Disclaimer: I do not own SW.
There are a lot of discrepancies when it comes to Thrawn's career…especially with his promotion to Grand Admiral. He was an admiral, secretly promoted to Grand Admiral, then a captain, then an admiral again, then a Grand Admiral…
It is official that he was recognised as G.A after he killed Zaarin, and then he got exiled from Court before the battle of Endor…but a number of sources say that the timescale is impossibly short. So I'm lengthening it.
To keep it simple, I have moved Zaarin's defection back a few months…just so none of you die-hards ask me why the plot is all wrong….
Chapter Six: Intrigue
The communication came late at night, a shaky voice addressing Leia over the intercom. Han turned over, grumbling out not having a proper nights' sleep, even now the dispute with the Empire was over. The former senator wrapped a robe around herself and keyed her code in, wondering who would be contacting her on her private channel.
The blue hued image appeared, and she was surprised to see Luke, looking a little dishevelled and tired, a haggard looking Mara barely visible beside him. Somehow, during the whole complicated mess of the Caamas document, the resurfacing of Illyana, and of course the negotiations, Luke's private mission to recover Mara Jade after a terrible vision had been pushed to the back of her mind.
"Luke?" The subtle link they shared thanks to the Force had not indicated any extreme emotions from him, so she had not thought too long on his absence. After all, he was Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, Slayer of the Deathstar and founder of the Jedi Academy. If any of her family and friends were able to protect themselves, it was Luke.
"Leia. It's good to hear your voice after so long." He sounded as tired as he looked, drained of his usual vitality, the farm boy sparkle that he had never lost dwindling to nothingness today. His tone indicated something was not quite right.
"Is something wrong? Where are you?" She asked probing for whatever it was that was out of place, what could it be that would have both Luke and tough-as-nails Mara so unsettled? She was determined to find out.
"Something unexpected has occurred, if that is what you mean." He sighed, and opened his eyes after a short pause. Something very out of character for him. "I've been asked to make this transmission on behalf of the High Command of Nirauan."
The credit dropped, and Leia found her heart sinking to her toes.
"Am I to understand that you are now a prisoner of Nirauan's High Command?" She asked sharply; this being a private channel, no one would overhear anything. She thanked the Force for small mercies, if this news became public, that Luke Skywalker was a captive by the very people she had just signed a peace treaty with…If Illyana had ordered the capture of her brother…
"We were captured, yes, and taken before a number of Imperials, but we are not prisoners. We have, however, stumbled across something that the New Republic needs to witness. Admiral Parck and a number of…delegates would like to come along personally to view the signing of the agreement between the Empire and the New Republic."
What a strange request; could it be that Illyana's own people did not have any faith in her? Why else would they have a need to check up on her? Leia shook herself, reminding herself bluntly that Illyana was, after all, 13 years old, and at present, without anyone to answer to. Of course her –superiors?-colleagues?-would want to know how she had negotiated.
Bail Organa had acted in a similar way when she had first been at the Senate – double checking everything she did, not for errors, he explained, but to see what another could manipulate. They wanted to make sure her inexperience would not cloud her judgement.
"It's already been signed by both parties formally, though I am sure, if they are uncertain about Illyana's mediation, they are welcome to come and view the document. There are a few legal wranglings over Illyana's claim to being Empress, but it should all be resolved within a few days." She answered the question, and others that obviously Illyana's High Command would want to air.
"Yes, I am sure that will be satisfactory. If you transmit the co-ordinates for your present location, we should be along in a few days." Luke was keeping all emotion out of the communication; he was being closely monitored at his end by Nirauan's commanders. Leia was still uncertain about his position as a prisoner.
"Luke…are you sure that nothing is amiss?" She asked again, a pleading in her eye. Guilt overcame her; if only she had worked a little harder on the exercises he had given her in the Force, perhaps she could read his emotions better. But it was pointless regretting it now.
"I'm just a little…surprised, at the turn of events. I'll explain everything when we arrive." He wore a familiar smile, and she felt her concern evaporate; nothing could be so wrong, if he was wearing that smile. Something still did not feel quite right, but at least Luke was safe.
"I'll inform Illyana of the intentions of her High Command. I'm so glad that you are safe, Luke." Leia allowed herself an unprofessional line to air her happiness at his wellbeing, and returned the warm smile. Exhaling, she saw him lean forwards, hand resting over controls.
"We'll see each other soon then, Leia." He said, biding her farewell, his imagine flickering into nothingness. Her eyes stung with the absence of the light, dots dancing before her eyes as she relaxed. Luke was safe, he had found Mara…and Imperials from the Unknown Regions would soon be descending upon them.
She stood up slowly, deciding to inform Illyana at a more social hour as to the news, not wanting to interrupt the young half alien's mediation. She had sensed a lot of turmoil inside of Illyana, despite the cool, collected exterior, and wondered what it was she duelled with, internally.
X X X
Red robed guards led her forwards across the Command Deck, their sentinel like appearance not dissuading those in the crew pits from looking up at her. Her cheeks flushed as she ignored the stares, reminding herself of her devotion to the Emperor, and not needing any other fulfilment but that.
Little did she realise the importance of being selected that day, of how much her life would change, because of a simple choice by a Sith Lord blessed with the ability to foretell the future. Like so much in her short life, he was the puppeteer, he held all the strings.
The guards parted, splitting at the end of the deck, standing two metres either side of Palpatine as he surveyed the clusters of stars ahead of them. He had not turned to her, and so she sank to a low curtsey, holding it as she addressed him.
"Good evening, my Emperor, I was told you desired my presence?" He chuckled low, but did not turn around. She did not raise her head or rise to her straightened position, determined not to give him an excuse to hold her in disfavour. She already had enough enemies upon this ship, without turning her master against her as well.
"Rise and approach without fear, Dania." She obeyed, shuffling forwards until she was beside him, looking out at the stars. She had never seen the stars from this angle, her entire memory only covering 6 months, and all of that involved her being on Coruscant. It was beautiful, up here, suspended in the stars, watching the colours meld into a single point before them. "You've never been off Coruscant."
"No, my Master. This is…one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen." She spoke honestly, and again she elicited a chuckle from him. It seemed so unnatural coming from beneath the menacing cowl. "It sounds naïve, my Emperor, I appreciate that, but I doubt I could ever get bored of space travel."
"What do you think of Majestic, Dania? She's an impressive ship, don't you agree?" His voice was laced with humour, of course she was naïve, innocent, unaware, ignorant…She felt awkward. This was a game, and he really did not care for her opinions at all. There was something afoot around her, she could sense it, she could only not see it…
"Again, I don't know enough about such things, but she is elegant, my lord." She agreed, not really knowing what else to say. Her heart sank, and she was certain she was failing whatever test this was. Where she would go or what she would do when he finally realised his mistake in promoting her…she did not care to think about it.
"You have a lot to learn, child, and a long time to discover all that you need to." He said, confidence replacing amusement, placing his hand on her shoulder in an almost fatherly fashion. Her skin crawled at his touch; but she forced her expression to stay neutral, her disgust hidden deep. "No harm will come to you at Court."
"I hope not, my Emperor." A smile was hidden by the hood as Palpatine wondered how any one could be so naïve; and then reminded himself that she was practically a new born, with no experiences of treachery or manipulation. She had no idea how important she was to him, that because he needed her so badly his unspoken influence would deter all who could harm that her away.
He was watching Thrawn very closely; the alien too was influencing, manipulating Dania, and whilst this was entertaining, it could also potential be detrimental. Dania was his, and no one had the right to risk her life. The fate of the Empire rested on her well being.
If only Thrawn knew…but all in good time. He would make the alien aware of what he needed to know when it was necessary, and not before.
"The stars are bright, aren't they? Apparently there is supposed to be some sort of astronomical event tonight, the bright star ahead of us is going supernova." He spoke softly, without concern; Dania gasped aloud, fear rising in her.
"Are we at a safe distance?" She asked, turning her head to look at him, eyes wide in concern. Perhaps not so smart; who would endanger themselves by venturing too close to a supernova? Just as well, he supposed, that she would soon be promoted to such a high place, it would not matter how intelligent she was…
"We're able to have both a perfect view and be shielded from the danger it poses. Though we will encounter some electro-magnetic interference…" Again, he used gentle tones, reminiscent of a mentor, or again, a father figure. It did nothing to calm her; rather, it unnerved her further.
Something caught her eye, and Dania squinted, trying to make out what exactly it was. It was moving too fast to be a comet, and it was no optical illusion…
"Is that a shooting star, my lord?" She said, her voice uncertain, taking a few steps away from the transparisteel, heart pounding. She soon saw that is was not, in fact, natural, its shape a lot more clear now. Dania turned around to leave the Command Deck, to be stopped in her tracks by a blaster pointed in her direction, a steel hand holding it tight.
A thousand emotions overcame her, the pain of being abandoned, of failure, of being deceived…the woman before her was a living, breathing symbol of all that had not been, and now, because of Thrawn's interference, she had infiltrated the Emperor's ship.
"That is an incoming TIE Fighter squadron…" Arden Lyn, standing proudly, her diminutive height no longer so pathetic, the blaster very clearly on its highest setting. "No sudden movements, whore. If you would like to come with me, my Lord?" She flicked the blaster towards the exit, forehead wrinkled in concentration.
During her research, Dania had discovered some peculiar incidents occurring around Lyn; now she realised how she had pulled off so many of the stunts. Lyn seemed to have the ability to conceal herself, to somehow deceive those around her. Clever, and very useful.
"Arden Lyn. I expected Zaarin would send you…" Palpatine spoke politely, as if at addressing an older, familiar friend. Lyn scowled, upper lip curling as she snarled and indicated again.
"Of course you did, Palpatine. In your infinite wisdom, you also must now it would be most intelligent of you to follow me without complaint. Demetrius would like to speak to you both on the Glory, right now."
X X X
Illyana was nervous. Why would her commanding officers be coming out from Nirauan, after a decade of letting the rest of the galaxy go by? What had prompted such a radical decision for them, especially considering their reluctance in allowing her to go forwards to confirm the death of her mother?
She was exhausted. The whole notion of having a secret brother, coupled with the fact that she had an inexplicable meeting with the people who were both her family and her High Command back on Nirauan set her on edge.
Of course, she was also in turmoil at the events in motion on the datapads. Even though she knew the ending, that eventually Dania and Thrawn, who felt more like fictitious characters than her parents, would have feelings enough to conceive her, and this brother of hers, she was petrified to discover the truth.
More and more, it seemed as if her mother was just a prostitute, and her father merely a customer, no emotion in it, no feeling, just…It saddened her heart.
When she had been sent to Nirauan by her mother, she had been bereft, just about able to speak Basic, and with complete strangers. Her father had been viciously murdered, and her mother had abandoned her with people she barely knew. It had been the intention, she had been told, that Admiral Parck take care of her, as if she was his child, but it had been upon the insistence of Wynssa Starflare that she be accepted by a real family.
Her memory was perfect of the events, and though she hadn't understood them at the time, she did now. Soontir and Wynssa had effectively adopted her into their own considerable brood of children, encouraging her to be social, to do the things normal children did, things that, on a Star Destroyer, perhaps she would not have had the chance to attempt, had she still been with her true parents.
She had always dreamed her parents loved each other as strongly as Tir and Wynssa clearly did, but it was becoming more apparent it was a marriage of convenience. No emotion, no passion; not even protectiveness. Thrawn had severely disliked her mother; that much seemed obvious.
Her hands groped for her collar, adjusting her dress uniform, using her fingers to insure it was correctly aligned, and inhaled, calming the flurry of emotions inside her as she stepped out of her quarters, the cane she used to assist her sight pulled from its holster at her hip. Resting it against the right hand wall, she began to walk, easily locating the lifts that would take her down to the shuttle bay, where both the Imperials and New Republic had assembled an Honour Guard.
She had been uncertain of Leia's intentions when she had first heard that Luke Skywalker would be assisting a Nirauan mission to their location; it seemed more like an accusation of foul play. Leia may now be an ally, but she was no fool; this treaty would last so long as both parties remained passive towards the other.
There was a confusion of noise as she entered the shuttle bay, and suddenly, she felt a hand in the crook of her arm, guiding her to the left. She was practically frogmarched 200 metres by what she guessed to be a stronger, older man.
"Admiral Pellaeon?" She asked, slightly indignant that she had been seized. She also had a little unhappiness that he had not told her about the existence of her brother, and concealed yet more information. She did not know how she knew such a thing, only that it seemed like an instinct in her mind. An instinct she was beginning to trust cautiously, weary of its origin.
"Illyana, there is something you have not been told about this visit." They waited, and she felt the updraft as the shuttlecraft landed, her hair flapping a little in the breeze as a ramp was lowered. She felt frustrated; could he not have told her this earlier?
"Such as?" Illyana asked, a little curtly. "I do not see why you have waited until the last possible-"
A silence feel across the entire bay as the passengers disembarked, first, Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade, both holding hands, she was later told. This is what had caused the initial surprise.
Colonel Fel and Admiral Parck came next, applause breaking out across the Imperial delegation, whom still held the Corellian in high stead, considering him one of the greatest heroes of the Empire, an opinion she, and all at Nirauan, agreed with.
As much as she had feared their arrival, she also relished the opportunity to be able to talk to those who had known her parents, to confirm or disprove what she was reading. People who could perhaps make it more personal, or explain their seemingly irrational decisions.
And then came the gasps, the outcries of surprise.
Illyana clearly could not see, but she could feel. Something washed over her, an utter calm, all the concerns she had been suffering until that moment left her, because there was no reason left to be worried. It was familiar, comforting. And old. A decade old.
"Sir…" Pellaeon's arm left hers, and she knew it had risen in a salute. Her stomach losing its position, it occurred to her that she too needed to offer him greeting. In the only way a Chiss commander would offer greeting to the other. She had so many other things she wanted to say, but numbed, the only thing that she could motivate herself to achieve was military etiquette.
Dropping to her knees, arms crossed at her chest in subservience, she spoke, her voice void of emotion.
"In the name of all those who serve the Empire of the Hand, I greet you, Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo…"
X X X
Author's note:
The greeting Illyana uses at the end, whilst sounding a little…strange, is a modified version of the greeting Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo uses to address Admiral Ar'alani in Outbound Flight. I imagine that the Empire of the Hand would be a Chiss/Imperial amalgamation, and I thought the greetings and the ceremony would be something that Illyana would use to show respect to her father.
And now, to answer a question….
Aryna: Well, there were revelations, just no explanations last chapter And this chapter can only make it worse. I don't want to spoil the story, but Thorn is NOT the child picked up in part One. There were three children…one died.
Thorn's existence is only known by a select few…Wow; other people aside from me are calling her Yana:Squee: Yes, her relationship with Thrawn is very complicated, but very strong. Not to give away any spoilers, but this special relationship gets tested in the most extreme of ways by the end of the fanfiction. (And I do not mean in an Elektra-Complex manner either.)
If you would like to know more, leave your email address and we could have a little spoiler swap, if you want. . I am so glad people like my fanfiction!
MGA xx