CHAPTER 42

The Plan

Steadfast – 2 BBY

Nara did her best to hold back her grim, almost hysterical laughter. This…well…it was just too good…too predictable.

Too disastrous it had to have been planned out.

Admiral Ar'alani, however, wasn't laughing.

"I don't see what the problem is," she said, her facial muscles still as tense as they seemed when she returned to her office. When the Admiral was like this, Nara recalled, arguing was a forgone conclusion, and the best she could do was simply nod her head and do what she was told. Only now, however, Nara wasn't under her command anymore…and what the Admiral was asking was an absolute matter of life and death.

"The Empire and I…well…" Nara began, keeping her voice down as she conversed in close with the Admiral, as not to disturb Un'hee and Vah'nya. "I may or may not be on their wanted list."

Ar'alani's eyes sunk as they eventually rolled. "Of course you are. Have you ever tried making friends for a change?"

"Oh I made plenty of those…just uh…the Empire…" she shrugged. "They don't like blue skins very much."

"Why would they when you're our example?" Ar'alani quipped, but it hardly felt like a joke. "I instructed Mitth'raw'nuruodo to ensure your survival in any capacity he could when he left the Ascendancy…but it seems my request fell upon deaf ears."

Nara suppressed a grimace, remembering what happened on Azure. "He's…actually done his best, to be honest. I can't say I've made it easy for him."

"I imagine not," she said, letting her eyes fixate back on her. "If you cannot join me, then I suppose Lieutenant Vanto will have to suffice. Instead I ask that you remain here to watch over Vah'nya and Un'hee while they continue."

Nara looked back to the two girls, seeing that they were both still tightly pressed against one another, their hands clasped together. Vah'nya looked as if she was searching for something, her eyes still in movement despite her eyelids remaining shut…while Un'hee was looking again like the scared little girl she found on that waystation.

"What are they doing?" Nara asked.

Ar'alani didn't answer immediately, straightening herself out. "That I cannot tell you."

Great.

"Fine," she said. "I'll just stand here and…watch…I guess."

"That would be appreciated," Ar'alani said, some of her internal annoyance dissipating. "I must meet with your Imperial enemies…and do my best to not make them my own."

"You're definitely a better smooth talker than I am. You'll be fine."

Ar'alani didn't look amused. "Smooth talking doesn't often have much of an effect on prejudice."


Chimaera – 2 BBY

Nerah couldn't stop herself from adjusting her hair every few seconds as the chiss shuttle came in for a landing in the Chimaera's hangar bay. She'd tried to use her forearm gauntlets as a pseudo mirror, only to find the composite material was created specifically to limit reflection and enhance stealth…leaving her looking stupid in front of Thrawn's pair of death troopers.

Part of her winced. How was she supposed to talk to Eli with all these eyes around her? Didn't they think he was a deserter anyhow? What the hell was Thrawn thinking by bringing them? Surely she was all the security he needed.

Get your head out of the gutter! You're here to work.

Right. She needed to stop playing with her hair and focus on her task. She had a job to do, and she'd be damned if she did it poorly.

The engines to the shuttle powered down, and the loading ramp lowered. First came the ever-eloquent Admiral Ar'alani, her perfect posture making the most of her above average height for a female of their species. Her eyes looked rigid, but seemed to soften as soon as they met Thrawn's…and then harden again once they met hers. Nerah hardly understood why…but had given up trying to understand the strange woman a long time ago. She'd always been that way to her, whether it was natural distaste or something else internal, she hardly cared anymore. Ar'alani had always preferred her sister over her…the terrorist…the traitor.

Her eyes turned longing as only a contingent of guards followed her out…but her concerns were levied mere moments later.

Eli…

He was here…he was really here, standing right in front of her, wearing the black uniform of an officer of the Chiss Ascendancy. All she wanted to do was run up to him and crush the man in a tight hug…looking older in all the best ways she could think of.

But the death troopers…and Thrawn…and Ar'alani.

"Admiral Ar'alani," Thrawn greeted, his tone as cool as always. "It's good to see you again."

The woman kept her own neutral, even if she looked like she had been through hell recently. "And you, Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo. I trust you are well?"

"I am," Thrawn inclined his head. "I am sure you remember Commander Nerah."

Nerah felt herself want to naturally run and hide once Ar'alani turned to her formally, but instead clenched her teeth together and inclined her head.

"Of course," Ar'alani said. "Congratulations on your promotion."

"Thank you, Admiral," Nerah straightened once more, trying to steal a look to Eli, only to find that his eyes were locked on Thrawn…and not her. Didn't he understand how much she'd missed him…how lonely she had been since he departed for wild space? Wasn't he happy to see her too?

"Good day, Lieutenant Vanto," Thrawn greeted, before pulling his eyes away from the man standing at attention. Nerah watched him frown slightly, but seemed to immediately hide it as best he could.

Well…served him right. If Eli wasn't going to give her a good greeting, then he deserved to be let down by the one Thrawn gave him.

No…stop it.

Nerah winced. That was…childish…and it only became worse as she looked up to see him flash her a small enough smile to not draw attention. She did her best to give him one back, before they were both forced to stiffen.

"I imagine you would like to investigate the waystation we discovered nearby," Ar'alani guessed, snapping Nerah's mind back where it should be. Right…grysks now, Eli later.

"Only minimally," Thrawn said. "Just to confirm a few theories, if you would allow my men to search the base."

Ar'alani inclined her head. "I would. I have already dispatched my forces to analyze the grysk wreckage. The base is yours. I can accompany you, if you wish."

"That would be most acceptable," Thrawn nodded, and then turned to Nerah. "Commander, you will escort us."

"Yes sir," she stiffened properly, knowing better than to be less formal in front of a "foreign" power, turning to Ar'alani. "If you would follow me, Admiral. We can depart."


Eli wasn't prepared for the rather gruesome scene waiting for them on the grysk waystation, especially the countless amounts of alien bodies he could no longer identify, either because of mutilation or simple unfamiliarity. The smell was rancid, but his nose had shielded that part away for now, even if his eyes weren't so lucky. Inside the room where he, Nerah, Thrawn and Ar'alani had secluded themselves in, which appeared to be the command center, the scene was less horrific…aside from the smashed head still attached to its body sprawled out on the floor.

"My men did not have time to remove all the bodies," Ar'alani said, while Nerah checked every corner with her rifle raised. "I apologize for the mess."

Nerah finished her check and held her rifle over her chest. "Clear."

"Thank you, Commander," Thrawn tipped his head…the man he had sacrificed everything for, the man who had taught him everything he knew.

The man who gave him nothing more than 'Good day, Lieutenant' after years apart at the Admiral's own request. Part of him figured it was just the fact that time was short at the moment, and Thrawn couldn't waste it engaging in platitudes…but the sting was still evident, and undeniable.

At least Nerah, who he had never seen so antsy in the years he had known her, seemed happy to see him.

"Did the grysks do this?" Nerah asked, stepping over the pool of foreign blood under her boots. "Why not just blow the base like they usually do?"

Ar'alani turned to Eli, prompting him to answer Nerah's question. "We think the grysks had a malfunction with their self-destruct protocol, and instead had to kill everyone by hand to achieve the same effect. The computers are all wiped clean, so there is no record of what actually occurred here…but my guess is this base was not built by the grysks, and was instead taken recently."

Thrawn nodded slowly as he completed his scan. "I agree. By any chance, did you come across trace levels of Venisium in your analysis?"

Eli's eyes widened, but still looked to Ar'alani before speaking, who nodded for him to continue. "Yes…we were wondering who had put it there, but had no theories. The Ascendancy has no knowledge of it."

Now Nerah and Thrawn traded a glance, and Eli had the odd feeling it was more than just coincidence the Steadfast and Chimaera had crossed paths.

"Commander, order a search for possible cargo containing Venisium," Thrawn directed, prompting Nerah to step aside and key her earpiece, now speaking Basic instead of Cheunh. He almost smiled to himself…her fluency with Basic had come such a long way from where it was when he first met her, and a bit of pride welled up with his chest. Her native accent was completely gone, however…and she almost sounded like a different person now. If it weren't for her natural undertones, he might not have recognized her without her face.

"Do you have a theory you would like to share?" Ar'alani asked, raising a brow at Thrawn.

He nodded. "Yes…and if you wouldn't mind, I would like to take advantage of Lieutenant Eli Vanto's skills with numbers to clarify the details."

"I do not at the moment, although presently I anticipate the grysks will make one last assault to obliterate this waystation," she said.

"I don't think so," Thrawn disagreed, drawing Ar'alani's frown. "If subversion within Imperial space is their goal, then they would not want to bring in a large enough force to attack two dreadnaughts at once, lest they draw the eyes of the Emperor. The fact that one of their warships initiated its self-destruct sequence suggests they have given up on this sector, and are instead pulling back to a more fortified position."

"True…they would have fled otherwise, with the other," Ar'alani stroked her chin in thought. "Also the amount of time we've spent here probably gives them the assumption that we have already claimed what they hoped to keep from us, and would now be coming up with a plan to prevent us from returning to friendly space."

Eli remained silent, unsure as to how Ar'alani wanted to reveal everything to Thrawn…or if she did at all. He wasn't sure where the two currently stood in terms of odds with each other, but he'd already made the inference that they had known each other a long time, perhaps far longer than even Eli could guess.

"If you are referring to the Venisium, I do not believe the grysks have any idea what they are stealing, nor do they have any interest, so that is another reason I question the chance of another assault," Thrawn said. "Perhaps more will be revealed once our investigation is complete."

Ar'alani looked around the room, seemingly to scan for unwanted ears, not that any Imperial would know what they were saying anyhow. "There was one thing we found…or more specifically…someone found."

Thrawn watched her studiously. "Very well. Continue."

"This cannot leave this room," she said firmly, glaring Eli's way just as Nerah returned from her corner. "The grysks captured a navigator. We have her aboard the Steadfast, and are currently trying to gleam any insight on the grysk operations here. Her mind however…is fragile, and her rescuer is the only person she will speak to."

"I see," Thrawn cocked his head. "Who is her rescuer?"

Ar'alani abruptly turned fierce, a protectiveness to her voice. "She is under my protection. You cannot have her, regardless of her relationship with your Empire."

Eli winced, but Thrawn hardly moved, only letting his head tilt back straight. "Ah…Vigan'ara, I presume. Not to worry. I am su—"

"Where is she?" Nerah arched forward, her eyes blazing with rage as she bared her teeth towards Ar'alani, her fist tightly around the foregrip of her blaster. "You can't trust her!"

"I will do as I wish, Commander," Ar'alani spat back with equal fervor. "And you will never speak to me that way again."

"I don't take orders from you anymore, Admiral," Nerah pointed with a rigid finger.

"You take orders from me, however," Thrawn interjected, and Eli immediately watched Nerah's expression soften as soon as she looked back to him. "And you will regard her words as if they were my own. Understood?"

Nerah swallowed, and bowed her head. "Y-yes sir. I understand."

Ar'alani still held her fierce glare towards Nerah, and Eli felt a need to pull the burden from her…even if he could only guess why the woman had reacted so uncharacteristically. She'd shown signs of an inability to control her emotions when at a fever pitch, but it was never so bad that she shouted down an Admiral. What was it about Nara that could possibly make her react such a way? She seemed nice enough.

Then again…Nara did look almost exactly like her. They applied their highlights and cosmetics a different way, and Nara had small red facial tattoos on her chin and both sides of her temple…but the facial structure, the eyes…they were the same.

House Vigan.

They were sisters…twin sisters…they had to be. Perhaps Nerah's anger with her mention was why she had never told him she had one in the first place.

He cleared his throat. "Perhaps, Grand Admiral, I can begin the analysis of your data aboard the Chimaera, if I am no longer needed here."

Thrawn nodded. "An excellent suggestion. Commander, you will escort Lieutenant Vanto to the Chimaera and set him to work…and you will stay there. Understood?"

Nerah's cheeks were still mildly purple against her blue skin with embarrassment, but she nodded. "Understood."

With her head low, she might as well have tip toed to him, before straightening. "Lieutenant…if you would…follow me," she beckoned, taking the lead through the doorway, and leaving Thrawn and Ar'alani behind. Once they were beyond the death trooper guards and nearing the hangar bay, he watched her let out a sigh of relief.

"That was…embarrassing," she said, falling into pace beside him instead of in front. "I'm sorry you had to see that…it won't happen again."

Eli felt for her, offering her a shrug. "I've heard siblings can get under your skin…but I wouldn't know that for sure."

Nerah chuckled slightly, straightening even more. "Oh, you have no idea."

Silence dominated the two of them until the loading ramp began to lower into the shuttle, and that's when Eli watched her finally smile. "It's…really good to see you again, Eli."

He felt his cheeks warm slightly in her presence, but felt the mutual feeling of being among a true, good-natured friend. "Ah…you too Nerah. You too."


Kom'rk-class Fighter – 2 BBY

"Hey kiddo! Heard you were going to Dathomir, so we decided to leave a little message for you. Just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you every day, no matter how far apart we may seem. You can go all the way! Nothing is stopping you other than yourself, and I'll make sure the Empire stays out of your nose. Stay safe…and ni kar'taylir darasuum gar."

"I love you too," Alhara said, once the recording of her father finished, his hologram fading and morphing into her mother…making her wrinkle her nose. Trilla looked uncomfortable, unable to look towards the camera as she began to speak, dressed in some sort of black, caped outfit with highlights of gold.

"Alhara…I know you and I…had a troubled start. I…didn't understand why you thought the way you did…and looking back, I realize I might've been somewhat of a rubbish mother. I'm not sure if it matters to you anymore…but I'd like to say I'm sorry. I should've been more open, understanding—"

Alhara grumbled to herself, speeding up the recording.

"—something about me I should've told you a long time ago. I know I'm not perfect. I never have been…but Alhara…when I held you for the first time, I—"

She sped it up again, now showing Trilla finally looking her way.

"I love you, Alhara, more than you could ever understand. Please…be safe," she said, keying off the recording.

"Little late to say that now," she rolled her eyes, but was startled as another recording appeared…this one of her sister, Katara. She looked taller than she remembered, and as she began to speak, her voice was in a much deeper tone.

"Hello Alhara," Katara waved, and then clasped her hands together in a somewhat nervous pose. "It's your sister! I know I might look a little different…Mama said that might be the case to you…b-but anyway, how are you? Hope you're doing great…learning how to…do the Mandalorian thing!" she giggled with embarrassment, and her ignorance brought a small smile to Alhara's face. "I've been learning things too…oh! I also built my lightsaber!"

She revealed a crude, yet symmetric hilt, and ignited it in a purple glow.

"Ta-daaaa! Isn't it great?! Yesterday I was able to duel Mama for the first time! It was great! She beat me…but hey! Still learning, remember? Just like you! Learning, learning, learning!"

Alhara cringed, but at the same time, Katara seemed to have the same reaction, making her laugh. Her sister laughed as well, to her surprise, giving her a warm feeling she wasn't prepared for…making her pull her thumb off the fast forward key.

"I can't wait to see your armor! Are you going to paint the little eye thingies on your forehead? Dad says that's some kind of owl…but I found that lame. Oh! I know! You should do an eagle…no, no! How about a wasp? I can do it for you!"

Alhara smiled. "I think I'll do it myself, Katara."

Someone called in the background, drawing her eyes away for a moment…before letting her head droop. "Ugh…more training. Please tell me you don't get any breaks either?"

Alhara shook her head. "Nope."

Katara finally seemed to calm down, letting her hands fall behind her back as she gave her one last warm smile. "I miss you, little sister, but I know you're doing great things! If you need anything…you know how to get my attention. The Force is with you too, no matter how weak you might think it is…and your big sister is always looking out for you!"

She paused, looking a little sad, but nodded. "Okay…really have to go this time. I miss you Alhara…bye!"

"I miss you too…" Alhara sighed, just as the recording finished, and no other figure appeared from the disk. Never in her life did she think she really loved her big, bossy, mean older sister…but two years away from her, part of her missed that. She loved spending time with Bo Katan and Nara…but they were so much older than her, and it was hard to ever relate to the problems they faced. She had tried as best she could…but there was so much she didn't understand, so much she still had to learn, and sometimes they made her feel so insignificant. With Katara, and just in that brief moment of seeing her, she felt like she wasn't alone in becoming an adult…

She missed her so much…so much, in fact, she felt the tears well up under her eyes. Picking up the recording, she played it again, this time trying to gleam anything about her sister that she missed…laughing at her slip-ups and clumsiness, clapping when she revealed her lightsaber.

Alhara had become so entranced, she never noticed Bo Katan take a seat beside her on her cot until she was pulling her in for an embrace.

"It's okay to miss your sister," Bo Katan said, resting her chin on the girl's head. "I'm glad your family still means something to you."

Alhara sniffed, not letting herself sob as she pulled herself away, no longer needing the hug. "I'm sorry you didn't get to save yours."

Bo Katan nodded. "Thanks…but that's long over now. Best thing I can do is make sure you don't make the same mistake."

The girl smiled back, feeling much better with Bo Katan here. "How do you think Nara is doing?"

Bo Katan snorted. "Knowing her, probably making a mess of things…but coming up with a devious way to make it all work."

Alhara chuckled. "Yeah…that sounds like her."


Steadfast – 2 BBY

"You're sure you can't tell me anything?" Nara asked, trying to give Senior Captain Khresh her most innocent and disarming face, while also propping her hips in somewhat of a suggestive position. Usually, with humans anyway, that kind of stance and demeanor had men falling to her knees before her…not literally, but still in a similar fashion. Khresh, however, seemed completely unaffected, and it made her wonder if she had lost her spunk after joining Bo Katan.

Perhaps that would explain why she was still single.

"This is a classified military operation," Khresh said scornfully as he stood stalwart between her and the bridge. "Perhaps if you had stayed with the Ascendancy instead of running away…I might've been able to accommodate you."

Nara felt herself straighten as her brow twitched. "I didn't run away, I—"

"Oh, my apologies," he bowed, his tone oozing with conceit. "You still wear the Ascendancy signate over your right collarbone plate, so you never ran in spirit."

Nara scoffed. "If I'm a deserter, as you claim, then why am I even on this ship? Deserters aren't executed, of course, but they are definitely never allowed on another Defense Fleet vessel again."

Khresh betrayed nothing, not budging. "I never said you were a deserter."

"You were working your way around to it," Nara crossed her arms skeptically. "How long have you been working with Ar'alani?"

Khresh's stoic expression calmly morphed into a glare. "That's none of your concern."

Nara chuckled to herself. "Not long enough, obviously."

Luckily for Khresh, and perhaps the rest of the bridge, the command turbolift opened, and out stepped Ar'alani…followed by Thrawn.

Oh, fuck me.

"Stand down, Senior Captain," Ar'alani said. "You may return to your station."

Khresh stiffened, flashing Nara a slight glare, and then returned to his post on the bridge. Stuffed shirt drone…always trying to be the good boy. Nara didn't mind nice men, but good men got on her nerves.

"I ordered you to remain with Vah'nya and Un'hee," Ar'alani hissed through her teeth, just as Nara turned to face her.

Nara shrugged. "They finished whatever…thing they were doing, so I got bored. Decided to make some friends, just like you suggested."

"I can see that," Ar'alani said, still scowling at her. "You may not be under my command, but aboard my ship, I still expect you to follow my orders."

Had it had been anyone else, that explanation wouldn't have flown, but Ar'alani had been looking out for her since she was barely ten years old, just finished with puberty and basic academy. By now, listening to her commands was almost natural, even if she no longer had the Commander bars over her chest.

"Good day, Vigan'ara," Thrawn greeted in Cheunh, which sounded somewhat awkward after hearing him only speak Basic for so long. "A pleasure to see you again."

"Wish it was mutual," Nara huffed. "Did you know he had a sharpshooter almost take my head off?"

Ar'alani's teeth bore for a moment, her head creaking to Thrawn in an ominous fashion.

"You did what?!"

"A necessary method to maintain her…cover," he said calmly. "It was either that, or take her in, where her safety would've been far less under my control."

Nara bit her lip. She'd already known that, but it was at least good to hear Thrawn say it out loud. He may be sneaky, but he never told a lie, only hid the truth within his words…just like when he told her he still believed her important to the Ascendancy. The only thing that irked her was the fact that Thrawn called it her 'cover'…which was completely inaccurate.

Or it should be…no…it was.

"We shall speak of this another time," Ar'alani withdrew her teeth, taking a breath. "Now, let us check on the navigators Nara decided to leave alone."

Nara grimaced. How far could they have gotten?


Two chiss navigators sit beside one another against Ar'alani's memory wall. One, the younger, lies asleep in the other's arms, this one much older…perhaps even twice as much. The child's eyes remain motionless behind her lids, her lips loose, holding utter exhaustion. The adult's eyes are limp, her throat working as she breathes calmly and deeply.

"It was…taxing," Vah'nya said. Her voice holds weariness…perhaps…dread. "But I was able to do it."

"Is she still herself?" Ar'alani's voice holds concern, her eyes wider than at their usual rest.

"Yes," Vah'nya nodded. "She is just very tired, and needs time to rest."

Ar'alani turns to Nara, whose resolve is much more stable. Her lips tighten and brow slants downward, holding perhaps ignorance, yet concern for the girl.

"Nara, take Un'hee back to the Navigator suite," Ar'alani's voice holds calm demand, perhaps expecting the order to be followed, but not to its fullest. "Remain there until I call for you again."

Nara's expression holds quiet distain, but inclines her head. "Yes ma'am."

Nara gently takes Un'hee's sleeping form from Vah'nya's arms, and carries her out of Ar'alani's office, leaving only Thrawn, Ar'alani and Vah'nya within the room.

"You do not wish to reveal certain Chiss secrets to Nara," Thrawn said.

Ar'alani's eyes tighten into a glare, holding a feeling of presumptuousness. "I trust her more than I trust you in some ways, Mitth'raw'nuruodo," her voice holds fresh irritation. "Do not think yourself privileged."

"Understood, I was merely surprised you did not allow her to stay."

The irritation deepens. "I did not ask you here to criticize my management of secrets and personnel. As you know, Nara's place is important to the Ascendancy and its future, as is yours and Vigan'era'hrorra's…but I am still beholden to my duties as an Admiral of the Expansionary Defense Fleet. I am sure you can understand that."

"I can," Thrawn said.

"Good," Ar'alani's head turns towards Vah'nya, whose eyes have straightened, her neck more loose, her nostrils even. "Navigator Vah'nya, this is Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo, who is currently in service to the Galactic Empire. You may speak as freely to him as you do to me."

Vah'nya regards Thrawn, her expression holding intrigue, but not inquisitive. "Hello. Lieutenant Eli has told me much about you."

"He was my student," Thrawn said. "I hope he has been of use to the Ascendancy."

Ar'alani's eyes turn towards Thrawn. "He has, but we do not have time for platitudes. Navigator, you must tell me if you believe you can lead us to the grysk forward base."

Vah'nya's eyes turn downwards, her lips curling in the same direction. "I…think I can, Admiral…but…" Her voice holds hesitation, once again returning with fresh dread. "The things within Un'hee's mind…"

"I am afraid I do not understand," Thrawn admitted. "I was not aware sky walkers were able to share their memories."

Ar'alani's lips tighten. "Nor should you be."

"Is it exclusive to those who hold Second Sight?"

Ar'alani's expression now holds mild surprise, before immediately disposing of it. "Unfortunately, I cannot tell you whether you are right or wrong…and you should not know this," Her lips tighten further, her expression now holding defeat. "But what I can say is that Vah'nya has glimpsed into Un'hee's mind, and has indeed shared some of her memories. With luck, Vah'nya will now be able to remember how to navigate the Steadfast to reach the grysk forward base."

"I see," Thrawn said. "Navigator?"

Vah'nya's throat constricts, before nodding her head, rising back to her feet. "I can, yes."

"Very good. Admiral Ar'alani…I must request she be brought aboard the Chimaera in order to lead us to our enemies."

Ar'alani's expression holds restrained, yet intense rage, her voice holds absolute refusal. "Absolutely not!" Ar'alani spat. "You cannot take her!"

"I must," Thrawn insisted. "I will not be able to take the Chimaera to the grysk base otherwise."

"You have your own navigational system!"

"One that cannot interpret the memories of a living being," Thrawn argued. "The Steadfast, at the moment, is otherwise engaged with analyzing the debris from the destroyed grysk warship, and we do not have time to execute both tasks effectively unless Vah'nya is allowed to guide the Chimaera. It is also the vessel more prepared to engage such a threat."

Ar'alani's expression now holds insult, with an undertone of stubbornness. "Your doubt in my own preparedness is uncharacteristic of you, Thrawn. Regardless, she stays aboard the Steadfast…with me!"

"The more time we spend waiting, the more time the grysks have to prepare for our arrival. One ship, at the moment, should be enough, but not if we wait any longer. I must take Vah'nya aboard. She will be treated quite eloquently."

"You know how I feel about this," Ar'alani's voice holds caution…perhaps distant warning, but her expression now softens with understanding…and defeat. "But…you make a compelling point. Very well…I shall allow—"

"No!" Vah'nya protested. Her voice holds distinct fear. "Admiral, please don't leave me with strangers…not alone."

"Lieutenant Eli will be there," Ar'alani promised.

"Presently, yes, but he may be required to engage in a separate task that will require him to leave the Chimaera," Thrawn said.

"Admiral, please!" Vah'nya begged.

"There is no one else," Ar'alani's voice holds slight sorrow, while Vah'nya's slowly turns to hope.

"Couldn't you come aboard…with me?"

"Me? B-but I'm needed here, on the Steadfast."

"The Steadfast is merely collecting data. That hardly requires your presence," Thrawn argued.

Ar'alani's eyes narrow, her nostrils inflating, before shaking her head. "And if there is another attack?"

"There will not, and in any case, I am sure your first officer would be more than capable of fending it off, especially if we have the grysks' full attention."

Ar'alani turns towards Thrawn fully. "Perhaps, but you are forgetting one crucial point. I did not ask for Nara to remain simply because she was the one who had found Un'hee…but because her skills may prove vital in a possible attack upon a grysk encampment. We will need her to assist us, but if she remains here, then she is, in crude terms, a resource I am not willing to waste."

"She can be brought aboard as well," Thrawn suggested.

"Neither do I approve of her spending the journey in your brig," she spat. Her voice holds protectiveness.

"She will not."

"How? If she is an enemy of the Empire, as you say, then what is stopping your officers, not to mention Nerah, from shooting her on sight…even more…what's to stop them from accusing you of treason?"

"Some will accuse me of treason regardless, Admiral, for merely bringing you aboard," Thrawn said. "And you needn't worry about Nerah. She will obey my commands without question regardless. Furthermore, no one in the Empire has seen Nara's true face before. She could dress as nothing more than another one of your marines, and none would be the wiser. She would not be allowed to speak Basic, of course, but could pose as Vah'nya's caretaker."

Ar'alani's eyes turn weary. "I suppose they would not know that Vah'nya is too old for a caretaker…but are you certain they do not know her face?"

"Yes. You underestimate her ability to hide herself."

"Kindly do not lecture me on the extent of Nara's training," Ar'alani bit back. "And I will only approve of this if she is comfortable with it. If not…I may be forced to send her back on her way to fulfill our agreement."

"I believe she would relish the challenge."

Ar'alani's expression holds grim amusement as she emits a snort. "Clearly, Mitth'raw'nuruodo, you do not know her as well as I."


Nara had been quite convinced Ar'alani was about as sane as they come, even if she did go a little crazy during battle situations at times. She'd certainly watched out for her for long enough.

Today, she felt that assumption crack slightly.

"Let me get this straight," Nara pointed. "You want me to follow you onto a ship full of Imperial officers who already want to kill me…without my armor?"

Ar'alani also never told jokes, so that was already out of the question. "I told Thrawn I would allow you to leave now if this proved too uncomfortable for you."

Too uncomfortable? That was the understatement of the millennium, not to mention having to pretend to not understand Basic, which was far easier said than done. The language had become virtually her natural tongue by now, and she couldn't imagine she'd be able to keep up the illusion forever.

Even so…she was pretty sure the Empire didn't know what she looked like, and if she just went by a different name, she'd just be another blue skinned freak like Vah'nya, Thrawn, Ar'alani and her sister.

Oh, and right, her sister definitely knew what she looked like, and also definitely wanted to kill her.

"I've never been good at cloak and dagger, Admiral. Can't you just send me on a solo scouting mission or something?" Nara suggested, flashing an apologetic look to Vah'nya, who watched just behind with her elbow clasped in her hand. She looked more nervous than Nara currently felt at the moment…which made her think. Ar'alani and Vah'nya would be taking a risk to by coming aboard, and she was best equipped to protect them both should things go sour. It would be messy…very messy, and without beskar, probably virtually impossible, but she'd try regardless. She owed the Admiral that much.

"There are no other leads at the moment, Nara," Ar'alani said. "Unless we abandon this wreckage here…something I'd rather not do…the Chimaera is the only ship in position to launch the attack we need. This is a risk we have to take to get the most out of this operation that I've had months in the making."

"Months in the making that Thrawn had to barge in on," Nara pointed out, drawing Ar'alani's eyes down in a look of grim agreement.

"Yes…but that, like all things, is in the past now. This is our reality," Ar'alani reasoned, spouting a line she had heard many times before. "Can I count on you to help us weather this storm?"

Ar'alani was giving her a choice, which was a rare commodity, even for her, but Nara felt like there wasn't much of one. If she turned away, she'd be turning her back on the Admiral that had saved her from her father, saved her from a fate that had plagued her dreams for so many of her young years. The price, of course, had been her own sister, who would be waiting for her there, and had every right to turn her in and have her executed. That would mean she would never see Bo Katan or Alhara again, never have the chance to watch the woman wield the Darksaber they had fought so hard to retrieve…and never see the little girl she treated like her own daughter grow old and strong.

But the reality was, this kind of test would always be there; the test of choosing between the Ascendancy and Mandalore, a test Thrawn was now undergoing between the former and his precious Empire. She'd seen what the grysks can do…seen how aliens killed themselves virtually at will for their masters.

She'd seen the terrified and broken look in Un'hee's eyes enough times to know it was her responsibility to stop them…to protect the Ascendancy…and its posterity. Nerah, as angry as she was with her, would understand that. She knew she would.

It was time for the Ascendancy to face its future.

Time for Nara to face her past.

"Yes," Nara nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Nara swore she saw a small smile break Ar'alani's lips. "To that, Vigan'ara, I have no doubt."


Important Memories chapter next for Nara, where you will finally see why she left the Ascendancy. After that, we start getting to the Thrawn shenanigans.

Fun times ahead! Stay tuned!