67 Vizier Gentis (1/2)

He gracefully removed his son, Caul Gentis, from the conference room table and back into his arms as his feet finally rested upon the plate. He knew in his previous life he had failed, he had lost everything and everyone.

The gaze of General Gentis stared down upon his son's face. Memories of when he was just a little boy, an infant, a rebellious teen.

He closed his eyes slowly as his chest expanded and collapsed in a depressing manner. He was aware that Valad could not only see this, but feel it as well. He was a hero in the Clone Wars, he had met plenty of Jedi and knew what they were taught to do through the force.

”Vizier Gentis,” Valad gave the man a title akin to his position as Grand Vizier. This immediately took the man's attention. ”You will be installed into office within a few weeks. Take your time to grief and then prepare yourself for office.”

The former republic general could only nod slightly and then continue to look down at his son. He sat in one of the conference chairs at the elongated trapezoid shaped table.

The smell of burning ozone could reach Valad's nose. The hole which had ripped through the boy's stomach was scorched. He cringed slightly at the odor before looking over towards the door and unlocking it.

Immediately as he did so there was Ahsoka, on Casey's shoulders, standing in front of the door as it opened without warning. Ahsoka's eyes immediately locked onto Gentis for a few moments, before looking at the dead body. She covered her mouth with her hand, before gazing over to Valad who was staring right through her, as if he didn't expect her to be there.

Though he very much knew she was there. He felt her presence rather easily.

With a movement of her leg, Casey stepped forward like a horse being drawn by its rider. ”Roger, roger.” The droid stepped into the room and the door slid closed behind them. The droid then made its way over towards Valad and stood beside the table.

”Sit her down in a chair,” Valad said with a light huff of air, the droid did as it was told, it had no real choice other than to follow this direct command.

Ahsoka found herself plucked off the droid's shoulders by the collar of her shirt and plopped into the chair beside Valad. ”Wha~” She nonverbally complained, before looking up at him with curious eyes, practically asking him what was going on.

She didn't feel as if she should speak right now, considering the circumstances of the two across from her.

'His son was murdered, murderedby one of his own friends.' Valad sent her a telepathic explanation of what happened to the boy in the older gentleman's arms. 'He is going to help me run the Empire.'

Ahsoka didn't entirely understand, other than the murdering part, what he was talking about. He needed help running the Empire? Then why didn't he just ask her? She didn't exactly know how much of an undertaking the people on top had to take to run a government. Yet it wouldn't scare her either way even though she didn't have enough education to do the job just yet.

He could only chuckle inwardly, 'You're already helping me.' He said as he could sense her confusion on the topic. He then looked over towards Gentis.

”We can arrange a military funeral and the viewing. He was a Filial son, a perfect example of family.” Valad offered only to see the man nod slowly in response.

He looked over to the droid who was standing there and raised a brow as it was standing by Ahsoka Tano. ”Casey, please arrange quarters for Gentis through the proper channels.”

”Roger, roger.” Casey responded as a typical commando droid and walked over towards the door. Pausing before it exited as it gave Ahsoka a glance, who was innocently smiling and waving after the droid.

If Casey could smile, it would. With that, Casey left the room without another word.

Gentis glanced up as he finally acknowledged the girl across from him at the table. She looked familiar? His eyes traced over all the parts visible to him. His face seemed to become longer, his eyes darting over towards Valad.

”Jedi?” He asked curiously, almost glaring through the skull of Valad.

Despite being a hero of the clone wars, Gentis had slain three Jedi on his own when he was informed of their so called betrayal.

With a sharp inhale, Valad said, ”No, Imperial Knight initiate.” This made the man rather puzzled. He knew the Emperor had Inquisitors, which were essentially force wielding Jedi Killers.

”What are Imperial Knights?” He asked as he looked at the boy in the largest chair in the room. Gentis grasped at the fabric of his son's uniform.

”The Imperial Knights are a force-based organization which is exclusively loyal to the Emperor of the Imperial Federation, myself.” Valad glanced over at Ahsoka with a smile, she was smiling at him has he spoke. He'd return his attention to Gentis, ”Their main purpose is to defend and preserve the Federation, they will act as my personal generals that operate outside of the normal military command structure.”

Gentis slowly nodded, easily comprehending this. It was much like Darth Vader and the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars and rise of the Galactic Empire. They operated on top and outside of the normal command operations.

”You will be briefed on more in depth information once you assume office,” Valad said with a light smile of condolences written all over his lips.

The only person who he had lost was his grandparent, one he barely knew. Yet he could understand the pain of loss. The sense that something was missing, or was taken away from you. He knew what loneliness was, he knew what hatred and anger felt like. He knew emotions, he knew what they did.

”You can't bring him back?” Gentis suddenly asked with a sullen tone, his eyes didn't leave his son's limp expression of lifelessness.