#sha'ren

“The asset was transported to the ship without incident. Waiting for confirmation of delivery from our contact on Korriban.” Trismikian’s eyes darted from the Watcher’s face, to her folded hands, to the dimmed datapad screen, back to her face.

“Well done. Not that I expected less.” Watcher Seven leaned forward. Something like a smile crossed her face. “I have excellent news for you, Agent Trismikian. This is in the strictest confidentiality, but I have confirmed that you are currently being considered for a Cipher designation.”

Trismikian froze. Watcher Seven carried on.

“I knew you had potential, you know. From the day you and your Academy cohort were turned over to me.” The smile remained that time, unnaturally wide teeth revealed in a thin crescent. “Just look at you, up for Cipher designation only two years out of training. Even if they turn you down this time, this means the higher-ups have heard your name and know of your potential. Congratulations.”

“How does one get in the running for a Cipher designation?” Trismikian asked quietly.

Watcher Seven leaned back, fingers steepled. “High success rates and training assessments are part of the consideration. And,” Her smile widened, “Of course, a recommendation from the agent in question’s handler.”

He had a burning urge to crack his knuckles, but he knew Watcher Seven despised the sound. “You reccomended me… Thank you.”

Watcher Seven sighed. “You earned this. But there are factors we need to discuss, factors that could… hinder you.”

There it was. The office walls felt as if they were drawing closer; Trismikian’s collar felt like it was shrinking.

“You failed to take my suggestions regarding your sister, agent. In fact, I was reviewing the files this morning, and it appears she’s been expelled from her school for non-attendance and behavior issues.” Clicking her tongue, Watcher Seven picked up her datapad and flicked through screens again. Trismikian’s mouth was dry; He couldn’t respond. “This will make finding a placement at a residential school more difficult, unless we’re considering a facility for troubled youth…”

“I… am not considering anything.” Trismikian found his voice, swallowing and licking his lips quickly. “I’m looking for Holonet-based education options, and the expulsion appeal is upcoming-”

Watcher Seven glanced up, cold glare silencing Trismikian. “You don’t seem to understand, Agent. Having a dependent practically disqualifies you from Cipher consideration.” The warmth and praise was gone from her voice. “Intelligence agents don’t go home to families, they don’t go to teacher conferences, travel home for Life Day. All of these things are liabilities, distractions-”

“How did I guess you didn’t have kids?” Trismikian commented dryly.

“Shut that smart mouth, Agent!” The Watcher snapped, slamming the datapad down. “I will not allow you to throw this chance away! And I will not allow you to make a fool of me.” She stood ramrod straight; Hardly imposing, she only came up to Trismikian’s shoulder on a good day, but Trismikian felt his chest tighten nevertheless.

“I thought I would ease this by giving you the illusion of choice, but you’ve chosen differently. Agent Trismikian, your sister is being removed from your custody, effective immediately.” The datapad was slid across the desk, a file full of documents open on screen. “In fact, effective 0800 hours, you never had custody of her in the first place. As it appears, she somehow slipped through the cracks... The poor thing has been considered an unaccounted-for minor since her arrival on Dromund Kaas. But, based on her assessment portfolio we’ve acquired from her former school… she’s an excellent candidate for field agent training.”

“No.” Trismikian’s hands curled into fists. “I made it clear. Intelligence is not her place!”

“That’s not up to you anymore, Agent.” Watcher Seven replied coolly. Her heels clicked on the polished floor as she rounded the desk, coming up beside the chair with hands folded behind her back. “If you comply now, you’ll be permitted visitation. Don’t you think little Zwynn would like to be able to still see her brother? It’s in your best interest.”

Six scenarios flicked through his mind, and they all ended with Trismikian meeting the business end of Watcher Seven’s stun gun. His jaw set, he glared up at the smirking woman. No snappy reply. No defiance. Not anymore. Watcher Seven’s smile softened.

“Good,” She said with a relieved sigh. “Once she’s been collected, we will permit you a short visitation before she’s transported to the jungle training facility. Reassure her that these actions are in her best interest.”

“I don’t lie to my sister, Watcher.” Trismikian spat.

“Only to yourself,” Watcher Seven muttered, returning to her high-backed chair and picking up a handheld comm unit. Dialing in a frequency, she paused a moment before speaking. “Agent, report on status of asset retrieval. Is the asset en route?”

Silence, interspersed with flecks of static, replied.

Eyebrows bunching, Watcher Seven spoke again. “Agent, respond. This is Watcher Seven requesting mission update. Respond!”

More static buzzed through, and Watcher Seven muttered a rare curse. Dialing in another frequency, she glared across her desk at Trismikian, who sat in silence still. “Mission control, update on Agent 34-142-Cresh. He’s not answering his comm.”

“Hold a moment, Watcher. Retrieving data now.” Answered the near-robotic voice that Trismikian recognized as one of his least favorite surveillance officers. A tense moment passed, and another. Watcher Seven snarled and pushed the transmit button again.

“Well? What’s happening?”

“There must be an error… No, run remote diagnostic on biometric systems… Still showing negatives across all vital signs!”

If it was possible, Watcher Seven paled. “Give me an update!” She snapped.

“Watcher Seven… Our data is showing that Agent 34-142-Cresh is showing no vital signs. Unless his biometric monitoring system has gone down… He’s been terminated somewhere in the Puleun district.”

“Agent, explain!” Watcher Seven shrieked, standing and slamming her hands on to the desk.

“Me, or Officer-”

“You! Some booby trap in your residence has clearly caused the termination of one of your fellow agents!” Voice ascending in volume, the Watcher’s pale face was reddening by the second. “Tell me exactly what you’ve done!”

“I don’t booby trap my own home.” Trismikian reclined as best he could in the stiff chair, resting his left leg on his right knee. “It’s a rough area of Kaas City, maybe Cresh got himself in the wrong place at the wrong time-”

“None of my agents can be taken down by common street thugs!” Watcher Seven was around her desk again before Trismikian could even smirk at his own insolence, grabbing him by the collar and pulling just enough to pull taut around his neck.

“Termination confirmed, Watcher. Sending a retrieval and backup team. Asset is no longer on surveillance and is considered temporarily lost. Attempting to re-establish location-”

“Where has your sister gone? Speak!” Watcher Seven snarled over the voice on the comm, and yanked harder.

“She likes…” Trismikian coughed. “She likes this little Csillian takeout place behind the tech shop, check there…”

He was let go all at once, falling back into the chair to get his breath back and rub his throat.

🔥 - They got a king size bed because Theron fell off and bruised his tailbone during a particularly energetic “Eiffel Tower” situation (side note: wtf would you call that in SWTOR-verse)

They had minutes, at best. 

Sha didn’t need that long.

“There you go, baby,” She cooed, pressing Axi against the wall with just enough firmness to get a whimper out of her new friend, working her hand between a pair of gorgeous firm thighs.

A press of her thumb had Axi opening her mouth to let out a shriek, Sha just managing to clap her free hand over Axi’s mouth to muffle her.