Title: Here at the Right Time (5/?)

Fandom: Star Wars

Rating: PG for this part

Pairing/Characters: Thrawn/Jorj Car'das

Summary: Jorj Car'das learns that life is more interesting with a Chiss than without one. An AU of sorts taking place after the events of Timothy Zahn's Outbound Flight.

Notes: From here on out actual events both Republic-wide and Thrawn-specific will be sped up and happen in a matter of months instead of years. This section deals with the events leading directly to Thrawn's banishment/exile from the Chiss.

After being back in Chiss space for a little over a month, Ca'rdas was invited to visit Csilla. The tense month that followed almost made the invitation come as a relief.

Thrawn was already in bed scrolling over newly collected data from scouting parties and frontier patrols on a datapad when Car'das told him.

"Of course I cannot go with you," Thrawn calmly explained, but he looked restless and more than a little displeased by the tone of the message Car'das had received.

Car'das nodded. "Too much going on here, right? That's okay."

Thrawn raised an eyebrow. "I've not been invited or hadn't you noticed?"

"But… they can't possibly… Why would they…"

"We've discussed this. You're an Ambassador. They are obviously curious to learn more about you, and I can hardly blame them." Although he was striving for indifference, the commander only succeeded in sounding disapprovingly bitter.

Car'das leaned down and kissed Thrawn's cheek."If you tell me not to go, I won't."

"Why would I deny you the opportunity?"

"Because clearly it's upsetting you."

Thrawn exhaled sharply. "Yes, and I am not sure why."

"Because they don't want you there at the moment?"

Thrawn shook his head.

"Because you won't be with me?"

"More than likely," Thrawn wryly replied.

"Look at me," Car'das said, forcing Thrawn to meet his gaze as he knelt on the mattress. "If you don't want me to go, I won't. I don't care what excuse I need to make up."

"You cannot refuse an invitation from a Ruling Family."

"Watch me."

"It would be in incredibly poor taste."

"Then I'll tell them why. I'm even less concerned with their opinion of me than you are

with their opinion of your actions."

"This seems unwise."

"Look, I… You have to know you matter more to me. I get that your people don't value individuals, but I value you."

"Likewise," Thrawn murmured.

"Then… to hell with them, okay? Don't ask me to play nice when you don't actually want me to."

Thrawn sighed heavily and Car'das pulled him into a hug. "It may end up being a moot point anyway."

"Oh?"

"I need to deal with this." Thrawn punched a few buttons and a small holographic building appeared. "Whirlwind has located a weapons installation right outside of our borders."

Looking at the images, Car'das could already figure out what the commander was going to do about it.

"It's only a matter of time before this must be dealt with," Thrawn pointed out. "They are not simply stock-piling and making weapons for the joy said task brings."

"What does everyone else want to do?"

"What do you think?"

Car'das sighed. "I'm guessing I don't really want to be on Csilla when you deal with them."

"That is still technically for the Ruling Families to decide." Thrawn was silent for a moment before setting the datapad down and brushing cool fingers over Car'das' face.

"But even so I would still have to ask you not to go to Csilla."

"Then ask."

"Please don't go."

"Because?"

"Because I would prefer to stay with you for as long as it remains possible," was

Thrawn's somewhat unanticipated answer.

"I'm not going to leave you just because you get sent offworld."

"You don't understand, Jorj. You will not be able to follow me into exile?"

"Why not?"

"It is simply not even a possibility. You are an Ambassador of the Republic and not my spouse. Furthermore, the experience will be intended to alienate, isolate, and punish me."

"All the more reason to send me along. I could make you miserable if I put my mind to it."

Thrawn smiled, looking a bit more affectionate than usual. "No, you could not. There is too much kindness and empathy in your nature for that. And you care for me too much."

"I couldn't possibly care for you too much," Car'das argued before lapsing into a thoughtful silence. Thrawn's fingers carded through his hair. "So what will happen?"

"I will lose you. You will lose me. Temporarily."

"How will it be temporary? They're going to toss you at some deserted world and…" Car'das shook his head firmly. "Never mind. Explain how your exile will be temporary. Please."

Thrawn kissed his cheek. "You are quite attached to me."

"I'm rapidly running out of patience. So spill."

"You'll be able to track my location. I cannot tell you how only that you will find the means on your ship once you leave for the last time."

Car'das didn't know that he wanted to leave Crustai for the last time, but he didn't say or even try to indicate as much. "Once this over, will we be together?"

"Most assuredly. What we have was never meant to be temporary. I do not really care for temporary arrangements."

Car'das sighed. "Then all right. Not that you need my approval or consent."

Thrawn took Car'das' hands in his. "I am honored to have it. Your trust touches me deeply, Jorj. I know that you do not wish to leave and I am not overly thrilled at the prospects, but I truly believe that happiness for either one of us can only be found elsewhere."

Days later, the Clone Wars gave way to the Separatist Crisis. Palpatine was able to keep his seat and was doing his level best to keep the Republic from splitting in two. But somehow Car'das doubted that was the man's true intention.

Car'das contacted Aristocra Vereen, feeling not small amount of trepidation. But he calmly stated he could not visit due to the situation back in the Republic, which could call for his immediate departure at any time. He wished he could have shared his feelings for Thrawn, but he couldn't bring himself to add to his lover's problems.

Even as weeks slowly trickled by, Car'das felt as though his days were numbered. He weighed his words carefully and every time he saw Thrawn, he hoped it wouldn't be for the last time.

He focused mainly on recording Thrawn's analysis of Mandalorian vases and other artwork recently brought over from Alderaan, the soul of the Republic. Coruscant, many felt, was merely its heart.

"I do not believe these pieces to be as significant as the Supreme Chancellor might wish. Is he still holding that position?"

Ca'rdas shrugged.

"I have been meaning to ask… Are you well, Jorj?" Even as he posed the question,

Thrawn began examining Car'das for signs of infection or fever.

"Everything's so up in the air right now. There might not even be a Republic. And you might…"

"All shall be well."

Car'das scowled, shoving Thrawn's hand away from his forehead "I don't feel that way."

Thrawn raised an eyebrow.

"You might have a distracting exile to look forward to, but what do I have? Weeks sitting around like some war widow in Coruscant? I'm not going to have a job. I can't be an Ambassador to nowhere so they'll let me be a smuggler again. Meanwhile some low-level bureaucrat will have your exact coordinates, but I won't. And the only person you're a priority to is me."

"Perhaps, but I imagine that as the Supreme Chancellor of—"

"What if there's no Republic?"

Thrawn considered this. "I suspect that will not matter. Palpatine is not going anywhere. He is a force to be reckoned with and an authority to be obeyed."

Car'das frowned. "He's just some old guy. He used to be a Senator. I doubt he's that big a deal."

"You know he is more than that. Do not let your judgment be clouded by appearances.

We both know he is not just a Republic figurehead."

"Yeah," Car'das was reluctantly forced to admit.

And as if Thrawn had somehow made it happen through sheer force of will, the Republic fell mere weeks later and an Empire rose out of the ashes of its smoldering corpse. The Jedi were scattered like so many grains of dust, being hunted down by Anakin Skywalker of all people. Then the decision came back to wait and observe the enemy weapons facility, but not to attack without provocation even if there was arguably due cause.

Car'das found out about the latter event through eavesdropping on a conversation in the base's cafeteria. The Chiss had never seemed to completely grasp the concept of his understanding Cheunch.

Marching back to Thrawn's room, he glared at the commander even as Thrawn kissed his neck.

"What is it?"

"The Aristocras. They decided to leave the base alone days ago but you're not. You left last night with a whole bunch of plans."

"Hm. Yes I did. I am glad you're here. It saves me time as I wished to speak to you anyway."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. You're leaving. Now."

Car'das blinked as Thrawn began steering him out of the room and into the hall. "I should stay at least until we're sure that—"

"No."

"And if they don't exile you anytime soon?"

"I am afraid as of the evening you briefly alluded to, I have left them with no alternative. The majority of my men are loyal to a fault. One of them, however, has informed a certain Aristocra and Admiral of my activities."

"But my stuff."

"It's on the ship along with some of my belongings that I should like to keep once all this is over."

"What if I don't want to leave?"

"I am not giving you an option. I know you too well to leave something as important as your safety entirely subject to your whims, Jorj," the commander explained, grip tightening, becoming stronger and unyielding, on Car'das arm as they kept walking. "I cannot let you stay. You will not approve of what happens."

"Of what you did or what they'll do?"

"Both."

"You didn't even tell me about this."

"I did not wish to cause you any more emotional duress than I already had. The last few weeks, you've been absolutely morose."

"I had a right to be. I have a right to stay too. You can't just constantly drag me here or push me there, Thrawn. Or leave me out of what you do."

"In this case, I did what I thought was best and now they will do what they think is best. I simply refuse to let them do the same with you."

As if on queue, Car'das heard angry, raised voices coming from another corridor. Thrawn hauled him into the docking bay and down to where his ship's platform had already been lowered.

"I don't understand."

"You would if you stopped to think about it. The installation it gone and the others were content to leave it be."

"Then you—"

"Did what I had to do. As I already said."

"Thrawn—"

The Chiss spun him around and kissed him quite fiercely before shoving him towards the ship, up into its hull. "I will find you. Or you will find me. It doesn't matter which way it happens, but it will happen."

"Wait. Just come with," Ca'rdas said, hating the pleading note in his voice. He tried to move back out, but Thrawn's hands held him in place.

"It is not possible," he said with a sad look. Pushing Car'das back, he moved out and the platform rose up into the ship. "Be safe, Jorj." And before the ship could seal shut, he added, "Know that I love you."

"Bastard," Car'das forced out through gritted teeth.

He contemplated going back out, but there wasn't anything he could and that was completely Thrawn's doing. So instead he angrily stalked into the cockpit, waited to be cleared for travel, and then began his departure.