Chapter 7
The arrival at the Stalwart was surprisingly uneventful. The pilots got their clearance, and they were pulled in with a tractor beam. The speakers announced that the Grand Admiral was about to see her, and when she left the shuttle there was even an honour guard waiting. Lanna was astonished at how easy it had all been and began to wonder if she really wanted Jereko to join the Navy if it would turn him into such a mindless sucker, too.
After she had been led through a maze of corridors and turbolifts, her escort finally stopped in front of a door that looked no different from any other door she had seen so far. Lanna tried to straighten herself even more, though her shoulders and back already hurt quite a bit. So here it comes. Just try not to completely turn into a stupid, slavering fangirl yourself, she told herself.
The room she was led into was rather small, containing little more than a table, a few chairs, and a transparisteel window with a great view. If there was any greater view than the Grand Admiral, even if he is standing with his back to you, Lanna thought, completely ignoring the officer standing next to him. I 'm afraid glomping Grand Admirals is not comme if faut, even if you're dressed up like an Imperial captain -- especially if you dressed up like an Imperial captain.
Thrawn turned around, measuring Lanna with a short glance. "Ah, so you are our impostor." He indicated one of the chairs. "Have a seat."
Lanna felt her cheeks flush to the same glowing red as the Grand Admiral's eyes. Still, she managed to get to the indicated chair without accident, and even without making a mad dash for the Chiss. Sitting down carefully, she folded her hands in front of her -- where she could see them, and control what they were doing.
Then she looked up to the approaching Grand Admiral. Even from this unfortunate angle she could not see the smallest sign of a spare tire starting to grow around his waist. Her mind gave a fangirlish squeal. I wonder if that's still true when you undress him, or if the uniform is just utterly discreet like -- lower down.
Fortunately, Thrawn seemed to be unaware of the thoughts racing through Lanna's mind. In a graceful movement he sat down opposite her, steepling his fingers, and watching her closely.
"Why don't you repeat the reason you stated on Morak for you coming here," he suggested. "What I heard so far sounded interesting, though not very sensible." One of his brows arched slightly.
Lanna felt her blush not only crawling up her forehead but also down her neck, leaving her looking like a lobster with a sunburn. Her inner fangirl still happily adored the slightly arched brow, was generally out of order due to hormones, and wondered in which colour a Chiss would blush.
"Um," Lanna began to stutter, "I, um, actually, not me, but -- Boba Fett, because of me…." Under the persistent stare of the glowing red eyes, she faltered. She looked at her folded hands, trying to pull herself together and prevent her fangirliness from lunging for Thrawn and making herself comfortable on the Grand Admiral.
She drew a deep breath and raised her eyes. "Boba Fett is out to kill you because," Lanna swallowed hard, "because he drank a love potion that went all wrong." It didn't sound any better now than it had in the Imperial garrison on Morak. But she had been raised to tell the truth, so she gave it a try.
Thrawn's expression didn't change. He kept staring at her as if he might be able to see the truth right through her skull.
Groping for words Lanna tried to explain. "The GFFA started it all. They ordered the potion for Fett, but the driver, who was supposed to bring him there, got into an accident because he tried to show off, so he died, because he fell on exhibits of Blade Kriffon, but Fett fell on my speeder bike, scratching my paint, he repaired it, by the way, it never ran so smooth before…." Lanna stopped, realizing she was babbling. "Anyway, he's been following me around ever since, and I made a stupid comment, and he set off to kill you."
Still, not a single muscle twitched in the Grand Admiral's face. It was almost like having Fett before you again, only that Thrawn actually wore his face for a mask.
"So you are sticking with the story you told on Morak?" he asked finally.
"It's the only story I have," Lanna replied.
This time the eyebrow rose the whole way up, questioningly. Lanna felt the receding blush return with new force. Would it help any if I got down on my knees and proposed unending love? her inner fangirl wondered, who had obviously forgotten about Fett's rose debacle while in the same situation.
"So what do you think we should do with you now?" the Grand Admiral mused.
If I had it MY way, Lanna's second self thought immediately, this would be the part where I had my hands all over you. If you don't know what to do in such a situation, I'd readily teach you... But she managed to suppress that answer, hoping its content was not written in capitals on her forehead. Though she assumed that Thrawn would not have a problem even if it was in fine print.
"The brig?" Lanna volunteered tentatively. Or your quarters, whatever suits you best, her inner fangirl added shamelessly.
With a side glance at the officer, he gave a small nod. "I think that is the best solution, until -- or if -- Fett appears."
Lanna hung her head, nodding. Then she stood up dejectedly, not even looking at Thrawn, to the utter dismay of her fangirly self. The stormtroopers assumed position around her again, and this time she did not mistake their presence for an honour guard.
The door hissed open and the leader of the stormtroopers almost bounced into an olive-clad lieutenant. In his determination to enter, the lieutenant managed to push them back into the room. Then he snapped to attention before the Admiral.
"Sir, Boba Fett has just asked permission to come aboard," he announced.
Lanna could feel everyone's eyes bore into her. At least it will be over soon, she thought, while her other half wondered in which kind of box the Grand Admiral could be transported off best, if he refused to come voluntarily.
"Interesting," the aforementioned commented. "Did he state his business?"
"Yes, sir," came the answer, and the rational part of Lanna could easily imagine Jereko in the crisp uniform. And without it, her fangirl chimed in, surprisingly not meaning Thrawn this time. "The bounty hunter stated that he wanted to talk to you about a certain Mahalia Lanna, sir. Her whereabouts and probable arrival at the Stalwart."
"What a coincidence, Miss Lanna, don't you think?" Thrawn asked, his eyes fixed on Lanna. Looking at the lieutenant again, he ordered, "Give him permission to dock and bring him here immediately."
The man saluted with military precision, turned crisply, and left. Lanna was maneuvered into a corner by the four stormtroopers around her. Torn between cringing with anticipation and undressing the Grand Admiral in her mind, she hoped Fett would hurry up. The first time I want him to hurry, she wondered. And while Thrawn is right in front of me, too. I must be crazy.
To her relief, Boba Fett did hurry. Only a short while after the lieutenant had left, he returned with the bounty hunter in tow and several additional stormtroopers. At least they are careful, Lanna thought, not really convinced that a garrison of stormies would be any help against Fett.
The bounty hunter came to a halt in
front of Thrawn who did not seem worried at all. "Sir."
With a curt nod, Fett acknowledged the presence of everyone else. "I
see the subject of my business is already present. That will make
things a lot easier." He turned to face Lanna.
He
could at least have tried some snappy lines,
Lanna thought. "I'm
here to rescue you" or something, but no, not Fett. He'd
probably not say a single word until he left again.
"We have been told you were after the Grand Admiral," the officer still standing behind Thrawn said.
Fett cocked his head slightly. "Of course I'm not. I'm after her!" He pointed at Lanna, who tried hard to melt into the background.
With no success. All three men and all the stormtroopers, even those with their guns trained on Fett, looked at her -- only the features of the officer betrayed a little of his thoughts. And what Lanna saw in his face was not friendly.
"Well, the young lady has told us a very different story," Thrawn said. "If we are to believe her, you are here to kill me." He turned his head to look at the bounty hunter.
"It is against my code to kill people without being paid for it," Fett answered. "And, as far as I know, there is currently no bounty on your head." He returned his attention to Lanna. "If you'd just come along. We're leaving."
Actually, Lanna did not want to move at all, but on a nod from the Grand Admiral the stormtroopers pushed her in Fett's direction. She stumbled, acutely aware of her clumsiness in front of Thrawn, and bounced against Boba's body armour. The bounty hunter grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her upright again.
"Is there anything more you want to tell us before you leave?" Thrawn asked, his tone suggesting that there had better be. As did the stormtroopers moving in behind Fett to cut his way to the door.
The bounty hunter shifted his weight towards Lanna. "Actually, there is," he replied. With a swift movement he activated a repulsion shield that engulfed him and Lanna while he threw a small knockout-grenade into the room. The shockwave was reflected by Fett's personal shield, but knocked out all the troopers, who fell to the ground in a tumbled heap of arms and legs, as well as the officer, who toppled more graciously, and Grand Admiral Thrawn, who simply slumped in his chair. "This isn't the sort of thing I normally do."
The last thing Lanna saw,
before Fett knocked her out and swung her over his shoulder, was one
blaster bolt -- and a red spot on the impeccable Grand Admiral's
uniform that slowly grew larger and larger.
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Lanna awoke in a completely alien room. It was tiny, made of metal and housing nothing much but the bunk she lay on. And Boba Fett, she had to add after looking around. He leaned casually in the doorway and had exchanged his armour for a simple grey jumpsuit.
"Come back to your senses?" he inquired.
At that Lanna wanted to lunge at him, screaming into his face. "Me? ME, come back to my senses? It's YOU who's out of his mind here, not me!" But with the first quick movement of her head the room began to swim and a small guy crept out of the wall behind her, hitting her with a big hammer. At least, that's what it felt like.
"You," she whispered hoarsely, "you'd better come to your senses."
Fett didn't move. Only a small, predatory smile tugged at his lip. "I'm about to."
Tiredly, Lanna closed her eyes, thinking, I can only hope I got the ChristineX version of the guy.
