Chapter 13: An Unexpected Ally
-.-.-.-
"Balance is found in the one who faces his guilt."
"In this war, a danger there is of losing who we are." — Yoda
-.-.-.-
Lamenting warbles sounded from the rear of the Rebels' Imperial Shuttle.
"Happy beeps, Chop," Ezra said, flipping switches on the copilot console. "Happy beeps."
"I happen to agree with the droid, Ezra," Kallus said as he vectored the shuttle closer to the ISD Devastator. "This feels off."
"They let us into the flight pattern," Ezra offered.
"But that is precisely what worries me," Kallus said, grimacing. "They're not following correct Imperial protocol. I didn't configure the transponder quickly enough. It wasn't broadcasting correctly..."
Rex placed a hand on Ezra's copilot seat and watched the ISD Devastator loom larger through the viewport as they approached. "They've just put us within weapons range is all," he said.
"Right…," Sabine said nervously.
-.-.-.-
The control nest provided an overlook of the Devastator's large hangar bay. Personnel and various droids could be observed going about their business, refueling ships and inspecting armaments as needed. Sparks flew from the interior hull of a Tie Fighter as a maintenance crew performed repairs, and stormtroopers were in the process of inventorying crates on the starboard side of the bay.
Kimmund held a tablet and reviewed a report about the Imperial Shuttle. An uptight Lieutenant Jace stood next to him wringing his hands together. The Lieutenant's eyes briefly glanced over to the viewport. It was part of his duty to coordinate everything to peak efficiency down there in the hangar bay. Immediately, he saw everything that could possibly go wrong without proper direction.
Jace re-centered his eyes and watched Kimmund scroll through the hastily prepared information. He lifted himself on his toes in what he hoped was a subtle motion to see what Kimmund was focused on. Ah, the personnel section.
"They reported five souls and a droid on board, sir," Lieutenant Jace said.
"Mmhmm," Kimmund intoned.
"A- and their fuel is at one quarter mark," Lieutenant Jace continued, wringing his hands together more forcefully and willing himself not to glance out the viewport again.
"I see that, Lieutenant," Kimmund said, scrolling passed the fuel read outs and settling on the cargo manifest. There was only a general entry reporting medical supplies.
"They didn't go into specifics about the type of medical they're carrying?" Kimmund asked. He raised his head and looked at the wide-eyed Lieutenant.
"No sir; just that they were ordered to resupply us."
Could this be Ottkreg? Needing a resupply of his mind-numbing agents to further his campaign of interrogation? Kimmund turned his attention back to the tablet and scrolled up to the communication transcript.
"They mentioned Grand Admiral Thrawn by name?" Kimmund said.
"Yes, yes sir," Lieutenant Jace said. "The pilot said the supplies were needed for his recovery."
Kimmund's brow furrowed underneath his helmet. It wasn't right to expound upon mission specifics. If proper credentials existed, proper clearance would be granted, and nothing further was to be done.
He scrolled up to the shuttle's identification. It was a Lambda-class T-4a with the standard armaments and cargo capacity. It's transponder beacon though transmitted codes that Kimmund knew to be old and outdated.
No, Major Ottkreg wouldn't have his name associated with such insolence as a Loyalty Officer of the Empire. He had a gut feeling that this was something else entirely. Would a group of rebels really be able to find and intercept the Devastator? And crazy enough to actually do it?
Kimmund's thumb rubbed the side of the tablet as the last bit of his Imperial programming warred against a curious sense of morality. Thrawn didn't deserve what was happening to him and this might be a way for Kimmund to do something about it. A very risky way… One in which his career and life among the Empire would be thrown out the viewport.
But Tephan… And the others…
"Their code sequence came back negative, Commander," Lieutenant Jace said quietly, nervous to repeat another set of data Kimmund was obviously inspecting. "It doesn't match current encryption standard."
Kimmund straightened and regarded Lieutenant Jace. Through his helmet, Kimmund saw a nervous and impressionable young man in awe to be standing next to the leader of the First Legion. Lucky. After an uncomfortable moment, Kimmund's mouth began to move, his mind settled.
"The transponder reports precisely what it's meant to, Lieutenant," Kimmund said commandingly, masking his surprise at hearing his own voice. He shut the tablet off and promptly handed it to the Lieutenant. "Have the shuttle cleared to land on my authority. This is First Legion business."
"Aye, sir," Lieutenant Jace said. He sat down at his station and pressed a code sequence to initiate preparations for the new shuttle arrival.
"How long until we return to hyperspace?" Kimmund asked.
Lieutenant Jace put on his headset. He adjusted the microphone to rest properly in front of his mouth and glanced briefly back to Kimmund.
"Reports show the drive overheated during our last jump. Hard to say, sir."
Convenient.
"Alright," Kimmund said. He walked to the viewport overlooking the hangar bay and watched as a spot was prepared for the shuttle. "I am to escort them personally. Cancel the normal reception."
"Aye, sir," Lieutenant Jace hesitated. Lieutenant Jace then watched in awe as Commander Kimmund, leader of the First Legion, unhooked his blaster and walked out of the air traffic control nest with purposed steps.
-.-.-.-
"I can't believe it," Kallus said. He flipped switches to trigger landing mode on his heads-up-display. "They just cleared us to land."
"Oh man," Ezra whispered nervously.
The shuttle's comm chimed and an equally nervous sounding voice emitted from the device.
"This is Lieutenant Jace again, shuttle seven-five-six-seven," Lieutenant Jace said over comm. "You are cleared to land at the vectors sent. First Legion authority."
"First Legion," Rex muttered to himself.
Kallus' heads-up-display updated with new landing vectors. He turned quickly to the group with wide eyes.
"Last chance to get out of here," Kallus breathed. "Once we land, we're at the mercy of the Empire and First Legion."
Kanan felt a pull from the Force. It was the same confusing cry he felt while listening to Thrawn's holo-message.
"Do you feel it, Ezra?" Kanan asked calmly.
Ezra quirked his head to the side and furrowed his brow at his master. He closed his eyes and reached out to the Force. Ezra flinched and looked puzzled.
"Yeah… I think I do…," Ezra said wistfully.
"We should finish what we came here to do," Kanan said. He put his Stormtrooper helmet on. "The Force is with us."
"Well, it's not the craziest thing I've ever done…," Rex offered.
Sabine let out a skeptical groan. "Comes pretty close for me," she said, putting her helmet on as well.
"Please acknowledge, shuttle seven-five-six-seven," Lieutenant Jace said over comm.
Kallus turned back to his pilot console and maneuvered the shuttle along the new landing vectors. He huffed a breath at the mighty sight of the ISD Devastator and keyed the comm again.
"Acknowledged, Lieutenant," Kallus said curtly. "Vectors received. Maneuvering now."
Kallus cut the comm and breathed deeply. They were really doing this. Chopper rolled up to join everyone in the cabin near the cockpit. The droid's new Imperial paint job shined bright against the light from the viewport.
"Looking good, buddy," Sabine said, her voice modulating through the helmet. She patted Chopper on the head affectionately.
"Wharh wah," Chopper warbled proudly, making Sabine giggle.
"What's the First Legion, Kallus?" Ezra asked. Kallus flew them underneath the Devastator's hull and toward the hangar bay.
"Lord Vader's personal, elite special operations squad," Kallus answered.
"Oh…"
Chopper chirped lamenting warbles.
-.-.-.-
The Rebels' stolen Imperial Shuttle set down smoothly in the ISD Devastator's hangar bay. Steam spewed out fiercely from vents as the engine transitioned to an idle state. The bay was alive with energy, Imperial personnel performing their tasks. Droids automatically began maintenance protocols on the Rebels' shuttle, connecting lines and wires to external junctions on the outer hull.
Commander Kimmund halted in attention before the shuttle, with his blaster resting firmly in his arms and ready for anything. He watched the ramp slowly lower with keen eyes, and fingers twitched nervously on his blaster. What did he just do? Who did he just let on board?
His eyes examined a stormtrooper as they walked down the ramp with a similar blaster at rest in their hands. A droid and a repulsorlift filled with boxes of medical equipment soon followed. It was pushed by two more stormtroopers with a fourth stormtrooper hanging back, watching everything from the top of the ramp.
The fourth stormtrooper's helmet optics were fixated upon Kimmund. They had a blaster at the ready as well, and Kimmund noticed it wasn't set to stun.
Kallus' heart thumped in his chest with steely anxiety as he walked down the shuttle ramp. He saw what he knew to be a commander waiting for him by the markings on the armor, and, by the pauldron the trooper wore, Kallus further suspected them to be in charge of the very First Legion that allowed their clearance to land.
This is a trap, Kallus feared.
Kallus stopped a few paces in front of the commander and glanced back as Kanan and Ezra stopped pushing the repulsorlift at the foot of the ramp. They turned their attention to Kallus and waited.
"Reporting as ordered, Commander," Kallus said, turning forward. Muscle memory kicked in, standing Kallus straight with Imperial rigidity. Kallus wasn't sure how he felt about still having that instinct. He saluted stiffly.
Kimmund didn't say anything but returned the salute with a sigh. It was just enough pomp to pass Imperial regulation.
They both carefully considered each other and returned their hands back to their blasters, purposely projecting their movement. Kallus noticed, and it meant Kimmund was also suspicious.
Kimmund remained silent, waited a moment and assessed each of them one more time. His helmet moved robotically during the examination, and his gaze stopped on the fourth stormtrooper at the top of the ramp for a prolonged moment as if in silent challenge.
Eyes and helmet then flicked back to Kallus standing in front of him.
"I am Commander Kimmund, leader of the First Legion," Kimmund began slowly. "You're here to resupply us in support of Grand Admiral Thrawn's recovery, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir," Kallus replied.
"Mmhmm," Kimmund hummed. Kallus held his blaster tighter as tension rose. Were they about to fight their way out?
Kimmund suddenly looked to his left. "Ensign," he said, projecting his voice to an approaching maintenance technician. "Have this shuttle refueled and ready for departure upon our return."
"Aye, sir," the technician replied. She walked over to a console and started a new maintenance protocol.
Kimmund turned back to Kallus. "I will escort you to the medical bay."
Kallus was stunned, his helmet masking his surprise. How was this working? He cleared his throat and turned to Rex standing ready on the top of the ramp.
"You two up there make sure the shuttle is ready for departure," Kallus said.
"Aye, sir!" Rex replied. But the former Clone Captain didn't move as he kept his attention on Commander Kimmund. Sabine stayed ready in the pilot's seat if they needed to get out fast.
"And you two," Kallus said, turning to Ezra and Kanan with authority. "You two and the droid with me."
"Yes, sirrr," Ezra said, emphasizing the words a little too dramatically.
Kimmund rolled his eyes under his helmet and then examined Kallus' stormtrooper armor a moment. It would barely pass a shakedown inspection.
"With me, Lieutenant," Kimmund said. He turned and started leading them out of the hangar bay.
"Ezra…," Kanan hissed quietly while the two of them pushed the heavy repulsorlift forward.
"What?" Ezra innocently replied.
Kallus looked back as they began walking through the busy hangar bay and shook his head at them. Chopper followed Kallus closely.
"Welcome to the ISD Devastator," Kimmund said over his shoulder.
-.-.-.-
The unlikely group walked down a long metallic corridor within the cold interior of the Star Destroyer. Kimmund hastily turned a corner on the way to the medical bay. His thoughts were racing. He lowered his right arm and hand that was carrying his blaster to his side and reached for his commlink with his left hand.
Kallus heard Kimmund audibly sigh as he pulled it from his belt and keyed it. A nervous voice answered.
"Yes, Commander?" The Chief Medical Officer said over the comm.
"Open comm channel," Kimmund warned, as he walked briskly with Kallus on his heels. They were followed closely by Kanan, Ezra and Chopper. "How's he doing?"
"Right… I would say about the same, sir. Which… perhaps is a positive."
Kimmund rounded another corner, sidestepping around Imperial personnel. Officers stopped in their wake, saluting the leader of the First Legion in admiration… and perhaps fear Kallus realized. Kimmund ignored them.
"I'm on my way with a medical team to resupply us," Kimmund said. "They have a doc on their team… Say… Why don't you take a break?"
Kallus was confused.
"Well… I suppose—," The Chief Medical Officer started.
"You've been working hard," Kimmund pressed further. "You deserve it."
The Chief Medical Officer seemed convinced after a pause.
"A break sure sounds good, Commander," the Chief Medical Officer said breathily.
Kanan and Ezra traded glances as they pushed the repulsorlift through the Devastator's halls.
"A hot cup of caf and a meal will do you good," Kimmund continued. "Besides, I did the same to you. That time away to think sure did me good. New perspective and all that."
The group of disguised Rebels being led by the Commander of the First Legion arrived at a blast-door and stopped. Kimmund shifted his grip on the commlink and entered in a code with free fingers. Kallus glanced back at Kanan and Ezra and shrugged.
"I think I will. Thank you, sir."
The door opened and the group continued forward.
"Like I said, you deserve it," Kimmund said. "Go on ahead, I'll be there with my medical team shortly."
"Thank you, sir! Ah, the equipment here will show the history of what I've done lately. Shouldn't be too hard to decipher."
"Acknowledged, enjoy your break," Kimmund said with a bitter authority. He keyed off the commlink, returning the device to his belt, and led a very confused group of Rebels toward the medical bay.
-.-.-.-
Tephan reclined in the mess hall, her head resting on her seat-back and slumped in her chair. Her legs were inclined, with boots crossed and propped up on top of the table. Eyes closed, she held a steaming cup of caf in her hands, resting it on her lap.
The A-7 protocol droid had fulfilled her request and returned Kimmund's heated cup of caf to her earlier. Only her helmet remained on the table now, in addition to her feet, the droid having removed her tray and empty plate.
There were benefits to sitting alone Tephan found. Thinking she was asleep, those sitting at tables nearby returned to a normal speaking level, and she was able to eavesdrop on their conversations. Upon returning to her squad mates in the First Legion, they would all be filled in with the latest scuttlebutt on the ship.
She was giddy just thinking about it. The façade on her face emitted someone napping, with her expression remaining neutral, despite her inner thrill.
A whoosh indicated someone had just walked through the entrance. Tephan rose an eyebrow and carefully opened the eye underneath to see whose presence was added to the mess hall. She was surprised to find it was the Chief Medical Officer of the ship.
Tephan opened both eyes, being careful not to move otherwise, and followed him as he made his way to retrieve a meal. Was it a good sign he was here? Did that mean the Grand Admiral improved enough for him to leave? He was nervous. Did that mean the opposite? Stop.
She rose her steaming cup of caf and took a slow sip as she observed him. Goodness he was awkward. Holding a tray of food and a drink, he turned around and scanned the mess hall.
Tephan quickly waved at him and caught his attention. Those sitting in tables nearby groaned as they suddenly realized she was alert while leaning back in her chair. She swung a leg down dramatically and pushed out the chair next to her with her foot. She pointed to it with wide, smiling eyes and nodded her head with reinforcement.
The Chief Medical Officer grimaced an awkward smirk. He quickly lowered his head and glanced around the room once more before making his way to her. Tephan sat up straight and rested her elbows on the table as she watched him approach.
Oh yes, you're going to answer all my questions, she thought as she sipped more caf. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes, sparking the edge of her grin.
The Chief Medical Officer placed his tray on the table and awkwardly scooted the chair forward as he sat down. He nervously opened his mouth to speak, but Tephan interrupted him.
"Oh, skip the formalities, Doc," Tephan said.
-.-.-.-
Commander Kimmund stopped in front of a stormtrooper guarding a door in the medical wing. He just stared. When the stormtrooper didn't say anything, he sighed. Damn Major Ottkreg, scaring the troops into inefficient protocol.
"First Legion business," Kimmund said forcefully. "Let us through. And no, no one else is cleared to enter."
"Y- yes, Commander Kimmund," the stormtrooper said. The guard hit his fist sideways on a control panel and opened the door.
The Rebels found themselves walking down a short hallway, lined with five doors on either side, and terminating at the end with a cold, metallic wall. Air was hushed and heavy in this place, and Ezra became immediately uncomfortable. Kanan sensed it too, additionally feeling his padawan's discomfort.
Kimmund stopped before one of the doors at the end and entered a code sequence on a keypad. A whoosh echoed throughout the corridor as the door opened. Kimmund lingered where he stood and examined the room from the passageway.
The Rebels couldn't see inside yet, but the sound of a breathing ventilator could faintly be heard from where they stood in the metallic hallway. It was steady in its consistent, slow rhythm, echoing eerily off the titanium walls. Kanan felt guilt and a sense of dread ooze from Commander Kimmund. There was great regret there, and a sense of a prison lingering around the commander.
Kimmund's muted change in demeanor upon opening the door was evident to all of them though. He turned to the Rebels and motioned to the room with an open palm. His other hand still secured his blaster.
"It's protocol for me to seal the door after we enter," Kimmund said quietly.
"And lock us inside?" Kallus countered.
"Trust me," Kimmund said, unmoving.
Kallus didn't like this; he didn't move. It was the perfect opportunity to trap and contain them. But Kallus saw something in Kimmund that mirrored himself when he was in service to the Empire. There was a familiar desperation there. A tiredness.
But Kallus must not have reacted quickly enough, for Kimmund sighed and walked through the door without them.
"Follow me," Kimmund sighed.
One last glance back to Ezra and Kanan, and Kallus followed.
-.-.-.-
Tephan took a long and lingering sip of caf while watching the Chief Medical Officer eat. He wouldn't mix his food items, eating each food group by itself and then continuing to the next. And he hadn't touched his caf yet. She narrowed her eyes.
"So, doc," she said, lowering her voice. "With you here, I assume he's improving?"
He paused and looked at Tephan.
"I'm not really supposed to talk about-," he started.
"Oh, come on, I'm First Legion," Tephan interrupted, smiling proudly. "Surely there's an exception. My squad's handling his recovery."
There was a glint in the Chief Medical Officer's eye that Tephan couldn't quite decipher. Her face went blank and serious.
"It's all very compartmentalized," he said slowly and hushed. "With the Grand Admiral involved and all…"
Tephan glared at him, her thoughts racing. The way he spoke made her apprehensive, but she wasn't exactly sure of the reason.
"Where's Commander Kimmund now?" Tephan asked.
"He's with him now actually with a new team. Gave me a break," he said munching on food again.
"So, he's improving," Tephan stated, quietly hopeful.
He looked at her with sympathetically. "Well…"
He cleared his throat and his jaw clenched. The look in his eyes is all she needed.
"I see…," Tephan said, looking away. Nostrils flared and her brow knitted as she took another sip of caf.
"Sorry…," he whispered.
Tephan narrowed her eyes and suddenly set her cup of caf down on the table with a clink.
"You know, I've just remembered something I need to finish before next rotation, doc," she said.
Tephan scooped up her helmet and made her way out of the mess hall. The Chief Medical Officer, left alone to his meal, watched her leave with hastened steps.
-.-.-.-
Ezra was cold. He didn't like this place. Senses were suddenly heightened after entering this metallic passageway, and, that breathing sound… Its rhythm wasn't natural, and it evoked a feeling of anguish.
Swirlings in the Force—darkness—anxiety—
Kanan squeezed Ezra's shoulder with strength.
"Focus Ezra," Kanan whispered. "Remember your purpose."
Ezra didn't understand what he felt through the Force. It was strange and unknown. He steadied himself and nodded. Master and apprentice then pushed the repulsorlift together into the room and met a sight they were not expecting behold.
Grand Admiral Thrawn lay unconscious on a medical interrogation chair with a mechanical ventilator breathing for him. The chair was marginally tilted up from the ground, acting more like an inclined table, with a semi-circular sensor array around Thrawn's head. Thrawn's face was docile, and lips were relaxed and slightly ajar, hovering passively around a plastoid divider that covered his teeth inside his mouth. The divider protected the breathing tube from being crushed.
The repulsorlift was discarded at the edge of the room, and Ezra stepped hesitantly closer to Thrawn's unconscious form. The padawan was shaken at seeing the restraints around Thrawn's arms and legs. His eyes caught the sight of dried blood on the Chiss' right arm and torn uniform. He winced. The IV snaked down the length of his caerulean arm and was secured by hastily applied and deteriorating tape.
Another hesitant step forward, and he removed his stormtrooper helmet. Sweat lingered upon Ezra's brow as he caught his breath.
"Ezra…," Kanan hushed in warning. But he didn't hear his master. Ezra couldn't deny the turmoil he felt through the Force and sought to understand the strange cadence that traveled along its current. It was different yet familiar; unknown yet known.
The sound of a small, childlike voice began to echo as if it was lingering a little too far away.
Swirlings in the Force—anxiety—despair—
"Vav rot'sah." … "Vav." … "Tis'mi?" …
"Do you hear that?" Ezra asked.
A sudden hiss reverberated through the room, and the door whooshed closed as Kimmund sealed them inside.
Kallus unfroze from his stupor at the sight of his former superior officer reduced to such a state. He quickly whipped around and pointed his blaster at Kimmund.
"What's going on here?!" Kallus demanded. "This isn't a medical bay, it's an interrogation chamber!"
Kimmund held up his hands. "It is for prisoners…," he said slowly.
-.-
A memory flashed to Kanan's mind.
"You have wasted enough of my time," Tarkin said to then Agent Kallus.
The Inquisitor entered the chamber and stopped next to Tarkin. They stood before a captured Kanan Jarrus, strapped to an interrogation table.
"You are no doubt unaware the Jedi are trained to resist mind probes," the Inquisitor said.
"If he is the Jedi he claims to be… I take it you have a solution?"
The Inquisitor smiled and stepped closer to Kanan.
"Pain, a Jedi still feels pain," the Inquisitor said. "And pain can break anyone."
The vile Inquisitor held up a hand to Kanan and a magnetic battle within the Force erupted between the Force-bearers.
"What do you see?"
-.-
"Why are you helping us?" Kallus asked breathily.
Kimmund turned his gaze upon Thrawn. Ezra had made it to the Chiss' side, placing a hand on his left shoulder and brow scrunched in thought. The boy's eyes were fixated upon Thrawn's neck, no doubt appalled at seeing the damage there now that he was standing close.
"Because he doesn't deserve this," Kimmund said quietly. "And I couldn't do anything about it…" He regarded Kallus once again. "…, until now. I just went with a gut feeling."
Kimmund shook his head and huffed a breath. "Look, I wouldn't trust me either, and I don't blame you. But…" Kimmund looked to Ezra and Kanan. "…You're all Rebels, aren't you? Jedi even?" He fixed his eyes upon Kallus again, looking down his blaster-barrel. "And you're former Imperial, yeah? I can tell by how you carry yourself."
Kallus grimaced underneath his helmet. "Yes."
An uncomfortable silence passed between them.
Kanan removed his helmet. With his scarred and cloudy eyes, the Jedi master looked to an empty corner across the room and smirked.
"I think it's okay Kallus," Kanan said, turning in Kallus' general direction.
"I understand," Kallus said to Kimmund. He gingerly lowered his weapon and secured it to his stormtrooper armor. "More than you know."
"He'll be treated fairly?" Kimmund asked.
"I was," Kallus replied slowly, removing his helmet. Understanding but still wary eyes emerged from underneath, blonde hair disheveled. He dropped the helmet to the ground with a thud as if disgusted with the essence of that old life.
After a beat of assessment with piercing blue eyes, Kallus walked over to the medical equipment that monitored Thrawn. "And you will be too…," he said over his shoulder.
Swirlings of despair turning to pain—twisting in alien forms and patterns—
"His neck, Kanan…," Ezra said, his left hand carefully lifting the white collar of Thrawn's uniform. "And… something's wrong."
"I feel it too, Ezra," Kanan said, stepping beside his padawan. "We're gonna get him out of here though."
What were these Imperials up to? Kallus' blue orbs skimmed over the displays. They took care of their prisoner horribly; Thrawn's vitals were all over the place. Kallus opened a log of medicine and toxins administered.
Kallus' heart dropped.
"Skirtopanol mixed with lotiramine?!" Kallus exclaimed. His wide eyes beheld Kimmund in stunned accusation. "What's the goal here?"
"I tried to argue against it…," Kimmund said, his voice trailing off as he stepped to the foot of Thrawn's form.
"What does it mean?" Ezra asked.
Kallus' stunned gaze moved to meet Ezra's concerned eyes.
"It could destroy his mind... It could prove fatal," Kallus said. His hands began dancing over the medical equipment, triggering small beeps. A clear liquid began to travel down Thrawn's IV line. "Maybe they thought his species could take it, but I need to neutralize it all the same."
"Stay with him," Kanan said quietly to Ezra. He then turned to Kimmund. "Help me unload the boxes from the lift."
Ezra, his hand still resting on Thrawn's left shoulder, turned his head and watched his master and Commander Kimmund begin to unload the repulsorlift.
Chopper was plugged into a data-portal on the wall next to the entrance. The droid turned his photoreceptors to Ezra and warbled.
"Wha bwir bwah," Chopper emitted nervously.
"Something's wrong with the hyperdrive?" Ezra asked.
Kimmund grunted as he shoved a heavy box of supplies away from the repulsorlift. "Yes, data shows it overheated during our last jump. I assumed it was part of your plan?"
"N-no…?" Ezra replied.
Kanan glanced his perception to the far corner of the room again as he set a box down. "I guess we're fortunate for the delay."
"We have another problem," Kallus said, walking to Thrawn's side and facing Ezra. His steely blue eyes glanced over Thrawn's form as he approached, noticing the hastily torn sleeve and dried blood around the IV. But it was the now visible greenish, purple bruising around Thrawn's neck that made Kallus pause.
Kallus slowly lifted the loose flap of Thrawn's white uniform and set his jaw as he got a closer look. Speckled, dark green dots formed a subtle rash above the bruises, indicating burst blood vessels, and it was clear to Kallus where Vader had gripped Thrawn's neck. The organic structures were a bit more swollen and more deeply discolored around where a thumb and fierce fingers clearly planted themselves.
Kallus grimaced and glanced with now glistening eyes at Ezra, who was watching with a sickened and sorrowful intensity at the damage. No wonder Thrawn needed the breathing tube. Ezra squeezed Thrawn's shoulder tighter at the gruesome sight, while the mechanical ventilator steadily made Thrawn's chest rise and fall, the synthetic breathing noise permeating throughout the room. He briefly met Kallus' narrowed eyes, and Kallus looked back down at Thrawn's form again with a compassionate yet outraged bearing to himself.
"They weren't kind," Kallus muttered. "He should have been tended to by medical droids by now."
Ezra watched as Kallus methodically lowered the uniform flap back in proper place on Thrawn's chest. His thoughts seemed turmoiled, and the Imperial turned Rebel smoothed the edge of his former superior's uniform as if in reverence. "The machine breathing for him is too loud. We'll take it with us for use on the shuttle, but you'll have to be on the lift with him with a manual bag ventilator… You okay with that Ezra?"
"So, I'll… be breathing for him?" Ezra said, eyes widened.
"Yes," Kallus replied.
Ezra looked back to Thrawn's lax and unconscious face. "Okay," he said, nodding.
Fingers on Thrawn's IV arm twitched, while the clear liquid continued to seep through the IV.
Swirlings in the Force—despair—anxiety—
"Tis'mi?" … "Vatt'ah ten." … "Ttis'ah." …
Ezra flinched.
"There it is again," Ezra said. "Did you hear it Kanan?"
Three low beeps sounded from the machines monitoring Thrawn, and Kallus walked to the displays with concern to see what was happening.
"What do you hear, Ezra?" Kanan stood still and reached out to the Force, but he only felt his padawan's anxiety.
"It's like a voice… a child's voice. I can't understand it… And… it's so…" Ezra closed his eyes.
Swirlings of pain morphing to grief—breaking all ability to concentrate—flashing into unfocused turmoil—
Ezra felt a tumult of grief overcome him. It reminded him of losing his parents, extinguished by the Empire. Left alone on Lothal. Abandoned. Lost.
Exiled.
He whimpered. "So… painful and… cold… misery…"
Kanan felt it and rushed to Ezra's side. Tears seeped from his padawan's eyes.
Kanan put his arm tightly around him and held Ezra tight. His other hand rested on Ezra's chest, and he could feel Ezra's heart rapidly beating. Kanan was worried. "Ezra concentrate; don't get lost in what you feel."
A spark—a sudden twist—CRACK—alien patterns and forms emitting control—
Unfocused turmoil binding into the ability to concentrate—
An older, feminine voice—
"Ch'itkashn." … "Veo." … "G'evoti." …
Ezra was lost in what he heard and sensed coursing through the Force. Kanan shook him. "Ezra!?"
Focus—surprise—confusion—
It was quiet.
Ezra's perception slowly returned to the physical space around him. Eyes still clinched shut, his heartrate slowed down while he took deep breaths. The mechanical ventilator breathing for Thrawn actually provided a helpful pace for Ezra to focus on for calm. It was steady.
"Ezra look," Kanan carefully pressed. "Open your eyes."
Ezra's eyes slowly fluttered open and found glossy crimson orbs staring back.
"Thrawn…," Ezra whispered.
-.-.-.-
Focus—
Crimson orbs fluttered open to find a boy in sorrow with tears streaming down his face. His eyes were closed tight.
Swirlings in the Force—surprise—confusion—
Recognition suddenly dawned in Thrawn's crimson gaze. Heavy eyes flicked to the one who he recognized now as Kanan Jarrus, holding Ezra with a tense worry. The Jedi held the worry of a father.
Kanan huffed a breath and turned to meet Thrawn's glossy gaze, and Thrawn held Kanan's clouded and wise eyes with his own, dimmed scarlet. Could the blind Jedi see him?
Thrawn's eyelids were quickly becoming too heavy. He slowly shifted his sight back to Ezra and regarded the young man.
Kanan sensed so many questions reflected from Thrawn. He felt Thrawn's exhaustion and the mental struggle to overcome it.
"Ezra look," Kanan said, gently shaking his padawan. "Open your eyes."
Thrawn unfocused and flinched narrow his glistening red orbs at the wording. Her melodic voice echoed like a memory. "Ch'itkashn veo g'evoti…"
Ezra slowly opened his eyes, the last currents of fear drifting away. Thrawn saw they were filled with sorrow when the young man met his gaze. There was surprise and confusion there for both of them.
"Thrawn…," Ezra whispered.
Thrawn held Ezra's eyes dimly. His brow furrowed with questions, while Ezra wiped the tears from his face. The Chiss couldn't speak because of the breathing tube, but his eyes seemed to convey so much. You put yourself in danger here… You aren't supposed to be here… Why do you risk this… for me…?
"They're going to get you out of here, Grand Admiral Thrawn," Kimmund said at the foot of the interrogation chair. Thrawn sluggishly moved his gaze where the voice emitted. There was a hint of emotion to the commander's strong voice. "I'm seeing to that."
Recognition in Thrawn's scarlet eyes. You risk so much…?
Thrawn looked down and saw they unhooked his restraints. He tried to lift his arm but could only twitch his fingers. Thrawn blinked slowly in frustration.
"He's weak and malnourished, on top of the toxins they gave him," Kallus said from behind the medical displays.
Thrawn found Kallus watching him from the displays. The former Imperial Agent nodded.
"Why are his eyes so dim?" Ezra asked.
"Low oxygen count in his blood probably," Kallus said. He manipulated the displays in front of him. "The numbers are low. Well… for a human. I'm not sure what his should be actually…"
Thrawn explored the rest of the room and settled upon what would appear to be an empty corner to any other pair of eyes. His hearing began to fade as he focused on the corner. Crimson orbs went wide and then flinched narrow with a flash of familiarity and regret. Thank you…
Thrawn alerted to movement on his left. Crimson eyes tracked the heat signature of someone walking down the hallway outside. Weakly, Thrawn pointed to the door with his left hand and tried to raise it shakily. Kimmund saw the subtle movement and was immediately reminded of the Chiss children he helped rescue in the Unknown Region. The children saved his and the lives of his squad multiple times during their escape with precognitive warnings of Grysk attacks.
Thrawn's crimson eyes shifted to Kimmund's helmet as if the Chiss knew the object of his memory. Those eyes held the look of one resigned to his fate.
Thrawn dropped his hand limp with over exertion, clinched his eyes shut and jerked his head slightly to the right. His body began to reject the breathing tube, but Thrawn was able to stop it quickly with effort. The pain lingered however.
Ezra placed a hand on Thrawn's forehead at the sudden movement and the spike of pain felt through the Force. The new plastoid divider in Thrawn's mouth seemed to be troubling.
"Whoa hey it's alright," Ezra worriedly said, trying to steady him.
"Someone's coming," Kanan said.
The surprise of Kimmund's memory and possible realization slowed him down though.
A keycode could be heard being punched into the pad outside, and, just as Kimmund turned around, he found himself face to face with Tephan as she walked into the room.
"Commander Kimmund I wanted to check…," Tephan's voice trailed off as she took in the room. Her heart turned cold, and she paused.
First, she noticed the empty repulsorlift next to boxes of medical equipment strewn on the floor. No. Some weren't boxes at all but hollowed out coverings similar to what smugglers would use.
Then she noticed two men and a boy in stormtrooper armor without helmets on. The one behind the medical displays seemed on edge at her arrival, ready for a fight.
Third, Tephan noticed a crumpled IT-O Interrogator Droid on the floor in the back of the room. Then, Thrawn's pained expression as he tried to calm himself with the boy's palm on his forehead.
She tilted her head and regarded Commander Kimmund with an almost hurt confusion.
"Sir?" Tephan asked, confused and terrified with disbelief.
"Tephan," Kimmund responded stiffly. He was frozen a moment. She was the last person he expected to walk through that door. He knew what he needed to do, but he hated it.
"Wh- what's going on sir?"
"I'm sorry," Kimmund said, and he pulled his blaster pistol from his hip-holster in a flash, and Tephan plopped to the ground with a thud, stunned unconscious.
Kimmund quickly holstered his weapon and rushed to her side. He shifted her to her back and lifted her head in the crook of his arm. A gloved hand shakily pulled her helmet off, revealing her limp face. Kimmund's heart ached at the sight; she would have been the only one to talk him from doing something crazy like this. She always protected him; she was his center.
"I suppose there's not room for one more on that lift?" Kimmund said sadly as he brushed the hair out of her eyes.
"I'm sorry Kimmund," Kallus said quietly. "Thrawn needs Ezra there to-"
"I know...," Kimmund interrupted sorrowfully. He sighed regretfully as he looked at Tephan's face one last time, taking in all her features and committing them to memory. "I know... Forgive me one day," he whispered.
Chopper warbled lightly.
"We… should get going soon," Kallus said slowly. "We may not have much time before the hyperdrive's back online."
With one last wring through Tephan's hair, Kimmund stood up with a sigh. Again, the leader of the First Legion was grateful for his helmet, for it hid the emotion underneath. However, Kanan felt it clearly and empathized with the commander.
Kimmund nodded. "Let's get him off this ship."
-.-.-.-
Morality separates heroes from villains.
Sometimes, all the universe may hang in the balance.
Translations:
Vav rot'sah «Wake up»
Vav «Awaken»
Tis'mi? «Daddy?»
Vatt'ah ten. «Help him.»
Ttis'ah. «Please.»
Ch'itkashn «Open»
Veo «Your»
G'evoti «Eyes»