Disclaimer: I don't own Lucas Arts, Star Wars, or Disney. Which owns all the others.
"Captain Niriz, there is an emergency holo-call for you from Coruscant. We have dropped from hyperspace to allow for better reception, sir."
Niriz tried to calmly release the breath he was holding. He clenched his hands together to hide their shaking, and nodded at the officer.
"For me and not the Admiral?" He asked in a slightly shaky voice as he crossed the bridge under the watchful eyes of the Stormtroopers.
"Yes sir."
Niriz nodded at the man.
"Thank you. Please have it patched into the bridge ready room for me."
The officer nodded as Niriz crossed the bridge and entered into the ready room. He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, still trying to control his breathing. He poured himself a glass of whatever was in the bottle on his desk, and slowly sipped it.
"Captain, the holo is ready, sir."
"Good. Patch it through."
Niriz took one more deep breath, and came face to face with the Emperor himself.
Niriz jumped to his feet and snapped a salute.
"Emperor, sir! I wasn't expecting-"
"Captain, I assume you have taken action on your new orders?" The Emperor interrupted.
"I assumed that there were no new orders, my lord." Niriz said, holding his breath and praying.
"You assumed, Captain?" The Emperor practically spit out the last word.
"I was told- Yes sir. I assumed."
The Emperor slowly smiled, and let out a cackled laugh slowly.
"Of course, Captain. You've been listening to the alien, Thrawn. Listen carefully to me, Captain."
Niriz nodded at him.
"Of course, my lord."
Half an hour later, the Admonitor returned to hyperspace and the bridge was cleared of all non-essential personnel. Niriz exited the briefing room, and took a seat in the Star Destroyers command chair.
"Captain; The Admonitor is on course, sir. ETA is four days, standard time."
Niriz nodded at the report.
"Very good. Inform Commander Parck his shift begins in 20."
"Yes sir. Should I inform the Admiral of our change in course, sir?"
Niriz turned slowly to face the officer.
"No need."
Niriz watched as the bridge officer nodded and carried out his orders, and then shifted his gaze towards the Admonitor's massive viewports. The blue-white vortex of hyperspace rotated around and around the Admonitor, reminding Niriz of the toy he used to play with as a boy. It was a small top with blue and white stripes around the edges. His father had given it to him before he was-
Niriz shook the memory from his mind, and turned away from the viewport.
"Lieutenant, you have the bridge. Give Commander Parck the daily report when his shift begins."
"Yes, sir!" The Lieutenant said, saluting as Niriz walked past the crew pits and towards the turbolift.
"Inform me of any changes in the ordinary, Lieutenant."
"Like what, sir?"
Niriz paused before walking into the now open turbolift.
"Anything, Lieutenant. Anything."
The turbolift jerked once, and then went into motion. Niriz rubbed his eyes and slowly exhaled the breath he had been holding since the Emperor's holo-call. His head was aching, and Niriz knew that he should see the infirmary for some sort of pain killer before his next shift began.
The turbolift slowed to a halt, and the door opened. Niriz brought his eyes forward-
And just about ran into the Grand Admiral.
"Sir!" Niriz said, snapping a salute.
"Ah, Captain. I assume your holo-call with the Emperor went well?" Thrawn said calmly, while walking with Niriz away from the turbolift.
"Yes sir. He was just asking for the performance records of the crew." Niriz said, using quite possibly the flimsiest lie in Fleet history.
Thrawn nodded his head, and Niriz wondered if he knew the truth.
"Of course Captain. Was he pleased with the crew's performance?"
"Yes sir, very pleased."
Thrawn clasped his hands behind his back as he walked.
"So we are back on course, Captain?"
"Yes sir. Helm reports we should be there in four standard."
Thrawn raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a little long, Captain?"
Niriz stopped, and gulped. "Long, sir?"
Thrawn shrugged slightly. "Perhaps not." He kept walking.
"If that was all Admiral, I'm on my way to the infirmary."
"Ah, Of course Captain." Thrawn said, stopping and facing Niriz. "I hope it's nothing to serious."
"No sir." Niriz said, snapped a salute, and headed in the opposite direction. He walked back into the turbolift, and keyed for the Medical Wing. His head was pounding now.
"I'm afraid there's nothing else I can do, Captain. You've already gone through your daily allotment of pain killers. Giving you more would risk possible addiction or dependence."
Niriz rolled his eyes at the doctors back.
"Understood, but isn't there anything else you can give me?"
"Rest, Captain. It's all stress, that's where it's coming from. You need rest. When is your shift over?"
"Now. Voss is on the bridge."
"Good! Go to your bunk, and rest."
"Listen, Doctor-"
"Rest! Doctor's orders. Get some sleep, and you'll feel better."
Niriz slid off the hospital bed, thanked the man and exited. His head hurt so bad it felt blinding. He walked to the turbolift, waited for the team of medics to exit, and keyed for the right floor.
It was a short trip, and when the turbolift's door opened the halls were almost deserted. Niriz sighed in relief. He couldn't stand seeing the Admiral again.
When he got to his quarters he dimed the lights, locked the door and laid down on his bunk. He placed his hand over head and tried to sleep.
"Dagon, are you in there?"
The voice came shortly afterwards.
"Dagon, its Voss. We need to talk."
Niriz groaned and rolled over.
"Fine, I'm coming."
He rubbed his head again and opened the door. Parck stepped in, allowing a shock of light to enter Niriz's room.
Niriz shielded his eyes, and stumbled back over to his bed. Parck watched him and fliped on the room light.
"Good lord man, shut that off!" Niriz shouted at him. Parck did so, grimacing.
"What happened to you?" Parck asked him.
"I've run out of my allotment of pain killers, and the doctor won't give me any more. What is it that you wanted?" He said, lying back down and placing his hand over his eyes.
"Dagon, I've been contacted by the Emperor."
Niriz shot up, far too quickly and had to lie down again.
"What?" Niriz demanded.
Parck shrugged. "At least I assume it was him. I don't know who else it could have been."
"Voss, you're not making any sense. Start at the beginning."
Parck sighed, and sat down in a chair next to the bed.
"I was on the bridge. I had just been given the daily report when I saw we were on the wrong course. I was about to ask helm to adjust our course when I felt my thoughts leave me. My head was empty, and I was pinned to my chair. And all I could hear was one word: No."
Niriz gulped hard.
"What did you do?"
"I thanked the Lieutenant, and left immediately to see you."
Niriz sighed in relief.
"Dagon, what's going on?"
Niriz shrugged fractionally.
"Perhaps the Admiral changed courses without informing us," He offered.
Parck stood up. "Keep resting Dagon, and you should feel better."
Niriz sat up. "Where are you going?"
"The Admiral. I need answers."
With that he left. Niriz jumped out of bed to catch him, but he was already gone. Niriz rushed out the door, when suddenly his mind went blank. He crashed to the floor, and screamed out in pain and fear. Then everything went silent, and he could only hear one thing; one word.
"Now."
When the voice left, Niriz pulled himself up and hit the intercom button on the wall.
"Niriz to the bridge," He said, his voice cold.
"Bridge here, Captain."
"Lieutenant, is the Admiral's personal Stormtrooper units still on leave?"
"Uh, let me check that sir." A few moments went by. "Yes sir. Shall I take them off?"
Niriz shook his head. "No. Order another unit down to his quarters, though. Lieutenant," Niriz added almost as an after though, "Make sure they're new to the Admonitor."
If the Lieutenant questioned his orders, he didn't say.
"Yes sir, immediately."
Niriz strapped on his hand blaster, and calmly walked towards the turbolift. When he climbed inside, he keyed it for the Admirals quarters.
He slowly noticed that his head was no longer in any pain.
