Chapter 5: A Test of Loyalty

-.-.-.-

"To die for one's people is a great sacrifice. To live for one's people, an even greater sacrifice. I choose to live for my people." — Riyo Chuchi

-.-.-.-

Lord Vader watched.

Whether Thrawn survived was inconsequential to Vader's ultimate objective here on the Chimaera. He suspected and accused Thrawn of espionage and treason against the Empire, and Vader was sure he had prevented Thrawn from transmitting what he learned here of the Death Star plans back to the Chiss Ascendancy. After all, that was their pattern of operation during the Clone War.

Observe, gather intel, learn from the shadows and adapt.

Vader couldn't allow the Death Star plans to be compromised. Not when they were so close to completion.

The Dark Lord moved behind Thrawn's desk. The Jedi Guardian mask stood untouched on its stand despite the carnage and aftermath of battle around the room. It's hollow eye openings peered judgingly at Vader's own mask.

Vader felt through the Force and looked over the desk.

Something familiar is here…

He opened a drawer on the left side and found Thrawn's collapsible melee baton and an old but sleek and well-maintained blaster pistol tucked inside. Vader recognized the blaster. Thrawn had used it alongside The Jedi during their mission together so many years ago. It was surprising that Thrawn still had it.

Vader reached down and touched it.

-.-

Unwilling memories rushed forward.

A line of mugs on a bartender's counter exploded into a gas of thick white smoke.

Thrawn grabbed The Jedi's shoulder and shoved hard against it. Through the smoke, The Jedi caught an unclear image of the Chiss leaping on top of the bar and turning to face the doorway with drawn blaster.

The Jedi found himself swaying farther to the side with momentum from the shove. His balance was gone, and his knees buckled beneath him. Enough gas had affected him, and he toppled to the floor, hitting the rough wood. The room erupted with blasterfire.

Four blurry shapes charged toward them, blasters blazing. Thrawn returned fire through the smoke, his weapon flashing brighter than the others and making a higher-pitched sound.

The vision morphed.

The Jedi awoke to a deserted bar and groaned as he pushed himself to a seated position through lingering dizziness.

"Welcome back," Thrawn said. The Chiss sat in a chair, his back to The Jedi and facing the bar entrance. His gun hand rested on the chair's armrest, the blaster pistol pointed toward the door. "You will note where the first two shots were aimed."

The Jedi looked at the bar. Right where The Jedi had been standing were two fresh blaster burns. "I guess I should thank you for pushing me out of the way."

Thrawn half turned, a pained frown on his face. "That was not my intent," he said.

-.-

Lord Vader yanked his hand away from the Chiss blaster and returned to the present. Sounds of tape being torn filled the room. For a long moment, Vader thought about the vision.

But was it Thrawn's intent to shove The Jedi out of the way? … Evidence of precognition… or Third Sight as the Chiss call it… The Jedi didn't recognize the use of the Force back then… But Vader now saw Thrawn's slip of evidence, the lapse most likely a result of him being injured from blasterfire at the time…

Vader thought back to their recent fight in the same bar while on their mission to Batuu where they went to investigate the disturbance felt by the Emperor. A group of Darshi had attacked them this time. Vader thought back to how Thrawn fought. The Chiss's movements and tactics could be evaluated to be too quick to be of natural reactions.

But there was one moment that stood out.

Vader remembered suddenly feeling the disturbance during the fight, which was later revealed in their mission to be the young Chiss children terrified, confused, and seemingly calling for help.

Swirlings in the Force—surprise—confusion—darkness—anxiety—

The swirlings of anxiety turning to fear—twisting in alien forms and patterns—breaking all ability to concentrate—flashing into unfocused turmoil—

Vader remembered the sensations of the young children's cries being so unexpected and flooding his mind that it made his pace falter when he felt it. He realized now that Thrawn, once Vader alerted that the disturbance was near and could be located, reacted in the same manner.

-.-

Vader had never seen Thrawn at a moment of complete surprise. Neither had The Jedi. Without warning, the Chiss's face went suddenly rigid, his stride jerking just as Vader's had a moment earlier.

-.-

The moment had passed quickly, but it had now been enough for Vader to realize that Thrawn had sensed the children as well. How had Thrawn hidden his Force sensitivities from everyone. Did the Emperor know? Surely, he would have told Vader...

Vader remembered how Thrawn's mind was always opaque and impenetrable when he would search through the Force. Perhaps the alien forms and patterns swirling around his mind shielded such ability from being discovered. Perhaps it was an attribute of all Chiss with Third Sight as the children's mind felt the same as Thrawn. Or perhaps it was even a quality of their species as a whole.

Vader now wanted answers.

"How long until he is able to be moved," Vader said, as he slammed the drawer closed with the blaster and baton inside.

Faro started at the sudden noise. Zahara looked up from putting her instruments away into the medical backpack and addressed Lord Vader.

"I would like to monitor him here for a few more minutes before transport my lord," Zahara said. "But he will need surgery soon to repair the damage to his throat. I can alert my team outside to prepare an op-room for our arrival."

"That won't be necessary," Vader said. "Grand Admiral Thrawn will be transported to my Star Destroyer."

Faro saw the confusion flash across Zahara's face and knew she was about to protest. Faro interjected before the Chief Medical Officer was able to speak.

"Surely, my Lord Vader, the facilities are adequate here aboard the Chimaera to treat his injuries?" Faro said.

"No," Vader said. "He will be transferred aboard the Devastator and placed under care there until we reach Coruscant. I have further questions for him and need to be present.

"Besides, the Chimaera cannot afford yet another diversion as far out as Coruscant. You are needed at Lothal Commodore Faro."

Vader pointed at her. "And I expect no delays this time."

Commodore Faro recognized the threat. The same or worse that happened to Thrawn would be done to her if she didn't comply. She wanted to protest.

The Chimaera… the Seventh Fleet… she couldn't lose Thrawn. She had a feeling that once Thrawn left the Chimaera, she and the rest of the Empire would never hear of him again.

Faro was about to delicately argue to Lord Vader for Thrawn to be treated on the Chimaera, but she felt a small squeeze on her hand. She startled and looked down.

Faro met the slightly opened and pale red eyes of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

"Grand Admiral…," Faro said as she brought her other hand to cup around the back of his own. Thrawn's eyes were a dull red, so much less vibrant than normal, and they spoke of a pained caution. His hand lightly squeezed her own a little more for emphasis once their gaze met, and he moved his head slightly from side to side, as if cautioning her against protesting to Lord Vader. He knew she was about to protest and was trying to stop her from doing so.

But the slight movement made his eyes flutter closed and his brow furrowed. What little control he had vanished as his body reacted. He began to gag against the endotracheal tube stretching down his throat and into his lungs. He moved his right hand up intending to grab the tube, but Kimmund reacted quickly and pushed his arm down firmly.

At the same time, Zahara was over him and pressed down with one hand on the top of his chest and her other firmly on his forehead. Thrawn's body responded weakly and jerked against the pressure. His legs and feet shifted weakly as he fought his body's urge to resist.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn, Chief Medical Officer Zahara Cody here," Zahara said. "What you're experiencing is natural, but you're going to have relax against your body's instinct."

Thrawn gripped Faro's hand tighter as his body tensed. Faro watched as he stilled. His brow betrayed his turmoil however. She knew he was in the midst of a desperate fight for control by how his eyes tightened shut.

Vader suddenly felt a magnetic pulse in the Force. He stretched out, trying to understand it. It was familiar…

Swirlings in the Force—anxiety—darkness—confusion—pain—

A sudden jerk. Thrawn's shoulders jerked again and his head slightly flinched back and to the side. It was as if his body was trying to throw away and flee from the tube down his throat and the resulting pain. The motion made a single tear escape his left eye at the same time.

"It's okay…," Faro said, emotion in her voice nearly betraying her.

Swirlings in the Force—misery—

"Let the machine breathe for you, sir," Zahara said in a soothing voice. She slid her hand from his forehead and in a smooth motion wiped his tear away. She held her hand there on the side of his face firmly, preventing any future motion. "Don't fight it. Let your body's natural instinct fade away."

Swirlings in the Force—

A sudden twist—CRACK—alien patterns and forms emitting control—unfocused turmoil binding into the ability to concentrate—

Focus—opaqueness—

And it was gone.

Vader watched as Thrawn visibly relaxed under Kimmund, Zahara and Faro's grasp. The Chiss's brow was still furrowed and his eyes clinched shut however. Vader could no longer read him through the Force, but he could feel his exhaustion and weakness. Vader would remember this.

"There you go, sir," Zahara soothed. "You're doing well, just like that. I know it feels uncomfortable, but the tube needs to stay inside."

Faro rubbed the back Thrawn's hand, trying to comfort him. She hoped this would make him focus on a different sensation than what he undoubtedly felt painfully at his neck. She wanted to keep him relaxed.

Kimmund released his own hold and leaned back. He took a deep breath. The commander seemed exhausted, his face covered with sweat.

Zahara shifted to her right side slightly to examine Thrawn's neck. She looked up at Lord Vader, who stood behind Thrawn's desk.

"I recommend that numbing spray be applied down his mouth and throat once aboard your Star Destroyer Lord Vader," Zahara said. "I don't wish to put him through that here. It would make his body react again, and he needs rest right now."

"Noted," Vader said.

Lord Vader picked up the tablet from Thrawn's desk and regarded it for a moment. Faro's heart dropped, and her anxiety shifted to an intense dread. She would have to answer to Lord Vader now.

Faro felt another small squeeze and saw Thrawn's pale red eyes open again looking at her. He looked tired as he peered into her gaze.

"He is awake?" Vader growled.

Zahara hesitated. "Yes, my lord. He is aware of us."

Faro's eyes, holding the gaze of Thrawn's own, watered. Thrawn's eyes narrowed briefly and knowingly, as if trying to project strength to her. His small squeeze stayed firm against her hand. It will be okay… trust your training... I trust you can get through this…

Vader, after another moment of considering the tablet, brought it with him as he walked around Thrawn's desk to fully face them on the ground. His cloak billowed behind him, displaying his tempered fury. It was time for Faro to answer to the Dark Lord, and it was time for the Dark Lord to confirm her loyalty to the Empire.

Faro shifted slightly on her knees and turned to face the imposing presence of Lord Vader. At the same time, Thrawn moved his red gaze to Vader.

Zahara leaned down close to Thrawn and whispered, "Be careful sir, not to move your head too much."

Thrawn blinked slowly, but his gaze was transfixed on the approaching Dark Lord. Despite his growing exhaustion and the red vibrancy gone from his Chiss eyes, his gaze still held power. Vader stopped in front of the group, holding the tablet in his right hand. He beheld Thrawn's gaze for a moment, and the Chiss's eyes held the Dark Lord's attention, unwavering, as if they were trying to speak.

Vader searched through the Force once more. Thrawn's mind was opaque, but he felt the emotions of anger… and fear? Vader pressed further. Ah… fear not for himself but for another… Good.

"Commodore Faro," Vader said. Vader lingered on Thrawn's gaze and saw his eyes flinch. Vader then turned his head to Faro.

"Yes- yes, my lord?" Faro said.

"This tablet, you were the one who delivered it here, correct?" Vader held the tablet up for emphasis.

"Yes…," Faro said. She knew where this was going, as she remembered what she said to the Dark Lord on the bridge.

"And what information does it contain?" Vader said.

"My lord, I can expl—"

"What— Information— Does it— Contain?" Vader growled.

Faro took in an anxious breath, and she held onto Thrawn's hand like it was a lifeline, his grasp remaining steady. Here it was…

"My Lord," Faro said slowly. "It contains the scans the Chimaera took of an object in this sector of space."

Vader's left hand balled into a fist and a small gust of Force echoed from it. It brushed against Faro's face, fluttered her hair and made Vader's cloak billow. The debris on the floor also reacted at the same time, shaking and slightly moving outward from the burst.

"You lied, Commodore Faro," Vader growled. "You told me there was no record maintained of this sector."

Thrawn squeezed Faro's hand harder and glared with fire at Lord Vader, recognizing an imminent threat to her. He tried to speak instinctively, but his shoulders flinched, his body wanting to gag again. Zahara placed a hand on Thrawn's right shoulder to steady him but wisely remained quiet during the Dark Lord's ire. Thrawn clinched his eyes shut as he regained control. Kimmund saw his reaction and felt pity for the grand admiral; his respect for him also rose.

Thrawn wanted to speak in Faro's defense but was unable to do so with the endotracheal tube stretching down into his throat and chest. He could only helplessly watch as his Commodore was challenged.

Faro glanced down at Thrawn struggling to regain control, his eyes clinched closed. The tape around his face held the endotracheal tube securely, and the mechanical ventilator maintained a steady rhythm despite Thrawn's body trying to reject its help. She gently squeezed and laid his hand on the floor, pulling her own hand out of his grasp.

"Lord Vader," Faro said, gaining a confident edge to her voice. She moved to stand up, and Thrawn's eyes fluttered open watching her rise. His eyelids were heavy and his gaze sluggish.

"If I may respectfully interject," Faro said. She stood tall, her hands clasped behind back, facing Lord Vader. "I said that the Chimaera's systems retained no record of this area of space. The readings indeed were too muddled to be considered viable."

Thrawn relaxed and blinked slowly. He was proud of her as he recognized her path of thought.

"The Chimaera's system was purged, and what remained of the scans was placed on that tablet."

"And you were ordered to deliver it here?" Vader said slowly.

"Yes." Faro waited as Vader considered her.

"I see," Vader said eventually. "You must now recognize that the installation here is under the highest levels of classification in the Empire." Vader stepped forward, emphasizing his words with the tablet.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn knew this yet brought you and the Chimaera here without the Emperor's, Director Krennic's or my own knowledge." Vader's head turned and held Thrawn's gaze, yet his words still addressed Faro. Vader's malice grew. Zahara's eyes widened and Kimmund took in a deep breath.

"He attempted to scan this installation and to do so secretly," Vader said. "He is accused of mixed loyalties and treason against the Empire."

Faro gasped. "My Lord, surely—"

"No." Vader was furious. The air echoed with the Force. Thrawn resolutely held Vader's gaze, his eyes now piercing and speaking defiance. "He is accused of espionage against the Empire in favor of his own people. He is accused of using Imperial resources to advance the causes of his Chiss Ascendancy at the expense of the Empire."

Vader clutched the tablet with both hands and suddenly snapped it into two pieces. It shattered in his gloved hands with a shower of sparks and fizzled as he slammed the remains to the ground.

"Were I not here to prevent him from doing so," Vader said as he pointed. "Grand Admiral Thrawn would have taken what he learned and compromised the security of the Empire by transmitting what he found here. Were it not received by his people, there is a risk that the rising insurgency in this galaxy could have intercepted those scans."

Faro was aghast. Surely this was untrue. She couldn't imagine Thrawn doing such a thing; not after all they had been through as a crew. Surely…

Vader placed his hands on his belt and turned to Commodore Faro. "Surely you recognize this threat Commodore Faro."

Faro hesitated, doubt clearly showing on her face. She had a deep loyalty to Thrawn. She looked down and found Thrawn's gaze. He tightened his eyes briefly and blinked slowly, as if he was trying to convey that it was alright to speak against him. Do it… it's okay…

Faro's expression tightened briefly in sorrow and regret at his gaze. She was in an impossible position. She hesitated.

"Commodore Faro?" Vader said.

Faro blinked rapidly, fighting back her emotions, and rose her head to look at Vader. She took a deep breath.

"I—" Faro glanced to Thrawn and then back. She spoke slowly, trying not to let her voice betray her. "I see… the soundness of your accusations, my Lord Vader."

Faro lowered her head. "The security of the Empire must be preserved," she said.

Vader crossed his arms, regarding Faro. "Very good. That is correct Commodore Faro."

Faro timidly rose her eyes to Vader and then glanced to Thrawn, her head remaining lowered in deference to the Dark Lord. Thrawn's eyes were closed, and his face was relaxed. The mechanical ventilator made its hauntingly artificial breath sounds, keeping him alive. He seemed to be unconscious once again.

Faro's mouth and brow furrowed in emotion looking at her grand admiral, her eyes threatening to spill over, but she took a deep breath and quickly regained control of her emotions. She finally recognized the similarity to Vader's own respirator and briefly wondered of Vader's own origins of needing the device.

"As Commodore Faro stated," Vader said, turning to address the group. "The security of the Empire must be maintained. Therefore, what truly happened here must not be spoken of outside this office."

Kimmund knew what was coming after experiencing many similar situations with other superior officers of the Empire being removed from power by Lord Vader. A cover story would be established and those knowing the truth of what really happened would be sworn to secrecy. With this happening to Grand Admiral Thrawn, it was doubly important to establish a cover due to the nature of the accusations against him and considering his stature in the Empire.

"What happened here was an attack against Grand Admiral Thrawn, Commander Kimmund, and I during our meeting. Thrawn's Sentinel Droids attacked us and in so doing, severely injured the Grand Admiral. They were used in an assassination attempt against him before when a rebel spy reprogrammed them, and as such these droids were left over from that attempt and activated today."

Vader turned to Faro. "You must address the Chimaera as it's captain-in-charge and explain this to the crew. You must also explain the Chimaera's need at Lothal to eliminate this growing rebellion while Thrawn will be transferred aboard my Star Destroyer for transfer to Coruscant facilities for proper care."

Faro was in disbelief, her eyes widening, but she wisely remained quiet. Vader eyed each of them.

"Is this clear?" Vader said.

Kimmund answered first, knowing his place. "Yes, my lord," he said, as he reached for his helmet and put it on. "Awaiting your order."

"Understood, Lord Vader," Faro nodded glancing to Thrawn's still form and then to Vader.

Zahara nodded as well but didn't speak, her right hand was still on Thrawn's shoulder. Vader stared at her, sensing her doubt.

"Prepare him for transport," Vader growled.