The warrior Che’ri and Thrawn were waiting for, it seemed, was in no great hurry.
Thrawn and Che’ri had been waiting three days when the silvery ship Duja had talked about appeared. It disappeared into the trees a fair distance from a settlement built in and around a group of black stone or wooden spires. A few hours later, Duja’s ship rose from the forest and headed away, pursued briefly and uselessly by a couple of the planet’s patrol ships. Che’ri waited for the Nubian to follow it, but the big silver ship remained hidden.
And then, again, nothing. Thrawn spent the days studying all the information he could find on the planet—which Che’ri learned was named Batuu—and giving Che’ri more piloting exercises with the control board in simulator mode. Che’ri, for her part, ran the exercises over and over, and over and over again. Thrawn hadn’t actually said so, but she had a strong suspicion that when the expected warrior arrived Thrawn would be leaving the scout ship in her hands. When that happened, she was determined not to let him down.
And then, even as Che’ri was privately about to give up hope, he was there.
* * *
—
“Unidentified ship, this is General Anakin Skywalker of the Galactic Republic,” the pilot said over the scout ship’s speaker, the Meese Caulf words a little mangled but mostly correct. “You are intruding on Republic equipment and interfering with a Republic mission. I order you to pull back and identify yourself.”
“I greet you,” Thrawn said in turn. “Did you give your name as General Skywalker?”
“I did. Why, have you heard of me?”
Thrawn caught Che’ri’s eye as he touched the MUTE button. “Interesting coincidence,” he commented.
Che’ri nodded. The pilot had spoken the word as if it was his name, but probably he’d just messed up the language.
Thrawn unmuted the comm. “No, not at all,” he said. “I was merely surprised. Let me assure you I mean no harm to you or your equipment. I merely wished a closer look at this interesting device.”
“Glad to hear it,” the pilot said. “You’ve had your look. Pull back as ordered.”
Thrawn pursed his lips thoughtfully. Then, very deliberately, he eased the ship back from the ring they’d moved up to examine. “May I ask what brings a Republic envoy to this part of space?” he asked.
“May I ask what business it is of yours?” the pilot countered. “You can be on your way at any time.”
“On my way?”
“To continue your travels. To go wherever you were going before you stopped to look at my hyperdrive ring.”
Again, Thrawn touched MUTE. “Opinion?”
Che’ri blinked. He was asking her opinion on this? Her opinion? “I don’t know anything about things like this.”
“You’re a Chiss,” Thrawn reminded her. “As such, you have instincts and judgment, perhaps more than you know. Do you think he’ll make a good ally?”
Che’ri crinkled her nose. She’d never met this person. She’d barely even heard him speak.
Yet she could sense confidence in him, and strength, and commitment. “Yes,” she said. “I do.”
Thrawn nodded and unmuted the comm. “Yes, I could continue on my way,” he said. “But it might be more useful for me to assist you in your quest.”
“I already told you I was on a Republic mission. It’s not a quest.”
“Yes, I recall your words,” Thrawn said. “But I find it hard to believe that a Republic at war would send a lone man in a lone fighter craft on a mission. I find it more likely that you travel on a personal quest.”
“I’m on a mission,” the pilot insisted. “Directly ordered here by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself. And I don’t have time for this.”
“Agreed,” Thrawn said. “Perhaps it would be best if I were to simply show you the location of the ship you seek.”
There was a short pause. “Explain,” the pilot said quietly.
“I know where the Nubian ship landed,” Thrawn told him. “I know the pilot is missing.”
“So you intercepted a private transmission?”
“I have my own sources of information. Like you, I seek information, on that and other matters. Also like you I’m alone, without the resources to successfully investigate. Perhaps in alliance we may find the answers both of us seek.”
“Interesting offer. You say it’s just the two of us?”
“Yes,” Thrawn said. He glanced at Che’ri. “Plus my pilot and your droid, of course.”
“You didn’t mention your pilot.”
“Neither did you mention your droid. Since neither will be joining us in our investigation, I didn’t think they entered into the discussion.”
“Artoo usually comes with me on missions.”
“Indeed?” Thrawn said, cocking an eyebrow. “Interesting. I was unaware that navigational machines had other uses. Do we have an alliance?”
The pilot hesitated. Che’ri motioned, and Thrawn touched MUTE. “The pilot of the other ship is missing?”
“I don’t know for certain,” Thrawn said. “But the lack of activity suggests that may be the case.” He shrugged slightly. “Besides, General Skywalker clearly cares about him or her. Raising the level of urgency should help him make up his mind.”
“So what answers are you looking for?” Skywalker said.
Thrawn touched the key. “I wish to more fully understand this conflict in which you’re embroiled. I wish answers of right and wrong, of order and chaos, of strength and weakness, of purpose and reaction.” Again, Thrawn looked at Che’ri; and then, suddenly, he straightened up a bit in his seat. “You asked my identity. I am now prepared to give it. I am Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo, officer of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, servant of the Chiss Ascendancy. On behalf of my people, I ask your assistance in learning of this war before it sweeps its disaster over our own worlds.”
Che’ri frowned. Commander? She thought he was a senior captain. Had he been demoted?
Probably not. More likely he was just downplaying his rank for some reason, maybe so General Skywalker wouldn’t feel threatened by Thrawn’s more extensive military experience. Certainly Skywalker sounded a lot younger than Thrawn.
“I see,” Skywalker said. “Very well. On behalf of Chancellor Palpatine and the Galactic Republic, I accept your offer.”