had thought. The Mirialan was able to surmount what the Togruta was not. And the Thebeskan was able to outmaneuver my fleet Commander.”
Sate felt a flush of embarrassment at having to point out what should have been obvious, “Providing she exhibited the limits of her training which ended three years ago my Lord. And you are already quite aware of my thoughts on Sylde.” Sate responded.
Sidious was silent for a moment his mind racing with possibility, “I am Sate and I take your meaning about the Mirialan.” He paused briefly to extend his train of thought. “We have been dealt embarrassing loss recently but there is victory within. Each step this paltry rebellion takes forward only draws them out further into the open. It exposes their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Let them bask in the destruction of the Death Star for now, their unity only makes them easier targets. Their overconfidence will be their undoing. And above all, the son of Skywalker has revealed himself. Everything Sate…. everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.” He finished with a cackling laugh, a sickly raspiness that echoed off every surface in the chamber.
Sate tensed momentarily as the echoes found purchase within, causing him to flutter an eyelid in irritation.
“Leave me.” Sidious said suddenly. Sate did not hesitate and disappeared between the guards toward the turbolift.
As the guards returned to a phalanx formation, he keyed in access codes to the holo communicator in his throne.
The emitter sprang to life projecting a blue hued and flickering full sized Kaminoan. “Lord Sidious, this is unexpected.” Came the greeting in slowed basic as she opened her arms before her.
“Proceed with Subject twenty-four immediately, remove safeguards and accelerate.” Sidious commanded, no room for discussion.
“My Lord.” Nala Se responded with a graceful bow. Sidious disconnected the transmission immediately and steepled his fingers together before his sallow chin. He released a deep breath at the same moment he heard the whisper of a laugh behind him. He got onto his feet casually and glanced around the room, his yellow eyes surveying its entirety with intense scrutiny but finding nothing. The laughter returned in ascending volume. It was well-known to him. Each cadence of the bellicose vocalization bringing with it increasing familiarity. He closed his eyes to balance himself and let the event play out, letting Darth Bane have his final word.