"Have a seat," Trego instructed the pair in a commanding voice as they entered the room.  As Lord Zefaara moved to the window and began gazing out toward the area of the recent explosion.  Leaning against the chair facing the duo, Trego once again addressed them, "as of this moment, the both of you are dead.  Within a few minutes, this will be confirmed by the Imperial Military based on Major Crennik's observations."  After pausing to take a breath, the Sith continued,  "all records of your existence will be purged and you will be forgotten by the Empire."

Moving from the window, Lord Zefaara sat in the chair Trego had been leaning on as he took a position beside his master.  Speaking in a halting voice, she said to the pair, "Major Crennik is... was... one of my most loyal operatives within the military and one of the most trusted within their ranks.  His words will not be questioned."  Stopping for a brief time, she went on, "he served me and the Empire with utter devotion, bravery and honor."  Slowly rising to her feet, added, "he will be deeply missed by us all.  We must make sure that Jer..." ,then quickly recovering her words, "that Major Crennik's sacrifice was not in vain."  Without warning, the woman's face went flush and she began to slump toward the table.

Seeing his master in trouble, Trego reached out and gently placed his hand upon her shoulder to steady her.  Punching a button on the control panel before him, he spoke in a commanding voice, "Mayla, come to the conference room, the Master needs you."

"At once, Lord Trego," came Mayla's response over the speaker, "I'm on my way."

Turning his attention once again to his master and speaking in a deep soothing tone, "My Lord, it has been a long tiring day, you should rest.  Mayla will be here shortly to assist you."  As Zefaara turned her head to look at her apprentice, she could see the glow from the dark side energy in his eyes softly dim as he continued, "please My Lord, I can finish the briefing for you."

Seeing Mayla enter the room, she replied to the man, "perhaps you are right Trego, it has been a long day."  As Mayla tenderly placed her arms around her master, the Sith said,  "thank you, I leave this in your capable hands."

As Mayla began to escort her master away, Trego spoke to the girl in a concerned tone, "please be sure she gets some rest, Mayla.  Take good care of her."

"It will be my only concern, My Lord," the girl responded, then as a loving mother would speak to her distraught child, whispered to Zefaara, "come Master, you're tired and need to rest.  I'll take care of everything."

As the pair walked away both Cipher and Zed heard the Sith, her words coarsely coming between sobs of anguish, say to the girl, "he's gone, Mayla.  Jerran's gone."

Replying to her master, Mayla lovingly whispered, " I know, Master.   Shhhh... I'll stay with you tonight, things will start getting better come morning.  I promise."  As the door to the conference room began to slide shut behind them, the sounds of the woman's sobbing could now be clearly heard mixed with Mayla's melodic words as she attempted to console her master.

Returning to the seat previously occupied by his master, Trego spoke to the agents in his usual tone, "before we continue, there is something you should know.  Everything you are about to hear is classified, this information must never leave this room, understood?"  As Cipher and Zed confirmed the Sith's statement, he continued, "I take neither of you to be fools, that is why the Master chose you above others in the now defunct Imperial Intelligence, to serve with her.  I'm quite sure you've both come to the conclusion there was more than an employer/employee relationship between my Lord Zefaara and Major Crennik."  Pausing briefly, Trego went on, "he was her husband, a secret known only to myself and Mayla... and now you.  It will continue to stay that way."

"As I stated before, both of you never existed,"  the Sith stated, "Cipher, you are now code name 'Commander' and with it, the associated military rank. Zed you are now code name 'Omega' and the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  Officially you are now both assigned to the Imperial Reclamation Service, Special Operations Group Alpha.  You are answerable only to Lord Zefaara other members of the Dark Council.  You will be given full autonomy to act as you see fit, and will not be hindered or questioned in any way by other branches of the Empire about your missions.  Those who do so, will find their lives suddenly become unpleasant"

"My Lord, a question if I may,"  Zed, now Omega, interjected.  With a nod of his head, Trego acknowledged the woman and she continued, "if I'm not mistaken, isn't the Reclamation Service's task to study and obtain historical data, objects and other associated relics? What could possibly be so vital that Cipher, I mean, the Commander's and my previous lives have been totally erased from the galaxy?"

"Excellent question, Omega," the Sith replied with a sly smile, "I see why now the Master chose you above all others.  You see, there are relics and there are relics.  Your jobs will be to locate and secure the latter for Lord Zefaara to study."  After obtaining confirmation from the agents, he resumed, "operations will begin in three days, in your quarters you will find your new uniforms and datapads containing information about your new identities.  I highly suggest you use this time to thoroughly acquaint yourselves with the new you.  That is all for now."

Rising from his seat, Trego began walking toward the exit as the agents followed him.  Stopping at the doorway, the Sith motioned them to proceed and as the pair turned to pay their respect to him, he added, "remember, what transpired here earlier, never happened.  I'm sure you can find your way back to your quarters on your own... good night."

Once again bowing their heads in respect, the pair watched the Sith walk down the hall and disappear around the corner.  Turning in the direction of their quarters, the Commander and Omega walked silently to thier room, the only sound being the soft click of Omega's high heels on the metallic floor...

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Mioraa