Author's Notes: Moy, you are spectacular!

The admiral led them to a conference room and then instructed their Stormtrooper escort to wait outside the door. Afterwards, he spoke, "I just had this room swept for spying devices, and it is clean. I must say, I am pleased to see you again, Admiral Thrawn."

"As am I to see you," the Chiss returned.

"Grandfather," Kantasha nodded towards him in greeting.

"Kantasha." A small smile graced the admiral's lips as he looked at his granddaughter. "I am glad to see you are well." The man's gaze flickered only briefly, but Thrawn saw the motion and interpreted it correctly.

"Skywalker has realized the futility of keeping a galaxywide Republic together," the Chiss said, his calm gaze resting on the fair headed human. "He is ready to aid us in uniting the galaxy's systems together under the Empire once and for all...He is our ally. Are you not, Skywalker?"

"I am," Skywalker replied quietly. His face was passive, his eyes clear. But something about his expression changed when he turned to look at Mara Jade (the one whose Pellaeon's attention was now on), though it was a subtle change.

Staring into the woman's flashing emerald eyes as if daring her to make the outburst he knew she was trying to hold back, Skywalker said, "Because Mara Jade may not be entirely supportive, I shall personally ensure that she does not hinder our operations."

Mara stared at Luke. Hinder our—?

What in space did Skywalker think he was doing? Was this even him? Had Thrawn switched him for a clone when she wasn't looking?

'Hinder our operations,' indeed, Mara scoffed inwardly. The blasted Jedi was just trying to sound cool in front of his new friends. She winced at that simplification.

These were not Skywalker's new friends, no matter what he wanted to think. They would stick vibroblades into his back the moment it was turned. They'd use him, then throw him away.

"You can't even personally ensure that your laundry's been cleaned, much less keep an eye on a person other than yourself," Mara bit out, pleased to notice the slight flush on Skywalker's face.

"Watch yourself, Jade, or you might find yourself unpleasantly hidden away."

So now, she was 'Jade' to him, huh?

Mara scowled when she looked over at Kantasha Pellaeon and saw the look of smug satisfaction on her face. Minus one point for Mara. She'd have to remedy that soon enough, but she couldn't do it right now. She had a reputation to keep. "Whatever you'll do to me can't be nearly as bad as the things I'm contemplating actually doing to you, Skywalker."

"I'm quivering with fear."

"You should be," Mara grumbled.

Thrawn cleared his throat. "As intriguing as this conversation is, I'm afraid we have a Republic we need to eliminate."

Kantasha smiled sweetly, as Mara gave her a death glare. "I'll escort Jade to her quarters," Kantasha said with an evil laugh.

Thrawn nodded. "You know where she is to go."

With a hiss of "I'll get you yet, Skywalker!" and a flash of red-gold hair, Mara Jade was gone, followed swiftly by a perturbed sable haired pursuer.

Pellaeon looked to Skywalker, then to Thrawn, expecting to be dismissed. He felt a brief pang at the thought that his place as Thrawn's protegé was to be taken by Skywalker, a one-time enemy of Thrawn's, but if that was what it took for the Empire to rise once again, he was willing to let it be so.

Thrawn, however, did not show any sign that he wished for Pellaeon to leave. In fact, he began to address him, asking him more about the current situation with the Rebellion, and letting both him and Skywalker throw forth a few ideas. Pellaeon suppressed a look of wonder. He should have known that Thrawn would not just toss him aside. Thrawn cared for his men, and his decisions were always carefully made. When he chose to take Pellaeon under his wing, it was not just temporarily.

Pellaeon found that his opinion of Thrawn had just gone up a notch, something he had thought impossible. Well, it just went to show that Thrawn was always full of surprises. Pellaeon could not help but wonder what the cool alien had up his sleeves this time.

"Looks like you and Luke are having a few—"

"Shut up," Mara cut Kantasha off.

The dark haired woman smirked. "Seems like your smart mouth has just lost the challenge for you. It will be hard for you to win if you're going to be stuck in a cell the whole time."

"I'll find—" Mara cut off. "Wait a minute, a cell?"

"Yes," Kantasha confirmed, eyes dancing. "You can't expect us to let a dissenter run about freely." She let loose a loud mock-sigh. "Oh, well. I guess I'll just get Luke all to myself..."

"You keep your grimy claws off him!" Mara growled. "No matter what front he puts up, he's greener than Endor, and I will not have you—"

"You seem to have forgotten something," Kantasha interrupted. "You are going to be stuck into a cell thanks to your omnipresent stupidity, and there's no way you're going to find yourself in a position to restrain me from doing anything I want." She smiled sweetly. "I hope you like prison food."

Mara lunged at her, but the granddaughter of Pellaeon disappeared out of the cell, her dark laughter ringing down the hall. Mara clenched her fists. Oh, she would find a way to get out. There was no doubt about that.

Pellaeon smiled. This strategy was particularly intriguing. He had no doubt that its deviousness would indeed cause the upheaval of the so-called New Republic. He might have had doubts during his previous time with Thrawn, doubts which always proved fruitless, but as on edge as the diplomats on Coruscant were, there was no way this plan could fail.

They were already preparing to set the plan in motion. Pellaeon was to remain at the Imperial base, while his granddaughter went with Thrawn, Skywalker, and Jade...elsewhere.

Gilad Pellaeon did not quite approve of their taking the vicious redhead with them, but he could sense the truth in Thrawn's argument that she would probably manage to escape if imprisoned on planet since she was determined to keep an eye on Skywalker.

So Pellaeon was willing to let them have it their way without complaint from him, but he would keep an ear and eye out anyway. There was nothing wrong in being overly cautious.