First part of what will (most likely) be a long story. I'm really new at this whole fanfiction thing, and I'm still kind of shy about it, so please comment and say hello and help me feel validated. Ha! Thank you for reading!
"This is Fulcrum, with an urgent message. Thrawn knows about-"
The transmitter sputtered, catching Kallus's voice in his throat. Interference? Not likely. Just a malfunction, then? His fingers reached for the knobs, but no – they were in the correct positions…
Jumpy? This isn't like you. Spying has made you paranoid. Though it was easier for Kallus to chide himself than to rein his suddenly racing heart.
This was an old communications tower, abandoned long ago. It had been able to hide Ezra Bridger, even with the Empire hunting him down, for years. It was one of the reasons he was using it. No, he couldn't have been discovered... he'd gone through the same routine, ensured he wasn't being followed...
And yet he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Something wasn't right. Was it possible it could be a planet-wide long range transmissions block? Something new caught his eye and Kallus glanced up. The Fulcrum icon, a hologram projection he used when communicating with the rebels instead of the typical projection of himself, had turned...red?
He knew the risk he was taking. He'd overheard Grand Admiral Thrawn say he felt there was still a rebel spying on him. And this despite Thrawn agreeing with Kallus's false report that Lieutenant Lyste was the rebel spy they'd been tracking.
But what he'd overheard during Thrawn's secret meeting - a meeting he hadn't been invited to, despite being the ISB agent in charge of Lothal - was too important. Thrawn had deduced that the rebels planned to attack the TIE Defender factory on the planet. The Empire would be well prepared for their attack. And when Thrawn downplayed Grand Moff Tarkin's request to capture the rebel leadership? The rebellion had to know, or they'd-
"By the light of Lothal's moon."
Thrawn's chilling voice cut through Kallus's thoughts, a cold knife sinking into his heart. He turned to see the Chiss Imperial standing in the doorway – arrogant confidence barely contained beneath his stone like face. Kallus's heart rate kicked up a notch, but he quickly willed it into resolve. There was no more hiding. Good. Acting wasn't his strong suit.
"That is your code phrase, isn't it, Agent Kallus?" Thrawn went on, the smugness on his voice. "Or, would you prefer I address you as Fulcrum?"
Kallus wasn't going to play his game. Thrawn paused again, as though expecting him to lie, to try to explain himself. "This isn't what this looks like" or something pointless like that. But no, Kallus glared back. He wasn't going to show fear. Even if his heart was hammering against his ribs, sending a wave of adrenaline throughout his body, he wasn't going to be afraid. He knew the risks.
"I'm afraid your rebel friends won't receive your warning," Thrawn continued his goading, even going so far as to hold out the device blocking his transmission.
The provoking worked. Kallus saw his chance. Defeat – or at the least, momentarily incapacitating – Thrawn, long enough to destroy the transmitter. He could still get his warning message out. He had to try.
Kallus leapt up. Behind his attack there were months of irritation building up, dying to be released. Masking his outright hatred of the Chiss for months, and now, he could do something with all of it. He opened with a kick, which Thrawn blocked easily – almost with expectation.
What are you doing!? You're going to hurt yourself. You'll never going to win against him.He fights battle droids for practice.
But the rebellion inside had made him impulsive. It was too late.
The battle had already begun.
Next chapter I'm going to cover the fight from Thrawn's POV, then move into the "not happening on camera" stuff. ^_^ Thank you again for reading!
