Author Notes: Enjoy, Comment if you like or see any errors. I don't own any of the characters or places present.

"No." the first words out of Pellaeon's mouth came strong and loud. "I saw Grand Admiral Thrawn die. He no longer exists."

Gathering his resolve, Pellaeon turned towards the squad of stormtroopers behind him. "Detain this man immediately, and prepare him for questioning."

Behind Pellaeon, Thrawn held up a hand. "Peace captain. I am Thrawn. If you wish to check my DNA, you will see that it is true." He slowly descended the platform of the ship towards Pellaeon.

Pellaeon shoulders slumped. It was very hard not to believe him. he radiated all the power that Thrawn had possessed, his face still gave off the air of intelligence that Pellaeon never quite understood.

A trooped stepped up to Thrawn, and Thrawn extended his hand for the needle. After taking the sample, the trooper approached Pellaeon, waiting for the medpack to give its answer. The trooper looked up at Pellaeon. "It is an identical match Sir."

Pellaeon waved him off and then sighed. Having accepted the medpack's answer, he posed his first question. "How?"

Thrawn approached Pellaeon. "Walk with me Captain. It would appear that I have a great deal to explain."

Pellaeon and Thrawn strode through the hallways of the ship, occasionally passing an officer with quite a surprised expression on his face.

"Upon visiting Honoghr, I deemed that there was something strange happening with the Noghri, as I informed you. This, coupled with the strange occurrences related to the young warrior from clan Kim'bar provided me with enough reason for worry." He paused, regarding Pellaeon with his unsettling gaze before continuing.

"I knew that Rukh kept in constant contact with Honoghr, and I had to assume that he had been compromised as well. I then used the highly advanced engineering of my people to create a lifelike droid, that would sit on the Chimaera, acting as little more than a puppet during my time on Csilla."

Pellaeon responded. "But Sir, I saw your blood. It was so real."

Thrawn glanced at Pellaeon. "The red effect was pure luck. I believe that it was the oil in the droid that had a red color."

"So that was why I was unable to see your body. I would have just found the remnants of a droid."

Thrawn smiled ever so slightly. "Exactly captain. When provided with the opportunity to fake my death, I seized it. Now, the rebellion has no idea that I am currently alive, and will be totally caught off guard for the next stages of my plan."

Thrawn had stopped walking. They had arrived at his quarters, without Pellaeon even realizing. Thrawn opened the door and gestured at Pellaeon. "Please join me Captain."

"Yes Sir." Responded Pellaeon As he stepped onto the bridge. the viewports displayed the Super Star Destroyer out in space, its stark grey Hull providing a great contrast with the blackness of space.

"beautiful, isn't it?" Thrawn asked Pellaeon, his voice slightly dreamy as they stared at the ship. "I call her, The Moderator."

"I wasn't aware that there were any more Super Star Destroyers in the fleet Sir." Pellaeon stated, his eyes glued to the ship.

"There weren't. I had this one built. I have been planning to unveil it for some time Captain, and that time has come at last."

Pellaeon tore his eyes off the ship, and back onto Thrawn, who had just sat down slowly into his chair, pushing the intercom button.

He thought for a few moments before speaking. "Attention crew." He paused. "This is Grand Admiral Thrawn speaking. For many of you, it may seem as though I have returned from the dead. I can assure you that this is not true, although I cannot explain how my return has come to be."

He paused again, purposefully choosing his words, his cool and perfectly modulated voice sweeping through the ship. "What I can guarantee, however, is that our victory over this Rebellion is an event that has been merely delayed, not at all halted. Victory will be ours yet. We will move forward, to a future that sees only the Empire." He ended his speech slowly, but firmly.

He clicked off the intercom, and rose from his chair, facing Pellaeon. "Now Captain, let us go the bridge, and begin planning for the return of the Empire."