Chasing the terrorists leads Jen to Nar Shaddaa, where she must work with Watcher X, former Intelligence operative with unclear goals and loyalties.
(Jen's comments and more bellow the cut)
From Jen's (imaginary) diary...
I don't even know his name. Maybe it should not bother me, but it does... and I think I wouldn't want it otherwise. I don't want to become a killer with no remorse.
But what else could have been done? If I had captured him instead... I have seen people like him. People who like to think of themselves as heroes but are not. And they usually end up broken and full of hate for themselves.
This way he at least died cleanly, for the cause he believed in and together with his comrades.
But does that make it any better?
---
Watcher X, I am sorry. I never wanted it to end like this.
I still have to think about the man and our confrontation. I have to admit he provoked and appalled me... somehow, but whatever he was, he was a person and I am sure he deserved better.
I know next to nothing about him, but... if he really was an Intelligence operative who was broken by his work, didn't he deserve medical and psychological care rather than that terrible place and a bomb in his head? Who am I to blame him for what he tried to do?
But... I am not for sale and I couldn't let a man with Watcher X's intelligence, resources and hatred of the Empire escape. He would have been a threat and nothing else can matter.
Can it?
---
To: Cipher Nine
From: Fiyer Seven
Subject: Follow-up on Watcher X
Cipher Nine:
We've never met, but I wanted to thank you for your handling of Watcher X on Nar Shaddaa. I know from personal experience how deceptive the man can be; the thought of him running free is mildly terrifying.
You likely aren't aware of the events that led to Watcher X's imprisonment. All I can say is that Operation: Undertow left me with scars that will never heal. I was among the lucky ones.
My people will be performing a detailed postmortem on the body. There's much to learn, and we won't build a mistake like him again.
---
Jen walked out of Darth Zhorrid's chambers, her step echoing in the empty corridors. Only when her hands begun to hurt she realised how tightly they were clenched.
Her burning anger was fading and leaving behind only guilt. She felt she was going to be sick. Instead she clenched her hands even more.
"You look like you need a drink."
Jen shook her head without even looking at Kaliyo. "We have work to do."
They walked out into the perpetual night of Dromund Kaas.
Silence again, broken only by the hum of the hovertaxi. Jen was listing all her faults in her mind, with the first one being that she had not jumped in front of Keeper.
They were in the Phantom's hangar when Kaliyo spoke again. "Still working for those guys?"
"I have sworn to protect the Empire." Jen replied authomatically.
"You're serious? What are you, a droid? How long did that brainwashing take?"
Jen started to reply but then she closed her mouth again and thought for a moment. "I have sworn to protect the Empire," she repeated slowly. "The people..."
"Yeah, yeah," Kaliyo interrupted her thoughts. "We can talk when you snap out of it."
Jen nodded without really caring, the half-formed thoughts faded back somewhere into the back of her mind. Then she headed for the holocom.
There was work to do.
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