"Thrawn! Get away from him!" Hera screamed. Kanan heard her draw her hold out blaster, heard the distinct whine of Zeb's Bo rifle, and smelled the oil on Rex's T-21. Thrawn did not move a muscle, staring at them all with that confident stare that was so infuriating.

"I assure you, General Syndulla, I am unarmed. Apparently, I am also expected."

"Kanan?" asked Hera in a bewildered voice. "Did you know about this?"

"Yes. I have had Force visions." He sensed Hera's confusion, confusion that switched quickly to pain, betrayal, and then anger.

"And you didn't see fit to tell me?" Her voice raised, wracked in pain. "Knowing what he did to Phoenix squadron, what he did to Sato, what he did to you!" She was screaming in pain. Rex moved slowly towards her "Hera, let's listen to what Kanan has to say. Chopper confirmed he is alone, and unarmed. "

Snarling, Hera briefly lowered her blaster. "What makes you think I want to hear anything this murderous monster has to say. Well Grand Admiral," she sneered" why are you here? What could you possibly offer?"

"I am here to offer the salvation of the galaxy," Thrawn replied, unfazed. "You call me murderous, but I served the Emperor, in battle, just as you served your cause. Only history will tell the monsters from the saviors. Or terrorist from rebels.."

Hera started to reply, then she paused, thinking thoughtfully. "You said served, past tense."

Thrawn nodded. "If I may?" He presented a holo projector. "This was sent to me by Eli Vanto, one who served under me, and has since left the Empire to work with the Chiss Ascendency."

They watched the attack several times, Kanan replaying the force vision in his mind. Rex, of course, spoke up first. "The speed and coordination of the attacks, their power, precision, unlike anything I have seen before. Those old ships may be outdated, but they should have survived longer then they did."

Hera paused. "Why are you here Thrawn? This is fascinating, horrifying actually, but what do you want?"

Without hesitation, Thrawn replied. "My presence is here to serve several reasons. While you did achieve a resounding victory at Yavin, the Empire can still prevail, especially if I were to take a more direct role. I am here to withdrawal myself from this struggle. I will take the Chimera and return to wild space to help the Chiss delay this unknown enemy. "

Kanan sensed the rising excitement of the others. Having the empires most brilliant strategist leave, especially after the death of so many high level Moffs on the death star, would be a huge benefit.

Hera asked coolly, her voice tinged with excitement, "And what do you want from us?"

Thrawn glanced at Kanan briefly, "All I ask is that when the time comes, we stand together against this threat. I will endeavor to delay as long as possible. I will send intelligence to you directly. I ask you speak to the alliance for me, to ensure they understand I am acting alone, and no longer against them. And, one other, favor."

Kanan kept perfectly still, knowing what would come.

"I ask the Jedi to journey with me."

"Absolutely not!" Hera yelled.

"Hera." Kanan spoke quietly, evenly. "Walk with me, love"

He felt Hera's glare, her pain rising up. Choking back the tears she spat out to Rex, "Keep an eye on our guest here." Rex nodded.

"Excellent," Thrawn replied. "Captain Rex, I have wished for some time to discuss with you the Clone Wars. The Empires records are rather biased."

Kanan grinned slyly; Rex would talk his ears off now.

Hera gently took Kanan's arm, guiding him around the building to the back hanger. She paused, gathering herself, taking his hands in hers. When she spoke, it was quiet, and desperate. "Kanan, you can't, there is no way you can trust him, no way to you can go with him. Look what he has done, what he did to you. And why didn't you tell me about this? That hurts the most." Kanan saw her through the Force, as he saw all things. But Hera was different. He saw her with the Force, and with love.

"Hera, when I awoke after Alderaan, I had a succession of Force visions as well. I couldn't make sense of them, but it was an overwhelming sense of destruction, death, and unrest. Last night I had them again, and saw Thrawn as the focal point. That he would be the tipping point that would save the universe, or let it slide into destruction. I also saw myself, on his right side, glowing with the Force. As my Force aura grew brighter, so did the universe chance. If I don't go, the balance will be determined later, but if I do go, and I do assist him, the universe may have a better chance. Jedi insights, coupled with his battle genius and insights, might be required to overcome what is out there."

Hera held him tighter. "I don't trust him. I'm coming too."

Here was the part Kanan was dreading. "Hera, you built this rebellion, you need to see it through, they need you. Rex, Ezra, Sabine, Zeb, even chopper, they need you. This young Jedi, he needs you. Leia needs you."

Hera was sobbing openly now. "I know. But, you are, I mean, we, I.."

Kanan nodded, leaning close, whispering in her ear "I love you too Hera."

She squeezed him tighter. "I love you so much. So many times I thought I had lost you, or we were not going to make it out of some situation. I see the end in sight, I see happiness for us so near, and now."

"I will be back Hera, I promise."

They kissed, long, and slow, enjoying what they had so long forbidden themselves to feel. Simultaneously they broke the kiss off, and hand in hand walked back to Thrawn.

As they returned, Thrawn held out a small communicator to Hera. "At any time, you can use this to access my private channel. Kanan can contact you as well. I will also send intel to you, to pass to the Rebel alliance. They must be warned, and they must be made aware." Bowing briefly, he turned and walked to his shuttle. Kanan felt Rex place his hands on his shoulders. "Take care of her for me Rex." Rex nodded briefly, then he embraced Kanan. Kanan returned the embrace.

"Till next we meet Kanan. It has been an honor."

Kanan turned to Hera "Tell Ezra and Sabine for me." Hera nodded. Still holding her hand, he turned to Zeb. "Buddy, it's been.."

"I'm going with you." Kanan sensed everybody's shock, then an outpouring of gratitude from Hera. "Zeb, I don't know.."

"Listen Kanan, you need somebody you can trust on a ship full of imps. I've done my part here, for the rebellion, and for my people."

Kanan nodded. Hera beamed her gratitude. "Thank you Zeb." She gave him a brief hug, and a kiss on the cheek. Zeb ducked his head and strode off, muttering about getting his stuff.

Turning one last time to Hera, Kanan gave her a final hug, a final kiss, a final three words, then turned and walked towards Thrawn's shuttle.