In the next room - a big, circular chamber without much in the
way of embellishment - the diminutive form of Master Vert was holding
court with about a dozen teenage humanoids in grey students' robes.
	"The Sith," he was saying as Zaerdra and Leonard slipped
unnoticed into an observation alcove, "are the most dangerous
Force-using foes you will face, and you must always be wary of them -
both in and out of battle."
	"Bah," said a blond-haired, sharp-featured student.  "I've
already defeated a Dark Jedi."
	Vert smiled slightly.  "A Dark Jedi is not necessarily a
Sith," he said.  "But since you are an expert in defeating the Dark
Side, perhaps you will demonstrate to me your prowess."
	The student looked puzzled.  "I don't understand," he said.
	When the Irken Master spoke again, his voice was like a
whipcrack.  A frightful intensity built in his glossy eyes and he
seemed to expand slightly as he snapped,
	"I am a Sith Lord.  You are all that stands between the galaxy
and my evil plans.  Come and defeat me!"
	The boy blinked.  "Wha - "
	"Don't just STAND THERE, boy!" Vert roared, his jagged teeth
glinting in the overhead lights as he bared them in a snarl.  "The
fate of BILLIONS is in your hands!  COME!  FACE ME!  -DESTROY- ME!"
	His furious exhortations had their desired effect.  The
student seemed to make up his mind, then drew his lightsaber, thumbed
its scarlet blade to life, and charged at the little green figure with
a bellicose roar.
	Vert raised a hand.  Lightning arced across the space between
himself and the charging student.  The young man, his face going blank
with shock, tried to interpose his lightsaber, but the stream of
lightning passed around the blade and struck him full-on, sending him
hurtling across the room.  He crashed into the far wall and slid down
into a boneless heap, his robes smoldering gently.  His lightsaber,
dropped when the blast struck him, deactivated automatically and
rolled across the floor to bump gently against Vert's foot.
	The Irken lowered his smoking hand, then turned back to the
rest of the class, his perfect Jedi Master's impassivity back in place
as though someone had thrown a switch.
	"And that, students, is why you must never mount a frontal
assault upon a Lord of the Sith," he said in a pleasant tone.  At a
moan from his erstwhile attacker, he went on calmly, "Mr. Stavak, you
will please conduct Mr. Malfoy to the Infirmary."