They started in at the dormitories from a two way mirror. Rows upon rows of beds in a stale, all white room. Up in the corners, there were speakers. Although Face had a sense that it was not night-time, children still lingered. He felt sick at the thought of children being watched, here, in a room where they should have had privacy, where they should have felt safe.
'We play them propaganda at night, as they sleep,' Wynn remarked, his tone light, pointing to the speakers. 'I'm not entirely convinced of the effects of subliminal messaging, personally, but it doesn't hurt to be sure.'
'I enjoyed it,' Shayde put in. 'I remember my first night out of barracks. I couldn't sleep for the lack of it.'
'I suppose this is where you show me where you grew up,' Face said dourly. 'Which one was your bed, Shayde?'
'Oh, no,' Shayde smiled. 'I grew up elsewhere. No, this is where your son lived.'
The words were like a stab to the chest, the breath almost physically knocked out of him. His face paled and he reached out to place a hand on the mirror as his legs threatened to give way under him.
'I believe that was his bunk, yes?' Shayde continued, pointing to a bed in the far right corner, looking to Wynn for confirmation.
Wynn nodded. 'Bright child, but suffered from night terrors. Used to keep the others up. We managed to fix him, but it was a rough few months.'
Face looked at Wynn as the words sank in. This was the man who had indoctrinated Tycho. Who had watched over him then as he did these children now. A flame burst up from his chest and he started to move towards him, but as he did so a hand clasped onto his shoulder. He looked around and saw Skirata at his side, his eyes studiously guarded, shaking his head in silent warning. Face turned away just in time to see the hint of a smile leaving Shayde's face.
'Let's continue the tour,' Shayde said brightly, and he and Wynn moved on down the corridor. Face looked in once again at the children, then followed.
'Ah,' Shayde exclaimed, stopping at another mirror some way down the corridor. 'History lessons?'
'Precisely,' Wynn nodded eagerly. 'Our top historians deliver a top notch curriculum, delivering the true history of the Empire - and the New Republic, of course.'
'You mean lies,' Face said through gritted teeth. 'More propaganda.'
'And yours isn't?' Wynn countered. 'All history is written by the victors, including yours. Everyone wishes to play up the failings of their enemies, their own achievements, while minimizing or outright hiding their own failings. We do not shy from the Empire's failings. Take this class, for example. We're teaching them about the indentured servitude of other species en masse. It was a regrettable moment in time, but on the whole it was a net positive. A minor evil that otherwise strengthened the Empire. And, of course, there's some evidence to suggest that the serviles were happy and well treated. Certainly, there were some bad owners, but on the whole they weren't treated terribly.'
Face couldn't believe his ears. 'Tell me,' he said, unable to lift his voice above a whisper. 'Have you ever asked a Wookiee how they felt about being enslaved?'
'Hardly necessary,' Wynn scoffed. 'We have reports from the overseers that detailed their health and wellbeing. We don't need to go through such trouble.'
Face shook his head and looked away. He had no words. He had served with Wookiees in the Rebellion and in the New Republic, as well as others who had been enslaved. Even years after, they were still haunted by their enslavement. The sound of rushing footsteps distracted Face and he turned to see a lieutenant rush up and whisper something in Shayde's ear. The Major smiled, nodded, then turned to the others. 'Now then, gentlemen, perhaps we could show our guest one more exhibit, and then continue another day? I have some business to attend to.'
'We could stop now, if you'd prefer?' Wynn offered. Face wondered how he could be so civil. Perhaps that was the key to it all. Put a smiling, friendly face on evil and it becomes palatable to so many.
'Hardly necessary,' Shayde held up a hand. 'It can wait. Besides, there should be exercises on now? Those were always my favourite.'
'Ah, yes! Of course!' Wynn enthused and led them away, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He took them to a sort of control room, several consoles facing a wall covered in screens. On every screen, a different room. 'Show us the expedition exercises,' Wynn ordered one of the staff sat at a console and half the screens changed to show an outdoor setting - a group of children in the woods.
'I used to love this,' Shayde said again, more warmly. 'I used to love figuring out who was planted in our group.'
'You were particularly adept at spotting our spies,' Wynn's eyes twinkled. 'I remember sending over my best monitors. You clocked them in an hour. Magnificent!'
Face said nothing, just watched the screens. There were two groups, that he could see. One larger but younger, one smaller but older. The older children seemed to be in charge, leading the others on a hike through the woods. There was no sound to the feed, but the way they all seemed to speak in unison made him think that they were singing. He couldn't remember how many times he had daydreamed of getting his son back, going hiking with him and his husband on their home planet. To think that Tycho had experienced this twisted, contorted version of that dream made Face feel hollow, drained of all feeling, all emotion.
'Ah,' said Shayde, pointing at one screen. 'There's your monitor.'
'Remarkable,' Wynn beamed. 'I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. One of the best I ever saw.'
Shayde beamed with pride, just for a moment before letting his mask slip back down once more. 'Now, I really should be getting back to my ship. Thank you for the tour, Commander.'
'The pleasure was all mine,' Wynn replied, shaking Shayde's hand, before turning to Face. 'You know, you should be proud of your boy, too. Under my tutelage, he turned into a good man, and a good soldier. Be proud that he has made the galaxy a better place.'
Face looked at him, at his warm, grandfatherly demeanour, and then spat in his face.
He walked away, leaving Wynn sputtering about manners.
They rode the shuttle up to the star destroyer in silence. When he was led to Shayde's office and into his restraints once more, he didn't complain, or offer any resistance. Inside, a fire burned, and he nurtured it, let it grow to fill him. He would find a way to escape. He would kill Shayde, and Wynn, and raze that place to the ground. This, he swore. He would not rest until he fulfilled his promise.
An hour later, Shayde poured water on that fire when he walked into his office. Beside him, a young, handsome man with dark hair, a round nose and strong, clean shaven jaw walked in beside him. He wore a pilot's uniform. 'I believe you two know each other?' Shayde said mockingly.
Face ignored him. He had eyes only for the young man. It was like looking in a mirror. 'Tycho?'
