Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan Read Online Free PDF Page B

the monitor. A still imageof Scourge in the first few seconds after the battle was frozen on the screen, captured by one of the stronghold’s security cams. “You dealt with the assassins quite efficiently.”
    Scourge hesitated a split second before replying. He wanted to speak with Nyriss about his suspicions, but both Murtog and Sechel were in the room. Even if they hadn’t been, it was dangerous to throw out unfounded accusations implicating two of her highest-ranking followers without proof; they wouldn’t have been in their current positions if she didn’t have some level of trust in them.
    “I expect this will not be the last such incident,” he said, choosing his words carefully.
    “It appears you are wounded,” Nyriss remarked, noticing the scorch marks on the shoulder plating of his armor. “Do you need medical attention?”
    “It can wait. The injury is not serious, and the pain is irrelevant. I would rather finish our business here.”
    Nyriss nodded in approval. “I would like to hear your analysis of the attack,” she continued. “Perhaps we can learn something of who was behind it.”
    “That would have been easier if Murtog’s troops had not killed the second assassin just as she was about to surrender,” he replied.
    From the corner of his eye he saw Murtog bristle, but the security chief remained silent.
    “You think Murtog made a mistake?” Nyriss pressed.
    “He was somewhat overzealous in his efforts to eliminate an immediate threat,” Scourge answered diplomatically.
    Sechel stifled a high-pitched giggle, and Nyriss shot him a stern glare.
    “Let’s continue this conversation in private,” she said, dismissing Murtog and Sechel with a wave of her hand.
    The two quickly bowed and turned to the door, which had already been opened by the Twi’lek slave, who closed the door behind them before retreating to her corner.
    “You have something you wish to tell me,” Nyriss said once they were gone. “Discretion and subtlety have their place, but now when you speak to me I expect total candor.”
    Scourge nodded.
    “Let me guess,” she continued. “You suspect my own people are behind these recent attempts on my life.”
    “No one is above suspicion,” Scourge admitted. “But I assume you have very thoroughly investigated everyone on your staff. If they were guilty, you probably would have discovered something by now.”
    “I’m glad to see you understand I am not completely incompetent.”
    “I do not believe the attack in the courtyard was another attempt on your life,” Scourge said. “I think the mercenaries were hired to eliminate
me
.”
    “And since Murtog sees you as a rival and potential threat, you naturally suspect he was behind it.”
    “Possibly. Or it may have been Sechel. Or both working in concert.”
    “And what do you have to base this on?”
    “Mostly circumstantial evidence. But my instincts feel there is enough to act on.”
    “You expect me to turn on two of my most trusted servants based on little more than your hunch?”
    “My instincts are seldom wrong,” Scourge said. “My reputation is well earned.”
    “So what is it you suggest I do? Dismissal? Execution?”
    Suddenly the conversation felt like a test, as if Nyriss was trying to evaluate him based on his answers. If so, he was ready for the challenge.
    “It would be foolish to throw away someone as valuable as either Murtog or Sechel without concrete proof,” Scourge replied. “But I would like the chance to interrogate both of them.”
    “A good interrogator can make a subject admit to anything,” Nyriss countered. “Even something that isn’t true.”
    “Torturing a false confession out of them wouldn’t serve any purpose,” Scourge assured her. “I need the truth, and I would be careful not to do any permanent physical or mental damage. If one or both prove to be innocent, I’m sure you would want them to be just as capable when they return to their post as they were before