THANK YOUS: To Gingercake, elven-cat2, shann1, and ginchy-amanda for again taking the time to write out your thoughts on the story. I have sent out replies to those reviews, so I hope you got them! Hearing from the people who are reading this is very important for me…it lets me know what I'm doing right, and what needs work -- and it also can inspire new ideas and help me foresee future snags. So, truly, thank you! Also, a big thank you to everyone who put either myself or this story on your alerts/favorites lists. It's very flattering and I really hope you continue to read my work!

LYRICAL CREDIT: I forgot to mention this in Chapter Two, but the title from that chapter came from John Mayer's "In Repair" off of the Continuum album. And the title for this chapter comes from The Fray's "Trust Me" off of the album How To Save A Life.

DISCLAIMER: STAR WARS is the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm LTD. I do not own it, nor is this an attempt to profit from it.


EVERYTHING CHANGES
by sweetdetection


Chapter Three
A City I've Never Seen

"Any idea exactly where it is we're supposed to start?" Lando asked, glancing from side to side at all the blue-skinned aliens surrounding them with a shudder. Around them, embedded deep in Csilla's bedrock, spanned the capital city of Csaplar. He shuddered again, and not just because of the cold that seemed an ever-present entity. He had no idea if all the Chiss had the same chilly, tactical minds as Thrawn, but he believed it of an entire race who could survive underneath a planet-full of glaciers and ice drifts.

"Not really." Han frowned. Somehow, he'd been hoping that once they arrived, a flash of inspiration would hit and they'd have some idea of the direction they should take. So far, it seemed he was fresh out of flashes. It was the problem they'd run into throughout the journey to the icy planet; no one knew exactly how they should go about searching. From the information Leia and Mara had been able to give them, Thrawn had been exiled from his homeworld after a nasty political upheaval and the use of forbidden battle tactics during an attack on the Vagaari and the Outbound Flight Project. And somehow, even if he hadn't been, it didn't seem like a good idea to wander around asking anyone on the street. Few off-worlders made much of an effort to deal with the Chiss who, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be a calculating and aloof species. And while Han himself had plenty of experience dealing with alien races who wanted nothing more than to be left alone, few managed it with the brilliance of these blue-skinned isolationists.

Plus, the whole place was giving him the willies.

It was a strangely beautiful city, buried as it was beneath tons of ice and snow. It was clear that the Chiss had a well-developed appreciation for aesthetics as well as a firm grasp on the technical. Tunnels linked the subterranean cities not just with the surface but with each other as well. Transports ran between the urban centers on a strict schedule. Towers, some probably rivaling a few of the ones on Coruscant, stretched toward the roof of the vast cavern they were in. To keep the city well-lit and warm enough to allow the Chiss to thrive, massive networks of generators were used. Han had no idea how they had figured out how to do it. Apart from gracefully constructed buildings and well-laid streets, the degree of detail and care that had been put into keeping the whole place running was beyond his comprehension. He suddenly understood very clearly how it was that Thrawn had such genius -- the entire species seemed to thrive on overcoming impossibilities. The whole city was a complicated and delicate balance of art and science. He shook off his awe of the place and forced himself to come back to the subject at hand -- he didn't want to think about what would happen if they got caught, and the quicker they could get in and out of here, the less likely they were to be discovered. He turned his attention from the streets around him to the man at his side.

"Kid? You got any bright ideas?"

Luke's jaw was tight with concentration as he stretched out with the Force, trying to get a feel for the race and, more specifically, the presence of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

"Not so far," he had to admit, sighing. "I'm sorry. I just don't have enough insight into the Chiss, so it's hard to pinpoint individuals yet. And there's the fact, too, that I never dealt directly with the Grand Admiral."

"No, but Lando and I did. Trust me, if we do run into him, we'll know," Han assured him. Beside him, Lando grimaced. It was clear, even without Luke's aptitude in the Force, that he wasn't looking forward to another encounter with Imperial mastermind.

The Noghri had quietly slipped out into the city, disappearing into shadows in silence to see what they could find out. Luke hadn't thought it wise to take any chances -- if word of their dissention had traveled as far as Csilla, the Noghri would be immediately suspect. Still, they were most capable of stealthy reconnaissance. He just hoped that they returned with a helpful report. So far, they had very little information to work with.

"I suppose we should see what we can find out about his ruling house," he supplied. "I can't remember the name of it…"

"Chewie's got it on a datacard on the ship. Everything Leia could find before we left, she sent with us." Han touched his comlink, which he'd discreetly positioned on his collar. "Hey Chewie, you mind looking up the name of our friend's adopted family?"

There was a slightly indignant rumble in response, and in spite of himself, Luke had to grin. The Wookie had been furious upon learning he had to stay with the ship, but there was no helping it. The Noghri might be able to disappear into the shadows of Csaplar, but a Wookie was far harder to disguise and would blow their cover the moment he stepped out of the ship. And though Chewie understood that fact perfectly, he wasn't too happy about it -- especially not when Han and Luke were walking into a potential trap. His life-debt extended to both of them, and sitting around while they both put themselves in a potentially fatal situation wasn't Chewie's idea of sound planning. Still, someone had to keep an eye on their only way out of here, or else be in position to go get help if, in a worst case scenario, they got stuck down in the city.

"Just look it up, okay?" Han sounded exasperated. It was clear he didn't want to revisit the previous argument. From his other side, Wedge shot Luke a look, and the Jedi could feel his reluctant amusement. Leave it to Han to inadvertently lighten a potentially dire situation. Chewie mumbled in moody accession and a few moments later, they had their answer.

"Right. His ruling house is called Nuruodo."

"Makes sense," Luke commented softly, aware of the blue-skinned aliens passing within earshot. "His full name, according to Mara, is Mitth'raw'nuruodo."

"Keeps things nice and easy," Han agreed. "Can you get us any more information, Chewie?"

There was another pause, and then Chewie rumbled out a rather brief overview of the basics of Csilla's government. Han sighed and shook his head. What information the Wookie had been able to scrounge up wasn't much, and under their pirate guise, it probably wouldn't be too smart to start digging too deeply.

"He says there are four remaining ruling houses: the Nuruodo, the Sabosen, the Inrokini and the Csapla." Han's pronunciation of the Cheunh words was clumsy at best. "Together they're known out here as the Chiss Ascendancy. Each ruling house has its own area of influence. The Sabosen are in charge of social stuff -- y'know, justice, education. That sort of thing. The Inrokini are in charge of industry and science. The Csapla are in charge of colonial affairs. And I'll give you three guesses as to what the Nuruodo are in charge of."

"War," Wedge murmured, looking suddenly uncomfortable.

"War," Han agreed.

"Makes a sick sort of sense, doesn't it?" Lando added darkly. "I mean, of course Thrawn is a part of the family that specializes in war."

"That doesn't help us much. From what Leia could tell me, every Chiss is adopted into a ruling clan. It still doesn't give us a place to start looking -- members of the Nuruodo clan are probably spread all over the city," Luke pointed out.

"But maybe they've got…I dunno, something like a clan meeting hall," Wedge suggested. "You know, something like a central gathering place."

"Not a bad idea," Han agreed. "Thanks Chewie." He shut off the comlink and shot the pilot a lopsided grin. "How're you enjoying your vacation so far?"

"Somehow I don't think we'll have much time to do any sightseeing," he tossed back wryly, a small smile curving his lips in answer. "But I was right -- it has been interesting so far."

The group slowly began making their way deeper into the city. The Chiss mostly ignored them. They, like many other aliens, believed that other species were beneath them -- particularly human pirates. As a result, though it was almost a surety that most if not all of them spoke Basic, the only language they heard was Cheunh. And almost nothing was written in Basic, either. Without the help of a protocol droid such as C-3P0, the search would probably be agonizingly painstaking.

"Wait." Luke was trying to remember his conversation with Mara regarding the Chiss in general. She hadn't been able to give him much information, but she had been able to break down the components of Thrawn's name to him. And if he remembered correctly…

"Mitth'raw'nuruodo. Mitth."

Han shot him a questioning look.

"It's his familial origin. At least, according to Mara. Not his ruling house, but his personal family. If we can find other Chiss named Mitth…"

"Then we've found his family," Wedge finished. "And if we find them, we'll probably find him. Good thinking, Commander."

Luke smiled at him a little crookedly. "Ex-Commander."

Wedge shrugged that off. Whatever Luke's official title --or lack thereof -- it was clear that Wedge still looked to him for guidance. Again, he felt a wave of gratitude for his friends.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Though there were other species of aliens and humans wandering the streets of Csaplar, their foursome was out of place. They wouldn't really be able to keep a low profile. And though splitting up was an option, a lone human might draw more attention than a group. He got the impression that when outsiders came to Csilla, they tended to stick together. It was clear by the cool indifference that Luke was able to sense from the Chiss that they had little love for visitors.

Still, no one seemed to recognize them, which was something Han had been counting on. So far from the Core worlds, and with their own cities being buried by necessity, it didn't appear as though the Chiss had much direct contact with systems outside of the Unknown Region. Not that they were uninformed -- quite the contrary, even Luke had heard of the extensive library that was on the planet, one that detailed a vast number of planets, moons, and systems spread throughout the galaxy.

Their apparent anonymity was a blessing of the Force, that was for sure. As long as they could remain under the radar, they could seek out the truth behind these Thrawn rumors and go home without any trouble. For once, everything seemed to be going smoothly. And then his Force sense tingled, a too-familiar sensation alerting him to danger. He stretched out with the Force and stiffened.

"Luke?" Lando inquired softly, noticing the Jedi's sudden tensing. Han and Wedge glanced over as well. For a long moment, Luke didn't speak. And when he did, it wasn't welcome news.

"Someone knows we're here." He glanced around the group, his throat tightening around the words. "We're being followed."

• • •

Leia tried to keep herself from banging her head down on her desk. It probably wouldn't help the headache growing at her temples, but one the other hand, it probably couldn't hurt either. She ached for her brother and husband, not knowing if they were making any progress or, worse, if they were in any kind of danger. And though she felt a little better knowing that Chewie and Noghri were with them, she couldn't help but worry.

It always seemed to be her family and friends who took the worst risks when these conflicts arose. But she felt a twinge of guilt the minute she had the thought. Many people, and many families, had taken such risks. She, of all people, should understand that. As one of the principal figureheads of the New Republic and the Rebellion before that, she had met many people with stories similar or far more tragic than her own. Alderaan had not been the only planet destroyed at the Empire's whim. The Emperor had cut a swathe of destruction across the galaxy, either by flat-out destroying worlds or else by stripping them of their wealth and crippling them economically until they destroyed themselves.

Still, she couldn't swallow the ache in her throat. It was better not to think about it if she could help it, and it wasn't as if there weren't other things to distract her. On the contrary, her duties to the government hadn't been suspended in lieu of her personal dilemma. She couldn't afford, as a High Councilor, to dwell on her absent husband, brother, and friends. Her only comfort were her babies.

They were awake. She could feel them both reaching for her, trying to find her with the Force. It was a basic, instinctual reaction to her absence from their immediate presence, but the fact that they could already touch the Force this way was an indication that the Skywalker heritage did indeed flow through their veins. Like their uncle and grandfather, both of them would grow strong in the Force, and hopefully become great Jedi. She didn't doubt that Luke would carefully guide them through the steps to their Knighthood. She only hoped that there would come a time of peace which would allow them to properly train. War had stolen much from her, making it her fervent hope that she could implement peace in order to keep the galaxy from stealing anything from her children.

She stood and walked to their bedroom, meanwhile sending them mental caresses through the Force. As she leaned over their crib to touch them, a wave of agony swept her suddenly. Until peace was implemented, her children would never be safe. Kidnapping attempts had already been made, and she could very easily envision similar attempts in the future. They were desirable targets for anyone wishing to strike a blow to the heart of the New Republic.

She and Han had understood this fact, and had discussed it at length when they'd learned she was pregnant. But one thing they had both agreed on from the beginning was that they wouldn't let galactic conflict stop them from living their lives -- or creating new ones. And though she didn't regret for a single moment becoming a mother, she knew that her children would hardly have a normal upbringing.

Still, perhaps their strength in the Force would help protect them. Especially once they were old enough to train with their uncle.

Assuming, of course, that he came back from this trip.

Trying to swallow a fresh wave of worry, she ran her fingers over Jacen's cheek before touching Jaina's downy hair. She had to trust that her husband could take care of himself, and that her brother's strength in the Force would keep the whole group safe.

She was about to ease the children into sleep and then catch some shut-eye herself when her console lit up, indicating that someone was hailing her on the comm. It was the Solo's private line, which meant that it was one of just a very small group of people that knew how to contact her this way. She just hoped that it was good news. Crossing her fingers and breathing deep in a pattern Luke had taught her what seemed like years ago, she answered.

Talon Karrde's face appeared. At the sight of her, he offered a bright if not completely genuine smile.

"Leia." His greeting was warm. "I take it you haven't heard from your husband or Skywalker yet."

"No." She sighed. Obviously, then, Karrde hadn't heard anything either.

"Don't worry. The cargo my people provided them with would guarantee them permission to land on Csilla. The Chiss may not think highly of pirates, but they've dealt with more than a few times, especially in recent years. It's a necessity, out there in the Unknown Regions." The smuggler chief threaded the fingers of his hands and watched Leia carefully. "I do have some good news."

Leia perked. She hadn't been expecting much, especially after realizing that Han and Luke hadn't tried to contact Karrde or any of his people. But, of course, Karrde wouldn't have bothered to call her on her private line if there wasn't something newsworthy to tell her.

"What kind of good news?" she asked cautiously, and couldn't help herself from wondering at the same time what it would cost the New Republic. Seeming to sense her thoughts, Karrde smiled thinly.

"We can discuss the fee later," he told her. Then he chuckled at her guilty expression. "Don't worry, Councilor Organa-Solo. You didn't offend my delicate sensibilities. We're both quite familiar with the type of business I run. Now, would you like to hear what I've found out?"

"Very much," Leia said, trying to force the embarrassed flush from her cheeks.

"We've discovered the location of Thrawn's brother, Mitth'ras'safis."

Leia's mouth dropped open. She had known of Thrawn's brother, whose more-common core name was Syndic Thrass, due to her attempts to learn more about Thrawn's personal ties. But no one had much of an idea about how to find the Chiss. No one even knew if he was still on Csilla. Equally likely was the possibility that he was in one of the twenty-eight Chiss colonies that spanned the Unknown Regions. And yet here she was, about to be presented with his exact location.

"Have you been able to make contact?" she asked, her pulse picking up. Karrde smiled thinly, as though he found the whole thing rather appallingly amusing.

"In fact we have. Though he hasn't been very talkative. He insists there's only one person in the galaxy he'd be willing to speak with." Those gray eyes of his bore into hers, the smile disappearing from his face as he let that statement sink in. Leia tried to reign in her sudden excitement -- perhaps Syndic Thrass could clear this whole matter up. And if he could…

"Who is it? I will personally make sure that he is guaranteed a meeting with this person, at his convenience and in a system of his choice," she told him, her voice betraying her hopes. Karrde stared at her for a long moment before speaking again, and when he did, his voice was oddly tight.

"That won't be necessary. Syndic Thrass has made it very plain that the only person he wishes to discuss these matters with is you. He's already on his way to Coruscant, although he probably won't be allowed anywhere near the planet without your pledge of protection."

Trying to control her surprise, Leia gripped the armrests of her chair. "He wants to speak with me?"

"He was very clear," Karrde repeated. "He has said nothing else about the matter."

"And he's coming here, to Coruscant?"

"Again, he would accept no other alternative." The smuggler chief looked decidedly uncomfortable with this fact. "I don't trust him, Leia. And neither should you."

"I agree. If his brother was any indication, he is not one to be underestimated. Does he know how to contact me?" she asked, realizing that, in his own way, Karrde had just now revealed exactly how highly she had come to rank in his regard. He was very personally concerned for her. It was an unexpected revelation -- she hadn't before thought that Karrde cared one way or another about her, although now she realized that she'd been grossly unfair. He was a man who was fiercely loyal to the people he trusted. And Leia was one of those people. As were Han, Luke, and Lando.

"Ah, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm bringing him to you myself," he said, breaking into her thoughts.

"You are?" She couldn't hide her surprise from him, and was again favored with a little smile.

"Of course. We can consider it part of my fee. I, for one, am very interested in what he has to say. And in the absence of your husband and Wookie, I don't suppose it would hurt to have someone else with you during your conversation. Just in case."

Leia's answering smile was warm. Why, you old softy, she thought, carefully keeping that to herself. "I would be honored. Thank you, Talon. I only hope he can clear this all up quickly."

"That would be rather handy, wouldn't it?" Karrde agreed, his tone thoughtful. "Then again, I wouldn't trust it if it were too easy. The Chiss are a very crafty species -- he is probably quite certain he has the upper hand."

"Yes, well, I'm not so sure he doesn't," she put in. "Still, this is too good a chance to pass up. You're coming directly to Coruscant?"

"Yes. I've left Mara in charge of things while I accompany Thrass, and she's keeping alert for any word from your brother or husband in the meantime. And I'll be seeing you very shortly."

"In spite of the circumstances," Leia said, tilting her head and offering the smuggler chief another little smile, "I'll be looking forward to it."

• • •

Mara had, at least for the moment, escaped her duties on the bridge. Leaning against the door to her quarters on the Wild Karrde, she ran through a Jedi calming technique that Skywalker had taught her during their training sessions together on Coruscant.

Skywalker… She tried to fight the quiet, persistent feeling that she couldn't quite bring herself to admit was worry. At first, she'd told herself she was merely concerned that Thrawn might show up, ready to raise hell again. Then she'd told herself that she was merely concerned about handling all the responsibilities that being Karrde's second in command had thrust upon her. Finally, after Karrde's departure on the Etherway with Syndic Thrass, she'd told herself she was merely concerned about her ability to run the Wild Karrde and its crew on her own. But the truth was, somewhere deep down, there was a nagging little worry that the Jedi had bitten off more than he could chew this time. Csilla was not the safest place in the galaxy anyway, and especially not for him -- a hero of the Rebellion.

He'll be fine. He's the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Jedi Knight, remember? But the thought lacked its normal accompanying sarcasm. He wasn't nearly as indestructible as he seemed to think he was. Or was it that he thought himself indestructible? Back on Wayland, he'd offered himself to C'boath fully knowing the kind of future he would be subjecting himself to. And she'd been able to feel his dread even then, with only a small amount of training under her belt.

No, he knew he was mortal -- but he also knew that when there was a tough job to be done, he was one of the few that could be counted on to do it. And, in her humble opinion, he was just far too ready to sacrifice himself in order for the greater good. Hadn't he offered himself as a sacrifice in order to save her? Even when she'd still fully intended on killing him?

It was one of those damningly endearing qualities he seemed to posses en masse.

Stupid, silly son-of-a-Sith…What good are you going to be to anyone when you're dead? she thought with a hint of her old fiery temper, knowing he was too far to hear her.

Yes, he was too far, and yet somehow they were still connected. She was still very dimly aware of him, of his general well-being. It was shimmery and weak, like a mirage, but it was there. And it wasn't anything like the connection she'd once had with Emperor Palpatine. She'd been able to hear his voice anywhere in the galaxy at one time, but that was just his voice. She hadn't been able to sense him quite this way -- it was like a thin thread, connecting their Force-senses to each other, keeping her linked to Skywalker day and night. At times, it was immensely annoying. As intangible and vague as it was, it usually had the same effect as a tiny, buzzing insect flying continuously around the room. But it was also a small, private comfort.

Still, it was no where near strong enough to convince her that he wasn't already in a world of trouble.

She shook her head and crossed the room to her bunk, stripping off her functional, black leather jumpsuit as she went. If he was in trouble, she would need to be ready to help. And she wasn't going to do anybody any good at all if she didn't get some rest. But her mind was restless, and she knew that getting to sleep was going to require some effort.

She slid into the bed and closed her eyes, letting her focus shift inward. She could feel herself slipping more fully into the Force, searching for guidance and peace. Previously, her use of the Force had been so…practical. It was a means to an end, a useful skill set that she had acquired to better complete her tasks and survive dangerous situations. But recently she'd been using the Force in an entirely different capacity. She was more attuned to the subtle guidance and warnings it gave her, and when she truly let herself go, she had powerful visions. Skywalker had confirmed that though she used the Force very effectively for combat, her true talent lay along the lines of communication. It was why she'd so clearly been able to hear the Emperor's voice throughout the galaxy. And he'd mentioned that it probably made her more susceptible to visions as well.

They came tonight as they always did, swirling glimpses of possible futures and varied pasts. But they were fragmented and quick, and she couldn't focus on any particular one of them. Frowning, she tried for more control, hoping to catch one of the visions and follow it through to understanding. But the Force was flowing fast tonight, and she felt her control slipping. A little disappointed, she tried to ease out of her trance when, unexpectedly, she felt a disturbance in the Force.

Her eyes snapped open and she automatically went for her lightsaber -- the one Luke had given her just two months ago, for reasons she still wasn't sure she understood -- before she realized that the forcible surge of danger wasn't directed at her. And yet, it had been frighteningly strong, and her heart was still pounding with the sudden rush of adrenaline. It took her a moment to catch her breath, and with it came a troubling thought. If she wasn't in any danger, than who…?

"Oh, sith." It was Skywalker. Of course it was Skywalker.

But she couldn't tell what kind of danger, or how immediate it was. If she went charging to Csilla now, she'd have to leave the Wild Karrde and its crew -- the two things that Karrde wanted looked after more than anything in the galaxy, the two things he'd specifically entrusted to her care. Besides that, there was no way to know that she'd get there in time to be of any help to Skywalker and his friends. In fact, to go rushing there now might only endanger them further. Until she knew more about the situation, it would be better if she erred on the side of caution.

But that didn't mean that she couldn't head toward the Unknown Region. Indirectly, of course. It might take them a bit out of their way, and she'd have to rely on the Force more heavily than she felt comfortable with, but it seemed more sensible than bursting into Csilla's atmosphere, laser cannons blazing.

Inaction didn't sit well with her -- not at all -- but she had her obligations to Karrde and the crew. And so far, though she couldn't be sure because he was so distant, that thread that tied her to Skywalker was still telling her that he was okay. She was just going to have to pay a little more attention to it from here on out.

I swear to the Sith, Skywalker…if you go and get yourself killed, I'll renew that old vow and bring you back to life just to have the satisfaction of killing you myself.

Feeling slightly better at that dark little half-thought, half-vow, Mara picked up a datapad. Sleep might be alluding her, but she could at least get some work done while she waited for it to catch up to her. And if her work happened to tell her exactly what kind of contacts Karrde's vast organization had with the Chiss, so much the better…it had never hurt to be prepared. For any circumstance. And as Skywalker seemed so often fond to remind her, the future was always in motion.