Chapter 21

Palpatine replied to Thrawn's challenge the next day. Apparently, he still thought he could convince Thrawn to join him. Or, more likely, all this shocked and bewildered astonishment was merely intended to fool the various other audiences who would see the transmission.

"My dear Grand Admiral Thrawn, I am shocked that someone tried to kill you, but it most definitely was not me. I have been regaining my strength after Vader so cruelly betrayed me, and am most pleased with your work in beating back the Rebellion. I am appalled that you think I was was at the heart of the assassination plot. While Droga did work for me once, he was always rather unstable and I haven't heard from him since Endor. I imagine the Rebels suborned him into joining them. After your experiences with the Noghri, I'm sure you are familiar with the syndrome. As for the 'fleet of robotic ships designed to tear the surfaces off inhabited planets', surely you aren't getting legitimate mining equipment intended for large asteroids confused with super weapons again, are you? I fear your recent injuries may have damaged your mind, which must be quite devastating for such a brilliant man as yourself. Nevertheless, despite your most unjust accusations, I am willing to accept you back into my service. However, I will not brook defiance. Do not think you can play Emperor, Thrawn. Try it without the Force to guide you and you will fall. I do not threaten, I merely foretell.

His Imperial Majesty, Palpatine."

"Somehow, I think not." Thrawn commented.

After a few minutes of waiting, the technicians managed to get a line open into the Imperial Palace on Byss. Palpatine answered.

He smiled at Thrawn. The smile somehow reminded Thrawn of daggers and other lethal weapons. "It is good to see you again, Admiral. I trust you have seen the wisdom of my petition, then?"

"Hardly," Thrawn replied. "I'm afraid Droga's testimony disagrees strongly with yours. He is most firmly of the opinion that you ordered him to assassinate me. No Rebels involved anywhere, as far as I can see."

"I told you, Droga is insane!" said Palpatine angrily.

"Insane or sane, he clearly believed you were the one ordering the attempt, and believed it on the evidence of your Force abilities. There are few Rebels around who could fake such a thing, and all of them believed at the time that you were dead."

"So," Palpatine said slowly, "I see that you have no intention of rejoining me. You have fallen in love with power, Thrawn, and it will destroy you. You are a master militarist yes, but I can manipulate the Force, and bend all the minds of the galaxy to my will. When all your supporters flock to my banner, who will fight for you then? Even you need an army to win your battles."

"You and I both know you lack the power to bend all the minds in the galaxy to your will, and if you try you will destroy yourself." Thrawn replied. "The mask you used to make others serve you willingly is broken, and all the Force power in the universe will not make it whole again. Give it up before this delusion gets you killed – again."

"Delusion! You are the one who is deluded! I will make you crawl, Thrawn, a broken-minded thing whose only wish is to die, but who lives to serve my every whim. Then you will see my power! All of you will see my power, you Forceblind slaves!" Beads of spittle frothed at the corners of Palpatine's mouth, and crackles of electricity puffed his thin hair until it resembled a lightning-riddled halo.

The connection shut off. Thrawn twitched slightly, then smiled. "Not a side of himself the Emperor usually wishes to show in public," he observed. "It tends not to endear him to the citizenry."

"We wait for him to make the first move." Pellaeon said, making an educated guess at Thrawn's strategy.

"Yes." Thrawn said simply. "I have made preparations."

- - - - - - -

Two hours later, an unexpected visitor arrived at the Chimaera. She was, however, a welcome visitor. "Mara Jade. How nice to make your acquaintance once more." Thrawn said, gesturing to Mara that she should sit.

"And you. But I didn't come here for small talk. Luke's been captured by the Emperor's clone." Mara announced.

"Ah," said Thrawn. "I take it you wish me to do something about this?"

"I thought you might wish to avoid the Emperor's clone getting his hands on a potential Vader," Mara replied.

Thrawn raised his eyebrows slightly. "A potential Vader. However, Luke has proven admirably resistant to turning in the past. Why should he suddenly change that pattern now?"

Mara's face darkened slightly, but her frustration did not show in her voice. "Because he is held captive long-term. Maybe you don't know the sorts of pressures the Emperor brought to bear on captive Jedi, but I do. Luke will either be dead, mindless, or deep in the dark side following Palpatine if something isn't done about it soon. The Rebels can't get him out. You can."

"His fate is important to you." Thrawn noted.

Mara twitched slightly. "If anyone's going to kill him, I sort of promised him it would be me. I don't want some jumped-up clone of Palpatine doing it."

"Really."

"Ok," Mara flushed. "Maybe I've given up on wanting him dead. I like Luke, and he's a decent man who doesn't deserve to be turned into a psychopathic cyborg."

Thrawn nodded. "I agree with you that I don't want to see another Darth Vader in the hands of any Palpatine clone. What were hoping that I would do about it? Byss is not an easy place to get into, even for me."

"I know you have people working for you on Byss. You must, to have the information that you do," Mara said, leaning forward slightly.

"If I do, why would I risk them to rescue Luke?" Thrawn replied. "Any action other than information-gathering on their part is likely to get them killed, and I cannot afford to be blind and deaf in Palpatine's hideaway."

"If they can get me in, I'll do the rest myself. I'm not asking them to rescue Luke. I don't even have to know who they are, and what I don't know, I can't betray if I am captured."

"Do you honestly think you are capable of rescuing Luke by yourself?" asked Thrawn.

"I could use some help, but I'll try it alone if I have to," Mara replied.

"Interesting. I may be able to find you that help, if you would be willing to bring Luke and his companion here after you rescue them."

"To the Chimaera?" Mara looked startled. "What do you intend to do with him?"

"Offer him a job." Thrawn chuckled inwardly at the expression on Mara's face, but remained outwardly impassive. "A chance to work against the Palpatine clone more effectively than he can from within the New Republic. No turning to the Dark Side is required or desired. And, once the Clone's threat is over, an offer of safe conduct back to New Republic lines if he does not wish to work with me any longer. I also extend that same offer to you. My personal word of honour on it."

"I'm sorry Thrawn, but it is kind of hard for me to trust your word of honour after what you did to me when I was working for Karrde," Mara said.

"If we are going to trade acrimonious comments on each other's trustworthiness, I probably ought to mention that Karrde lied to me about not having seen Luke Skywalker when Skywalker was at that point sitting in his prison, well before I ever lied to you or Karrde. That lie has been paid for by my later one. Shall we call the lies off before they prevent us from doing what we both desire, namely, rescuing Luke from the Palpatine clone? I would rather work with you without having to fear your betrayal, and I will not betray you again, if you do not betray me."

Mara nodded. "It's a deal."

Good! She will keep her word once given, now. I can stop watching my back for her. Thrawn relaxed subtly. Mara will come round to my point of view, given time and the impetus of the mad clone of her former master. She will make a valuable ally.

The argument over, they settled down to plan the details of the rescue.

- - - - - - -

Luke looked up as the door opened. "Come," The unseen figure beyond the door said. Luke came.