She regarded her cooly for a long moment, which hid her own scrabbling attempts to latch onto the negative emotions. They were there, just beyond her reach. She could feel them, feel their presence and almost reach out and enhance them...

After a moment, she gave up, hiding her frustration. Whatever tinglings of the dark side she'd possessed were staying still for now.

"You fail to understand," she replied, evenly, "I have information of the greatest importance. And I know," she raised a hand to forestall the reply.

"Security. But they and I do not see eye to eye - and you are competent."