It isn't so much the ease of the Dark Side, or the power it promises that keeps you on its path. It is the fear—the delicious exhilarating fear you sense all around you—from those in your command to those in your line of fire. Terrorizing a world of sentients or a roomful made little difference—it was the single encounter that produced the most intoxicating experience…so personal, private…intimate.
So it was now, as wave after delirious wave crashed around me. Fear flowed from Carth Onasi at a dizzying rate. I stared at him without really seeing him. I perceived his slight tremble and labored breathing, his quickened heartbeat. Another pulse of anxiety rippled from him; I savored every drop. His legs buckled, he went to the floor on one knee.
"Please…" I heard his voice as if from a great distance. Another blast engulfed me as I heard him take a deep, rattled breath. "Please, will you marry me?"
I blinked, then blinked again. The room, previously clouded in swirling dark eddies of fear-fed Force, came into focus. I was in a plush hotel room—the presidential suite on Coruscant, a guest of the Senate. Carth knelt before me, his crisp Republic dress uniform cutting sharp angles around his lean athletic frame. "You look very handsome," I said lightly as I tried to gather my wits. "But you do realize the state dinner in our honor is tomorrow night…"
"Don't try to change the subject, Gorgeous" he joked back. A glittering array of ribbons and medals clustered at his chest; enough to serve as armor, I mused. Every star and bar, each commendation and citation…except, curiously, for one. My eyes narrowed as I searched for it. It had to be there, he would have left it behind only if…
"Will you give me the extreme honor," he said purposefully, carefully, "of becoming my wife?" I traced the movement of his arm as he reached out towards me. In his hand, a small box—a Telosian diamond ring. One of that size and quality surely cost him every credit to his name, especially given the gemstone's rarity since the Sith had destroyed…. Guilt and recrimination raced through me. Had he done this same thing with his first wife, the one he lost because….? My expression betrayed my thoughts: I watched Carth's hopeful jubilance erode into pained dejection. He looked down, away from me, and slowly closed the lid around the ring. "It's not enough," he muttered as he stood, still keeping his face from me.
"No, Carth, it is beautiful, really," I stammered quickly, thinking he had misinterpreted my silent dismay. I also found myself somewhat annoyed he thought me so materialistic. "You know those things don't mean…"
"It's not enough to make you forget…"
I sharply turned from him, deeply shamed that I had so easily discounted him and grossly misjudged his meaning.
"I apologize," he continued softly, "I wasn't thinking. I thought…I just…I wanted you to have something to remind you of me, not…." He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," he whispered as the door closed quietly behind him. A fog of sadness and disappointment encircled me—its taste was most displeasing.
HK-47 snapped to attention as Carth emerged from the presidential suite.
"Statement: Better luck next time, meatbag."
"Were you eavesdropping, HK?" Carth glowered at the droid.
"Exclamation: Negative! I would never intrude on Master's privacy."
"Then how do you know what was going on in there?"
"Observation: My knowledge of meatbag behavior leads me to conclude that Master has rejected you, again."
"And what behavior is that?"
"Statement: You are here, alone, and you do not seem satisfied by your encounter. Observation: you appear to be a pitiful, pathetic meatbag."
Carth stiffened his slumped shoulders. "I thought I heard her give you specific orders to be…nice," he said, drawing out the last word. "You don't want me to tell her your circuits are slipping, do you?"
"Interjection: Negative! This droid is operating in full compliance of the master's distressing directive. Query: Did I not wish you better fortune in the future? Is that not…nice…enough?" HK shuddered at the word, gears seemed to strain at the attempt to merely say the letters together. "Supplication: I will now offer another example of social interaction as currently preferred—oh how the mighty have fallen—by Master."
"Oh, this will be rich…" Carth muttered under his breath as the droid scanned him from head to toe.
"Observation: This organic has… 'cleaned up' nicely and looks better than usual…. for a meatbag."
"Well, I guess I'll take what I can get!" Carth said with a chuckle.
"Query: Organic does realize he has prepared himself prematurely. The occasion that requires this garment is scheduled for 28 hours and 17 minutes from now."
"I am well aware the state dinner is tomorrow," he said tersely in clipped words.
"Statement: Very good. I am just trying to be helpful."
Carth glared at the droid, then stormed down the hall.