Cipher Nine: The Untold Stories

Chapter 7: The Calm Before

The Ilum Conquest was something that I did not expect at all.  Who would've thought that Darth Malgus would have betrayed the Empire?  Well, regardless, that traitor is dead.  My companions and I have recently retired away to Vaiken Spacedock, seeking more work, and nothing has come up in several months.

I sat at a booth in the cantina, enjoying a glass of Alderaanian Ale.  I take a sip and place my glass down as Kaliyo walks up.

"Still not much of a drinker huh?" she asks as she takes a seat across from me.  I smile.

"Never was to begin with," I reply.  Kaliyo smiles back and takes a big sip of whatever intoxicating drink she ordered.  Raina and Doctor Lokin arrived a few minutes later.

"Any job requests recently?" I asked.  Raina shook her head in dismay.

"We haven't received anything from any Imperial channels either," replied Raina as she took a drink.

"It appears we're in another conundrum," remarked Lokin, loosening the top of his jacket.

"Seriously though," replied Kaliyo as she finished off her drink.  I take another drink of my ale before letting out a long sigh. 

"Well," I started.  "Just keep your ears open." 

"Will do," replied Kaliyo as she got up to get another drink.  

I picked up my drink to take a sip when my holocom began to beep.  I place my drink back down and take out my holocom.  I activate it and a fuzzy hologram of an Imperial officer appears.

"You've reached Cipher Nine," I greeted.  "Speak."

"Now that doesn't seem like a very nice tone," replied the hologram.

"Excuse me," I replied; the hologram re-calibrates.

"It's awfully rude to speak that way, especially to one's father," replied the hologram.

"Father!" I replied.  "Sorry, I thought you were someone else."

"You better check how you answer these calls Nai'riss," started my father. "One of these days it could be a Sith on the other end."

"I suppose you're right," I replied.  My father smiles slightly. 

"Woah, who's the stiff?" asked Kaliyo as she returned. 

"This is my father," I started.  "Admiral Rylus Darkmoore."

"I didn't know your father was a big shot," said Kaliyo as she took a sip of her drink.

"I didn't know your father was Admiral Rylus," said Raina as she swallowed a gulp of her drink.

"Really?" asked Lokin.  "They have the exact same last name. I would have thought you'd known."

"Well, my apologies," replied Raina.  I got up from the table and walked to another private booth.

"What's the occasion?" I asked. 

"Nothing really," replied my father. "With everything that's happened, I just wanted to make sure you're alright."

"I'm fine father," I replied. "You prepared me well."

"That's a relief," replied my father as he let out a sigh. "How are things?"

"Well, I helped crush the revolution before it began," I replied.

"Oh, Malgus the Betrayer?" asked my father; I nod.

"So you were a part of that strike force," replied my father.