"The Emperor has sent an alternative solution..."
-Grand Moff Tarkin
Mustafar...
As the shuttle landed in the normally imposing dark structure, the outside lit only by lava, Thrawn had considered what Commander Faro had said. The Jedi padawan Ezra Bridger... captured...
He walked onto the giant circular platform in the center of the castle, the only place where Lord Vader has allowed guests... The other areas are heavily guarded by his personal army of Stormtroopers... He could see the blue striping on their armor...
However, his attention shifted to the entrance... A hooded man walked out of the fog-cloaked doorway...
"Welcome, Grand Admiral Thrawn... What do you require?" The man said... in a rapsy voice that was very unsettling to most...
"I bring important news regarding the Jedi..." Thrawn said calmly... He knew Vader was strong with the Force, and that he was Anakin Skywalker. Skywalker used to be a knight of the Jedi Order, and therefore knew what to do with the corruptible boy...
"Very well..." The man acknowledged, and walked back into the fog... Thrawn knew to stay put, as he has met with Lord Vader several times before...
Vaneé silently walked past the many stormtroopers guarding the facility. They all knew him, but were not to speak with him during times like these, when he rushes to Vader to make a report...
The old man reached the central chamber, punching in a code to open the door... And when the door slid open, he walked inside...
Vader was once again in his rejuvenation chamber, trying to heal his body to remove the need of the painful suit. He hated Mustafar, because it constantly reminded him of his regrets and failures... Such as his ordeal with Padmé and Obi Wan seventeen years ago. Vader's regrets fueled his power in the Dark Side, and made him constantly angry.
Vader's head turned in the bacta to listen to Vaneé.
"My Lord... Grand Admiral Thrawn has arrived..."
Vader was delighted to actually work. It took his mind off of Kenobi, and how this suit was all because of Kenobi's evil...
The bacta began draining... And once fully drained, the chamber fitted his armor... He was ready, and walked out...
Thrawn turned his head when the door opened once again... But this time Lord Vader was the one walking out of the deep fog. He walked straight to Thrawn, towering over the Chiss warrior...
"Grand Admiral Thrawn..." Vader acknowledged, knowing that Thrawn did not fear him... Something that was most impressive.
"Lord Vader..." Thrawn simply said calmly...
"I have come to report on the status of the Jedi in the Rebellion... Commander Faro has captured the young Ezra Bridger in the Felucia System... Due to your knowledge of the Jedi, I believed it was best to inform you before I report to the Emperor..."
"Very impressive, Admiral... Many officers are unable to fight a Jedi, let alone capture one... You have taught her well..."
"Thank you, Lord Vader... Shall I deliver him to you?"
"That will be most useful, Grand Admiral... I will show him the lies of the Jedi, and attempt to rejuvenate his loyalty to the Emperor... Then we shall use him against the Rebellion."
"Very well..." Thrawn replied very calmly...
"However, you must return to the fleet and fight off any attempt rescue the boy..."
Vader then walked back into the deep fog... And Thrawn knew to return to the shuttle... The Chimaera was waiting...
Base One, Yavin IV
Hera was worried... Kanan and Zeb have returned from their extended supply run, but Ezra was still gone from his recon mission... He was a week late...
"General Dodonna, I think Red Six's been captured... He hasn't come back from his recon mission, and is a week late."
"I see your concern, General Syndulla... How many of our military secrets does he know?"
"Half of them..." She said worriedly, she knew Thrawn would use them against the Rebellion...
Dodonna looked at her, understanding the situation...
"We'll have to sift through Imperial comm channels before we start a search party..."
He then turned to the comm officer, "Lieutenant, what was Commander Bridger's last reported location?"
"The Felucia system..." He said... The wild deathtrap... If he crashed, he would never survive the wildlife.
"Search through the comm channels for any news on Commander Bridger! We need to retrieve him, or silence him..."
Hera looked shocked at the last few words, "Silence him?"
Dodonna replied, "If we can't save him, we have to stop him from giving up important information..."
Another man, a young one, nodded in acknowledgment... He was a Fulcrum agent... A recruitment agent...
Hera sighed, nodded in understanding, and left the command center... This can't be happening..."
Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Chimaera, a few days after Thrawn's meeting with Vader.
Ezra sat in his cell... Staring at the heat shield holding him in the cell...
Karabast, he thought as he examined every inch of the cell... No vents, a deadlock sealed door, and electrodes that can electrocute him at any time...
"I see that you've found no way of escape... Your face betrays you..." Thrawn said calmly, towering over the boy from the other side of the shield.
"Wait, how?!" Ezra was surprised... He was sure he made his face look emotionless...
"The eyes of a Chiss can detected infrared light... I can see the temperature of the blood in your face... The apparent rise in temperature indicates surprise... The type laced with fear..."
"You don't know anything..." Ezra said with apprehension... He tried to hide what his face showed... But it was no use...
"Oh, I've studied all information I have on you... I am sure you remember what I said to General Syndulla..."
Karabast, he knew about that too... "To defeat an enemy, you must know them?"
"Well that is correct, Padawan Bridger... I studied all data on your ships, your commanders, and you... Then I used it to cripple your fleet on Atollon, and you must assume I am once again gathering information..."
"You won't get any more info from me!" Ezra yelled... Now he was really angry...
"Perhaps I will not, but I am sure Lord Vader will glean it from you easily..." Thrawn said in a terrifyingly calm tone...
Ezra resorted to powers he hasn't used since his time learning from the Sith Holocron... He needed to get out before Vader arrived... And frantically he unconsciously began to clamp on Thrawn's throat with the Force...
"Turn... on... the... electrodes...!" Thrawn said frantically, choking...
Faro set the electrodes to max... And the sudden jolt of electricity caused Ezra to scream in pain, releasing Thrawn...
Faro then turned off the device... Leaving a Thrawn gasping for air and an Ezra that's been temporarily immobilized, but still concious...
"Well, Padawan Bridger... Lord Vader will deal with your Jedi devilry..." Thrawn said, his face and tone showing the extremely rare fear and anger...
Thrawn and Faro left the isolated cell... Leaving two incorruptible droids to guard the facility... Ezra was now left alone... In an Imperial Star Destroyer at a location he's not familiar with.
"Commander, go to the Death's Head to continue the operation... I must prepare for Lord Vader's arrival..."