Foundations and Factions 3

Nirauan was every bit as odd and as cold as I remembered it to be. An arboreal world which orbited a weak red giant it was primarily covered in jungles and lakes. The base, which Thrawn had set up, was located in a pre existing building that had been made from a stone which absorbed energy. It had been Voss Parck who had initially called the base ‘the Hand of Thrawn’ as a joke, a play on the fact that the five towers which made up the stone structure vaguely resembled the fingers on a hand reaching for the sky. Over the years the base had been added to and modified to be a formidable hideout, with the highest tower serving as the command center. It reminded me greatly of the bridge of Lord Vader’s Super Star Destroyer, not from a size point of view but from a technical standpoint. Had anyone from the New Republic managed to sneak a look at this base they would have shuddered in fear. What the base lacked in man power it made up for in technological advantages. Thrawn’s ability to use and combine other species’ technology was astounding and the engineers he had working under him had worked miracles.

The last time I had been on Nirauan I had not been in a particularly good state of mind. This time I saw it with different eyes and had been more than impressed as Thrawn had given me a fairly in depth tour of the entire facility. The base itself was remarkable, if the Empire had been as well run as this place was it would never have fallen. The end of the tour had coincided with the Med-lab where much to both my surprise and Thrawn’s Doctor Thracer had greeted me with a surprising enthusiasm.

“Well, Miss Gabriel, Look at you!” He exclaimed as he clasped me by my shoulders. “I see that planet he shipped you off to suited you well. Welcome back. I hear you will be staying with us for a while now.”

I nodded.

“Good,” He said, “now I have someone to play dejarik with who won’t always beat me in three moves!”

I wasn’t sure if that had been a compliment or not but that he was happy to see me made it perfectly okay either way. I had not expected his warm welcome and for the first time since stepping foot on Nirauan I felt as though I might have a place here after all. At least, I had thought as we had left the med lab so he could show me my quarters and my office, I have one friend here already.

The rooms designated for me to use as an office and a language classroom were located on the other side of the compound in the South East tower. The office was nice and the class room suitable to teaching a group of people up to ten or so. I was dubious about the whole language teaching thing but I kept my doubts to myself.

“You have computer access and there is a library as well. What you need will be provided for you within reason.” Thrawn said, breaking the silence as I stood just inside the small room staring at it, trying to imagine me as a language instructor. The image was coming to mind. While I had taught basic to some of the Dantassi it had been an informal thing, this was going to be a whole other game and I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of it. I suppose he read my uncertainty on my face because he smiled. “You will do fine.” He said.

I just glanced at him and shrugged in a way that said ‘what ever’. “So how about you show me where I will actually be living.” I said which made him smile again.

Thrawn’s personal living quarters were located in the North West tower, separate and quiet from the rest of the habitat areas of the base and far away from his official work area and offices. He had decided that it would be best if I were to live in the same place and I had been surprised to see that my rooms, though separate, adjoined his.

“You are my bond mate, Tekari.” He said frankly. “While I do not see any reason to actively advertise this fact, it is not a secret and sooner or later people here will figure out that you and I are a couple if they have not done so already. There are others here who have their mates with them and, although at the moment it is not exactly a desirable thing due to circumstances, perhaps there might even be a place for families here one day.”

His explanation surprised me a little but it also made sense. On board his ship he was distant, always on duty but being on Nirauan allowed him some personal time and I supposed that made the difference. I was not going to complain. I had not come here simply to be a language instructor or anything else, for that matter, I had come here to be with him.

The rooms I had been given were surprisingly spacious and light with a view that over looked the forest to the West. While sparsely decorated I could see it was a place I could come to like, and perhaps, given enough time, even call home. Though, I thought ruefully, really where ever Thrawn was, was home to me. I noticed that my belongings had already been brought to my rooms and all that remained for me to do was to unpack and settle in. It would take me a little while to adjust to Nirauan local time, unlike on all the Imperial ships which all ran on Coruscant Standard Time this planet had a twenty-nine hour day and a six day week. The planet had a steady, circular orbit which allowed for little variations in seasonal changes. According to Thrawn at the moment it was autumn, or as close to it as was possible. The temperatures were a little cooler and it rained more often. I didn’t mind rain. It was still a novelty for me to see water fall from the sky and I loved the scent of damp foliage and wet soil which always accompanied such weather. I glanced at the chrono on the wall, it was the middle of the afternoon planet side but for me it still felt like early morning. I was in desperate need of stimcaf.

“The training facility is open to you and there is a swimming pool in the subbasement.” He continued and then added with a sly smile, “You still remember how to swim don’t you?”

“I think I can manage not to drown, if that’s what you are asking.” I said as I began to open my bags and unpack my clothes. “I don’t happen to have any swim wear with me though. I don’t suppose this planet has a ladies wear boutique near by?”

“No I am afraid we are rather lacking in a viable commercial district but we do have a passable tailor who might be able to create something suitable for you. He is no Cati but he is skilled in his craft.”

“You have a tailor here?” I asked.

Thrawn nodded. “Yes, it was easier than trying to continually requisition clothing supplies from the Core. We acquire the materials from local systems to produce most of what we require here on the base. It saves time and makes us more efficient. Ordering and obtaining many supplies from the Core was next to impossible not to mention an enormous waste of time and resources before the Emperor’s death, now it is an impossibility so we became self sufficient.”

It made perfect sense. Reliance on the Core for supplies was time consuming. I just had not really given it much thought before. “Well, I guess I will have to meet with him then.”

“That can be arranged, my dear.”

“What about going outside?” I asked.

“Well,” He said carefully, “I will not restrict you if that is what you are asking but this world is wild for the most part and we have not yet been able to catalogue much of the indigenous life forms so I would not recommend leaving the base unarmed and alone.” He turned to look out of the window. “There are some avian creatures, mostly considered a pest, which dwell both in the underground caverns and on the cliffs near by. As far as I have been able to asses they are non threatening and for the most part stay out of our way. There have, however, been incidents with an insect that also makes its home in the caverns. They travel in swarms and devour just about anything living, as far as we can tell. We lost several good men to them so I would prefer that you stay out of the caves.”

“Insects? Swarms of flesh eating insects?” I shivered. That sounded like something out of a really bad horror holovid.

He nodded.

“Is there anything in these caves worth seeing that would make ignoring your request worth while?”

His lip twitched in amusement. “Not especially.”

“Then I suppose I can give them a miss.” I said.

“I would be grateful if you would.” He said. “Please do not go out alone. While I trust that you can take care of yourself I’d prefer not to have to waste time or man power on a search party should I be wrong in this.”

I nodded. Surprisingly enough I had learned my lesson in that particular arena. “This teaching thing won’t be full time will it?” I asked.

“No, depending on what schedule works best for you, perhaps a few hours a day or every two days.”

“Then I will need something else to do in between.” I said. “I don’t suppose you need a personal assistant, do you?”

Thrawn smiled. “From time to time, I dare say I could use your skills in this area, but this would also not be a full time job. However I have given some thought as to how to keep you occupied and out of trouble. I have told my chief grounds mechanic of your skills with ships and engines; he assured me that should you wish a place on his staff you would be more than welcome. He can always use a certified mechanic and you are more than qualified, my dear.”

I smiled at that, somehow it felt as though I had come full circle. I had been working as a mechanic when I was handed the job working for Lord Vader and now, after nearly seven years I felt as though I was right back to where I had started from, well almost. It was a good thing I liked working on ships’ engines.

“Well, I will go and speak with him; I’d like to get the Sigiri sorted out.”

Thrawn nodded, “Yes I thought you might. It would be of use to have another Imperial shuttle in operation; although she is your ship I am sure you would not mind occasionally doing some flying for me, would you?”

I glanced up at him, “That would depend on where you wanted me to fly to I suppose.”

He paused for a moment giving me a look I could not decipher then replied carefully. “Well at some point soon you will be returning to Coruscant to pick up some things from the flat there as well as your old place in the Palace. Perhaps along the way you might also need to clear out your old office as well.”

I regarded him carefully for a moment and then said. “So you’re going to allow me to go back there after all to do some digging?”

“Yes, I thought about it and decided that your idea has some merit. I will send a message to Isard letting her know that you might be returning to clear you your office there so that you might work full time for me. This way, when you decide to return to the Core, she will not have any reason to impede your stay there.” His answer was casual but his stare was not.

“Do you think she will be suspicious?”

“Of course she will be, she is suspicious everyone and everything. She did not get to be the head of Intel and the leader of this Empire by being naïve and trusting, but you, my dear, have certain talents that will aid you in alleviating her of these suspicions I am sure.”

“If you are talking about twisting her mind, that won’t be happening. Being able to give suggestions to a person only works on the weak minded. She is not weak minded.”

He nodded his agreement. “No she is not but I am sure that after working in close proximity with Darth Vader a face to face meeting with Isard will not prove terribly challenging to you. And, I am sure there is enough for you to do to keep your reasons for returning to the Core straight and believable.”

“How much time do I have to prepare?”

“As long as you need.”

“That is not very specific.” I chided.

He sighed. “Well, I want you to design a lesson plan for teaching basic so that I can get it added to the duty schedule and I thought it best if you repair your shuttle as that would be the ship I think you should fly to Coruscant in.” He said, “So I guess it will depend on how long it will take you to repair the Sigiri.”

“Well, I haven’t seen her yet. So that depends on how badly she was damaged and the availability of parts.” I shrugged, “I got the impression from Voss that she was in damned bad shape but at the time, to be honest I was not thinking very clearly so I don’t know what needs to be done off the top of my head.”

Thrawn nodded slowly. “Well, let me know when she is space ready.”

I just stared at him for a long moment. “You are not happy about this idea are you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you letting me go do it then?”

“Because I need your help in this matter and you are the best chance I have to obtain information that is not tainted or simply Isard’s propaganda.”

“Don’t you have any spies on Coruscant at all?” My curiosity was getting the better of me.

“Yes I do, but I assure you none have the vast knowledge you have of the palace layout and none have the opportunity you have to simply waltz in the front door more or less welcome.”

I nodded, toying with my necklace. “I have some ideas about where to find information she might not know about.”

“I trust that you will be subtle and professional, that you do not wish to end up incarcerated or worse. The Lusankya Detention Center is not a very welcoming place.” He warned.

I nodded. It was not my plan to end up in prison or dead. “I will be careful, I promise.” I said then added, “You won’t be sorry.”

He made a face which said I am not so sure about that and then tilted his head slightly to one side. “I will be giving you dispatches to take to Isard, updates and information she has been asking for. It will make this trip seem more legitimate. When you are ready, I will be sending the ISD Fearless to Bilbringi for supplies, you will travel with them and once they are in orbit, you may fly the Sigiri on to Coruscant with an appropriate accompaniment,” he held up his hand before I could protest, “It would look odd if I were to allow you to fly solo with no protection at all, you will be carrying Imperial dispatches with valuable information, armed guard is a must so there will be no discussion on this. Do not try to talk Captain Grayson out of this either because he will be under orders to make sure this happens or else shoot you.”

“Okay.” I agreed after a moment unsure if he was actually joking about the shooting part or not.

“We can discuss the details of this mission once you have settled in a bit.” He replied the hardness in his voice softening a little. “Will you feel up to joining myself and Voss for dinner this evening?”

“That would be nice.” I said. “I need to speak with him anyway, I owe him an apology.”

“Yes, you do.” He said a little more tartly than I expected he meant to but it hurt anyway. I suppose it showed on my face because he reached out and caressed my face in a way that said I didn’t mean that to sound so harsh. I just smiled and leaned into his touch. It felt good to be so close after the cool separation on the Grey Wolf.

“I’m sleeping with you in your bed tonight, you know.” I told him as I pulled away to finish up my unpacking.

His smile reached his eyes. “I had expected as much.”

“As long as that’s settled. What time is dinner?”

“Oh nineteen hundred hours in my private dining room.” He replied. “Wear something nice but it’s not formal.”

“I think I can manage that.”

“Very well, my dear. I will leave you to settle in. If you need me I’ll be in my office. If you need anything else just ask the Quarter Master, he knows you’re here and he’s been told to assist you in anyway he can.” He said giving me an absent kiss on the cheek before he headed out.

I sat down on the bed, amidst the remnants of my unpacking and let out the breath I felt I had been holding since forever. Coruscant, I had not been there in over two years and now I would be going back not just to pick up the remaining pieces of my life there but to hopefully set up some sort of spy network for Thrawn so that he could obtain information from the Core without Isard censoring it first. The prospect was a little daunting. I was certain this could be done but I would need some help. I hoped that Shiv was up to the job and then smiled. His last holovid to me had been light hearted and full of news from everyone I knew but I had read between the lines easily enough and I knew he was worried. He did not like Isard and he did not like what she was doing as leader of the Empire. With a sigh I heaved myself off the bed and put away the last of my things. I had not actually expected Thrawn to allow me to do this and now that he had I had needed to think about it, because this would require some planning and some work. I was glad we had brought the Ahnkeli Su’udelma from Hjal, she contained a copy of the exacting blue prints of the Palace and the old Jedi Temple that I had once found in the small, secret library the Emperor had granted me access to. Thrawn did not have to tell me twice to be careful or consider well what I was going to do, if he though I would find a face to face meeting with Isard easier than working for Lord Vader then he was sadly mistaken, I was terrified of Iceheart and with good reason where Lord Vader had been hot headed and bad tempered she was cold and cruel and unlike Lord Vader she saw no value in me what so ever. She would not hesitate to have me shot or worse if she thought I was going against her will.

I shuddered at the prospect and then, because I really didn’t know what else to do, I went off in search of some stimcaf and the docking bay to check out just how much work the Sigiri needed. At least that was something I could do to keep me occupied and out of trouble until dinner time.

Foundations and Factions 2

The journey to Nirauan was a slow, uneventful and once I had caught up on my sleep, I spent the rest of it catching up on what had gone on in the galaxy. During the trip I saw Thrawn only a few times, usually when he was able to join me for dinner. Our discussions were mostly centered around the events of the last two and a half years. One of the biggest surprises had been reading about the capture of Soontir Fel at Brentaal IV.

Brentaal IV, a small, dry world, was the fourth planet in the Brentaal system of the Bormea Sector of the Core Worlds and sat at the strategic intersection of the Perlemian Trade Route and the Hydian Way. It was a wealthy world, with a thriving economy making it attractive for investors and traders. During the Emperor’s rule it was governed by a man named Lon Isoto, a weak minded leader who was known mainly for his ineffectual leadership style and his greed for pleasurable things.

Thrawn’s lip had curled in disgust when he had spoken of Isoto and I could not blame him. It was primarily Isoto’s fault that Brentaal IV had fallen to the Rebellion, now calling itself the New Republic, as he had essentially given up the planet without much of a fight. It had only been the 181st, under the command of Soontir Fel that had offered any hope of protection from the raiding rebels but even they had not been able to win. The debacle discredited the ruling Cabal and Sate Pestage which, Thrawn had postulated, had been Isard’s plan all along.

“What happened to Isoto?” I asked as we sat in the quiet of the small dining room eating supper.

“He was apparently shot by one of his concubines.” Thrawn replied. “At first he was reviled as a coward but the Imperial propaganda machine marches onward but now, part in thanks to the rumour that Fel actually defected to the New Republic and Rogue Squadron, he is considered a hero.”

“Fel? Did he really defect?”

“Yes and no.” Thrawn answered carefully. “I do not believe that he would have allowed himself to fail deliberately in order to join the other side, but I believe once he realised that he and his men had been sent in on what was essentially a suicide mission in order for Isard to gain more power from Pestage he decided the Empire was no longer upholding the same ideals it once was and that corruption was not an honourable master to serve. I am quite certain it did not hurt him any that he is married to Wynssa Starflare who happens to be the sister of Rogue squadron leader Wedge Antilles. I believe that part of his reason for the defection was to gain safety for his wife.” Thrawn paused to stare at his glass, “Men often do foolish things in order to protect the people the love and care for, especially their families.” He added, giving me a pointed look. “Isard was trying to overthrow the Cabal. She felt that as the current ruling body of the Empire it was useless and riddled with counterproductive bickering and politics. She was vying for power that would set her up as the next Empress, so to speak. Perhaps she does not use this title for herself but she wanted to be the sole ruler of the Empire and she was willing to do what ever it took to have this power even if that meant sacrificing the best pilots we had at the time to do so.”

I sighed. Why did it always come down to this petty bickering about who had the bigger title? “Well now she has what she wants and the Empire is still being eaten away bit by bit.” I grumbled.

“A leader who is only concerned about their own power gain is not a leader at all.” Thrawn replied tartly. “Power is not taken but given and no one gives her anything freely.”

“So why don’t you just remove her then?”

“All in good time, my dear. All in good time.”

Sate Pestage, accused by Isard of treason after the debacle at Brentaal, had fled Coruscant to seek refuge from her and the Cabal. He was arrested by Leonia Tavira, a Corsair ship captain and held pending the arrival of Admiral Krennel who had been given the job of bringing Pestage back to Coruscant to stand trial. The details of what happened are somewhat sketchy but there was a fairly large battle between the Imperials under Krennel and the New Republic’s Rogue Squadron who it seemed felt that rescuing Pestage would be a good thing to do. When all was said and done, Pestage was dead along with Tribune Caller and Plumba, two members of the Cabal ruling council. Once the last member of the Cabal was captured and imprisoned, Isard was free to assume full command of the Empire, which she did so with no let or hindrance from anyone else, making her the most powerful woman in the Galaxy.

Some months after this incident rumours began to surface that the Pestage Isard had killed was not the real on and was in fact a clone. Around the same time other more strange stories about the Emperor began to surface from the Deep Core which led to whispers that he was still alive. These stories led to Thrawn’s old supervisor, Dark Jedi Inquisitor Jerec to be charged with finding the secret Valley of the jedi, a place of supposed great power and secrets. If the Emperor had found a way to clone himself and revive his spirit I did not sense it and as no one actually ever saw him I suspected the stories were the fabrications of pilots who had spent too much time in Deep Core space and who were now no longer quite right in the head. Still this did not stop the publications of books that were supposedly the works of the long dead emperor himself.

“Do you happen to have a copy of these works?” I had asked Thrawn.

“I thought you might ask. I have managed to procure the first volume.” He had smiled and later on had handed me a small pile of data chips. “It is wordy and mostly rambles about a long dead religion and its many permutations. You might find it of interest given your talents in the areas discussed.”

I had looked at the data pads with a mixture of distaste and disbelief. “Do you think it is true? He really is not dead and has just vanished off to some remote world to become an author instead?”

Thrawn had arched an eyebrow. “You were the one having dreams of him being reborn in a different body, you tell me.”

I had just shrugged. “If he is alive some how I don’t understand why he doesn’t announce it and come back to take his place as Emperor again.”

“I cannot answer that, but perhaps those might.” Thrawn had answered, nodding to the pile of data pads I touched gingerly. “If nothing else, reading all of those will keep you out of trouble for the duration of the journey to Nirauan.”

The book was indeed lengthy and it did ramble but as I had read through it goose bumps had rippled up and down my spine. I did not think there was another being alive in the universe with his knowledge of the Dark side of the force. If these were forgeries and fakes then they were very, very good. I could almost hear the Emperor’s voice whispering in my ear as I read words so familiar it was as though he were sitting next to me reciting them rather than me reading them. The Emperor had often lectured me on how he saw the Force and its uses. He had provided for me a secret library so that I might learn more and become better skilled in my own small force abilities. He had had plans for me and I had shivered at the terrible memory of our last meeting. If he was truly still alive, and had somehow managed to cheat death, I did not want to know about it. I was not so sure that if he were still around I would be able to escape him a second time.

In the two and a half years after the Battle of Endor the power that held the galactic empire together had fractured. Isard’s power base was constantly being challenged by Moffs and war lords who felt she was neither strong enough nor deserving enough to lead the once mighty Empire. The petty squabbles and bickering were more to blame for the advances the New Republic made in heading towards Coruscant than anything else. The Empire’s forces were divided, its troops spread thin and the once vast and powerful fleet reduced greatly in size.

“They will come for Coruscant, make no mistake.” Thrawn said. “Some months ago there was an attempt by the New Republic to liberate Borleias which failed. There has been another subsequent attack which was also unsuccessful. I believe that the fight for the core has begun in earnest.”

“Why don’t you go and try to stop this?” I had asked this question so many times I was beginning to feel like a stuttering holovid.

Thrawn only sighed. “I have told you, I do not have the man power and I will not waste what precious resources I do have to save a world that Isard should have taken care of.” He said. “And even if I did have all I needed, Isard would only see this as an attempt on my part to usurp her power. I have other plans and I am hoping that she is smart enough to see what might happen were she to let her guard down.”

“If Coruscant falls to the New Republic it would mean the end of the Empire all together.”

Thrawn’s smile had been nasty enough to send shivers down my spine. “Hardly, my dear. The Empire is an idea. One may occupy a planet to remove the current governing body but it is more difficult to replace an idea. I have said this before, this fledgling New Republic will not find governing an entire divided galaxy so easy. Forming a coup and bringing down a ruler is relatively easy in comparison to setting up the next government that functions in its place. I know for a fact that they will have serious problems getting along with each other well enough to form any sort of coherent ruling body based on a democracy. The Bothans alone will make this job almost impossible.”

I nodded. Bothans were a race of beings known for their ability for subterfuge. Officially they had remained neutral during the primary conflict with the Empire but unofficially they were the reason for so much information trafficking. It was a well known fact that Bothans made excellent spies and politicians. The problem was that they not only excelled in this area they let everyone know about it as well, constantly reminding anyone who would listen that they were willing to sacrifice everything to help out. I had never had many dealing with Bothans but the few encounters I had unfortunately had with them had left me angry and frustrated. Bothans were amongst the most bureaucratic and officious beings I had ever encountered, able to twist words and deeds until they always came out looking like the victims or the good guys depending on which situation suited them better. After a particularly frustrating encounter with a Bothan working at the Ministry of Pilot licensing and Applications Division I swore to stay the hell away from them for the rest of my life. Now it seemed that Bothans had managed to make themselves an important part of the New Republic’s ruling body. Served the Rebels right, I though nastily. Dealing with Bothans was a pain in the rear and I didn’t envy the New Republic this job one bit.

“So what do you think is going to happen next?” I asked.

Thrawn shrugged ever so slightly with his left shoulder. “My guess is that the New Republic will make another attempt o take Borleias and if that happens they will advance forward to the Core. Ultimately they have to retake Coruscant if they are to have any validation as the seat of power for the galaxy.”

“Do you think that will happen?”

“I hope not but that will depend on Isard. I can only hope that she has devised a plan that will keep Coruscant out of the hands of the New Republic but even if the Core World falls, it is not the end of things.” He said. “The New Republic wants Coruscant. They see having dominion over this world as a sign that they are meant to take over rule of the galaxy. It is a symbol more than an actual power base. Coruscant has always been considered the center of the galaxy, and as such, the seat of power for the ruling body. To have ownership of this planet would give the New Republic the advantage of perceived power but again, they are divided amongst themselves and weak in terms of military might. Even in its lessened state they New Republic is no match for the Imperial navy. The bigger problem for us is lack of true and insightful leadership. Too many good men and women were lost at Endor and insufficient funds and time have gone into training new leaders. The current ones are too focused on personal gain to be effective in their positions and until this changes I do not see us winning against the New Republic’s current push towards taking Coruscant which they see as the foundation for a new era of rule.”

“I still think you should just go and take over.” I said crossly. This whole discussion annoyed me. It was all sneak attacks and back room politics.

Thrawn smiled, “I know you do and the thought is not without its appeal but in reality it is simply not as easy as that. Isard lies to me about the status of things hoping it will placate me into staying where I am. I know she lies she is aware of this but we play the game never the less. I send her requests for more troops and she denies this on the grounds that they are spread too thin as it is, I send requisitions for supplies and somehow the requisitions get lost in the shuffle. Fortunately for us I am resourceful and have established a solid base out in the Unknown Regions. I do not need supplies from the core when I have what I need out here. The manpower shortage will be dealt with as soon as I find a way to re-establish cloning without all the subsequent problems that arise from this method of growing troops quickly. In the end it all comes down to numbers and strategy and time. The first item on that list is a problem the second two things I have in abundance.”

“I wonder if there is anything in the Imperial Palace Archives about clones.” I had said softly. “There must be information in the Emperor’s files somewhere.”

“I am certain there is, my dear, but getting to them would be most difficult.”

“But not impossible. I could probably do this you know.” We had also had this conversation before as well.

Thrawn regarded me with a steady gaze. “You are not a spy and such a mission would be highly dangerous.”

“I know my way around the palace better than most, probably even better than Isard does. I have been well trained in the art of Jhal’kai and I can fight to the death if I have to, though really I’d prefer not to do that. I know some of the secrets the Emperor kept, I’ve seen some of them myself. I remember the way to get to these rooms. You know I would do this for you, if you’d let me.”

His stare burned but I did not look away and in the end he simply nodded. “I will consider it.”

I backed down then, knowing it was as close to a yes as I would get for the time being. The memory of almost losing me was still fresh enough that he wasn’t about to let me go charging off on my own without a fully formed plan to follow first. I hoped he would not take too long to consider what I had offered. I was fairly certain, given the reports I had read, that we were running out of time and that Isard was going to do something more stupid than smart. That was the trouble with megalomaniacs, they were so busy worrying about how to hold onto their power they didn’t notice it trickling through their fingers, like sand, one tiny grain at a time.

“Don’t look so worried, Tekari,” Thrawn said breaking into my thoughts by reaching out to caress the side of my face. “I have things well in hand.”

In that moment I believed him. He was a man who could do just about anything in near impossible odds; I had seen this before with my own eyes but the sense of unease remained.

“We have plenty time to plan on how to hold Coruscant and turn this tide back again.” He added as he turned his attention back to his spiced coffee.

Sadly, this was not the case and by the time word would reach him of what Isard had done it was already too late.

Foundations and Factions 1

How often, I wondered as I quietly wiped tears off my face, would I be saying goodbye to the people I cared deeply for. This parting was especially bittersweet. I had come to love Navaari and Hjal in a way I had never known possible and it was heart wrenching to leave. Thrawn, after having said his own goodbyes to Navaari had left us alone so that I might say mine. I had watched miserably as he vanished inside of the Ahnkeli Su’udelma and begun the start up sequence. I hated this and I wasn’t making it any easier when I flung my arms around Navaari and clung to him, half sobbing in to the fur of his hood.

“I love you.” I told him, “I love you so much….” These words, which were so powerful, which I could not seem to say to Thrawn but came so easily to my lips for Navaari to hear, sounded small and child like.

He just held me tighter. “I know that Kycsi’i. Don’t cry, it isn’t forever and you will always have a home here, always.” The last vestiges of the wind from the storm made the powdery snow on the ground drift around us, hissing as it snaked across the flats. It was bitterly cold, freezing my tears on my cheeks and eyelashes. My breath decorated the air in lacy white puffs

I didn’t fight when he pushed me back. “Now, you should go, best not to keep him waiting. You know how to find me if you need me.” He said.

I nodded.

He smiled at me. “Go, and don’t look back. It’s…”

“…bad luck.” I had said finishing the sentence for him. He had placed the tips of three fingers on the middle of my forehead. I understood this gesture now. My life, your life, by the will of Da’hajn are forever joined. I slipped on my mask which was now decorated in even more carvings, the story of my life as a member of this enclave.

He nodded, letting me go. I had just stared at his face, committing it to memory, too choked up to speak and then because there was just no other way I turned abruptly around and walked into my ship without looking back. I made my way to the cockpit to find Thrawn was seated in the Pilot’s seat. I was grateful that he had decided to take charge and let him know this with a small smile as I sat in the co-pilot’s seat and strapped myself in.

Once we had broken free of the planet’s atmosphere the trip to where the Grey Wolf lay waiting would be less than twenty minutes, barely enough time to sit back and enjoy the flight. I watched with detached interest as we approached the ISD and manoeuvred into the landing bay situated in the ship’s underbelly. Thrawn put her down with a soft touch. Underneath the heavy Dantassi over coat he had now removed he wore his uniform and now, as he shut the engines down, he seemed an entirely different man, shedding the role of my Dantassi bond mate to that of Imperial Grand Admiral. I wondered, as I glanced out of the cockpit window, what these men who all stood to attention on the deck of the landing bay would think if they had seen him as I had seen him the night before, carefree and laughing. I could not help but smile at the memory of what had come after he had taken me by the hand after many hours of dancing and whispered in my ear, ‘I believe this counts as later.’

I followed Thrawn silently as we exited the ship, mindful of the surreptitious looks I was receiving from the men on the deck. Clad from head to toe in Dantassi clothing, my face hidden by my mask, my hair hidden by my hood I was an unknown, a primitive. Hiding behind my mask had been my idea but he had not argued against it. I watched as Thrawn returned the salute he was given and then spoke with the officers who were waiting there. A few more salutes and everyone scurried off to fulfill their duties and do what ever jobs it was he had asked of them.

When he was satisfied with his men Thrawn turned to me. “Come, Akiana’myshk’apavjäska I will show you to your quarters.” He said in his native tongue. I nodded compliance. He issued orders in basic and my bags were picked up and brought by a stormtrooper whose face was just as hidden as mine but I could feel the curiosity and slight sense of superiority that came from him. That would have changed fast, I thought, if the young man in the white armour had known who I had worked side by side with two years previously. I stayed silent and followed Thrawn to the quarters that would be my home for the next few days while we travelled to Nirauan.

I did not think it was a coincidence that I had been placed in the VIP quarters and that once my bags had been dropped on the floor Thrawn waved the stormtrooper to wait outside. Once the door closed I removed my mask and looked around. The stark contrast of the Dantassi home I had been in to the cool Imperial design was almost night and day but there was a familiarity to it that made the transition easier.

“I thought you would appreciate a spacious cabin and some privacy.” Thrawn said watching as I discarded my coat. He understood that sometimes it took a little time to adjust from one world to the next. I had been away from the Imperial one for a very long time now.

I nodded. “Thank you.” I said. The words came out sounding cool and formal. I hated these transitions. On Hjal he was relaxed and more open. Here he was reserved and distant. No one would have even dreamed to think of the two of us together in bed let alone the dancing. It seemed so far away, yet the memories of the night before were still very fresh in my mind. Perhaps he read these thoughts on my face because he lost some of the stiffness in his posture and reached out to brush stray hair from my eyes.

“You should get some rest, you must be very tired.” He said gently.

“No more so than you.” I answered glancing up at his face. For a moment our eyes met and that familiar flash of heat seared through my gut.

His hand lingered to cup my jaw, his thumb stroking my cheek. “Hmmm.” He replied with a smile that vanished when he added, “I shall be busy this evening I am afraid. There is much I need to catch up on. Shall I arrange for you to eat here or will you find your way to the guest mess hall?”

“I’d rather eat here.” I said. The last thing I wanted was to be the topic of conversation and sitting eating alone in the small guest dining hall was never fun.

“Very well, I will have that taken care of. I also thought you might like this.” He said handing me a data pad. I took it from his hand with a questioning frown. “It is essentially a run down of everything that has happened since Endor. I thought you would like to catch up on recent history. There is a fair amount of classified information on that so try not to lose it, my dear.”

“As if.” I snorted setting it on the nearest table. “I’d like to speak with my father if that is possible.”

Thrawn nodded as if he had expected it. “I have arranged for you to have access from here. Operating it will not be hard, you know how the system works and nothing has changed. Your clearance codes should still be active, if not let me know.” He paused and then said. “There is a training room available for you and Rukh was asking if you would wish a sparring partner when you returned. I think he rather missed you.”

“Good. It took me a long time to get my conditioning back I’d like to keep it. I am betting Rukh will enjoy some of the moves the Dantassi taught me.”

“No doubt. I am afraid I do not provide him with much of a challenge in that particular arena.” Thrawn smiled.

For a moment we just stood facing each other and then his comm went off.

“I have to go. There are things which require my immediate attention.” He said.

I just nodded. All the things I wanted to say to him I had already said the night before. It seemed sort of pointless to create dialogue for the sake of it. He smiled and pulled my chin upwards with the crook of his finger. “It will not always be this way, this much I can promise you.” He said as he leaned in and kissed me gently.

“Better not be or else there might be a war between us.” I told him, and then stepped back to let him go and solve what ever issue it was that needed to be solved.

“Well, when there is some quiet time we can discuss your terms and demands for a peaceful settlement but for now I am afraid I …”

“…Must go to save the galaxy from evil, I know.” I said finishing for him, flapping my hand in that go away manner that Lord Vader used to do to me. “I’ll be fine. I am, as you pointed out, tired. I am going to have a bath, then I am going to order supper and then I will go to bed.”

He smiled, planted a kiss on my forehead and then without any further comment he left me on my own. In truth I was grateful, I was exhausted and even if he had forsaken all of his duties to sit and chat with me he would have been talking to himself because I would have fallen asleep instantly. So I did exactly what I told him I was going to do and I ran a bath.

Navaari had slipped, among other things, several bottles of Crackerberry liqueur in my bag. “So you have something that reminds you of us.” He had said. I dug a bottle out and poured myself a drink; I wasn’t prepared for the sudden wave of homesickness that washed over me as the scent of the liqueur drifted into the room. I grabbed my glass, picked up the data pad Thrawn had given me and went to soak in the bath. It took me all of five minutes to realise that reading about what had happened in the last two years would only put me to sleep even faster than lying in a tub full of hot bubbly water and drinking Crackerberry liqueur would so I set it aside on the little table, lay back in the tub and closed my eyes, my thoughts drifting to the night before.

We had danced. It had been a blur of motion and laughter, the music every bit as captivating as the first time I had ever heard it. I could not recall the last time I had felt so free. Many hours later Thrawn had tugged at my hand and we had slipped through the crowds only stopping once while he spoke to one of the Elders talking to Navaari. In the quiet of the apartment we had initiated another kind of dance, to music that only we could hear and to which only we knew the steps. We had woven our bodies together the way Da’hajn wove her threads and with each caress, ripple and thrust we had twined ourselves together in a tangle of limbs until it felt as though we had become one. In the languid aftermath we had lain in the bed settled and drowsy curled around each other and as we so often did, we had talked.

I had traced my fingers along the winding metal threads of the bracelet he wore, the silver and gold contrasted brightly against the pale blue of his skin. For such a simple design it was beautiful. Navaari’s hand work was always stunning, he was not just one of the best of the Jhal’kai he was also an extremely talented artisan.

Thrawn had watched my face and ran his fingers through my hair. “Why did he choose gold and silver, usually such a piece would be silver and blue?”

I had grinned, I knew the answer to that. “Well, we didn’t get officially married under Dantassi laws, did we?” I asked although it was more statement than question.

“No. That would have meant too many complications that neither of us can afford at the moment.”

I nodded my understanding. I had always been more about ship's engines and flying rather than I do and happily ever after. “Well, then Navaari was free to use what ever colours he wanted when he made this, and gold and silver are the male and female. You told him once that your thread and mine were bound together, so this is you and me, “I said as I traced my finger along the twist of the metal strands, “But this isn’t a marriage band just a pledge bracelet so Da’hajn’s thread is not required. He made it different so that it was special. Do you not like it?”

“It is beautiful.” He agreed. “I was simply curious.” He had said with a smile that told me he had been deeply touched by the thought that had gone into the bracelet.

“Well then, make sure you don’t lose it!” I had told him.

He had chuckled. “No fear of that happening.”

“You never know, it isn’t closed it could slip off, and then someone else might decide to wear it.”

He had shaken his head. “You live with the Dantassi for over a year and you still do not unravel all of their secrets.” He’d chuckled. “It is designed not to come off and even if I should remove it no one else could wear it, it is bio-linked to me alone, much in the same way as your bone mask.”

“Bio linked?”

He had smiled then had slipped the bracelet off his wrist handing it to me. “Try to put it on.”

I had taken it from his fingers and had done as he had asked trying to slide my wrist through the space between the two ends. I was surprised to discover I could not do it. Much in the same way a magnet repelled the like pole, the bracelet was pushed back from my wrist, making my fingers tingle a little to hold it. “How do they do this?”

“Nano technology embedded in the molecular structure of the metal, another Dantassi mystery. No one but I can wear this now. I knew that as soon as it was slipped on to my wrist. I felt the recognition as it made my skin tingle as the bio link process began.”

“So you are bound to my bracelet.” I had laughed, it sounded funny. “Does it code just to a person’s DNA?”

“Mostly, but also to a person’s particular cellular structure, recognition through all the chemical patterns in the individual’s cells the unique bio entity it has been linked to. It is a clever and intricate process, one the Dantassi keep quiet about. They do not use it for many things because the process is complex but bonding jewellery and the bone masks are good examples of places where it is used.”

“So do you think he put a tracer chip in it as well?” I had asked with a grin.

Thrawn had laughed. “I very much doubt it. Unlike you, my dear, I do not get lost and therefore do not need to be found.”

I had just given him a look as I handed him back the bracelet, watching him slid it back on his wrist. I liked how the white-gold metal contrasted with his skin and it was small enough, slender enough to be mostly unobtrusive. Navaari had designed it that way, designed it to be worn under the sleeve of his Imperial Uniform so that no one would see it. Jewellery was considered non regulation and with one or two exceptions was not allowed to be worn while on duty, but many people still wore things like pendants that could be hidden underneath the clothing and for the most part no one said anything.

Thinking about uniforms and regulations made me think about Jorae. I knew that he had worn a necklace his mother had given him, a Corellian good luck charm. He had shown it to me once, telling me its history of having been passed down through the family for several generations. Thinking about Jorae made me realise that I did not know what had happened to him. I heaved myself out of the bath before I fell asleep in it. Drowning would have been a bad move on my part anyway. Wrapped in my favourite robe I sat at the desk in the small living area and accessed the computer. I was relieved to see that all my access codes still allowed me to get into some of the classified areas and with a deep breath I called up the reports on the Battle of Endor, specifically the casualty list.

There were thousands of names on this list. So many people had died at Endor that it seemed almost surreal. I went down the ship by ship listing until I found the Executor. For a brief moment my gut knotted but this was an old wound known and although it still hurt it was a dull ache rather than a sharp one. I was not surprised when I found Jorae’s name amongst the listed dead. He had been on board the flagship at the time it had plunged into the Emperor’s Battle station probably on duty at his listening post in the communications room. He had loved his job and had been so proud when he had been posted on board the Executor. Sorrow at reading his name there flooded through me. He had been my first friend after I began working for the Empire and although we had rarely seen each other once I was no longer working on board the Flag ship he had still kept in touch. He had been a kind likable young man with a sweet smile and a good heart and now, like so many others he was dead.

I sat reading through the names, almost all of them I did not know scanning for ones that were familiar to me and feeling a sense of loss and pain each time I found one that I could put a face to. I was grateful to realise that I had not seen C.J.’s name but when I did a data base search on him, nothing came up. I wondered where he was now and how he was doing and how he had felt about the Emperor’s death, after all he had been a part of the Royal Guard. Thrawn had told me that after the death of the Emperor, the Guardsmen had added a strip of black to the bottom of the red cloaks as a sign of mourning and respect. Isard had tried to make them take it off but they had simply ignored her. The Emperor’s Royal Guard were not easily intimidated and who could blame them, after all next to the Emperor, Isard was a pale imitation of a ruler despite her cruelty and deviousness. While we were on Hjal, still stuck indoors due to the storm, Thrawn had talked about her taking over and the slow downward spiral that the Empire had taken under her command.

“She does not see the bigger picture.” He had said as we lay awake in bed talking. “She looks for ways to gain revenge on an event that has irreversibly changed the course of history without realising this is like battling the wind. She would be much better off trying to work out a plan to consolidate the Imperial powers and gain better control over all the various factions out there now gearing up to fight for a piece of the Empire than trying to get back at the rebels for winning at Endor.”

“Why does she not recall you to the Core?” I simply did not understand this at all.

He had given me a small laugh. “The short answer is that she fears I will wish to step in and take over, become the next ruler of the galaxy and claim the title of Emperor for myself.” He had explained. “Personally that is not really a job I would wish to take on, I am more a war lord if anything and even that is a stretch. I have started to work on a plan that would hopefully bring the separate factions back in line and restore law and order to this very chaotic galaxy but I do not have the man power to execute it yet. We lost too many good men at Endor, and there have not been enough new recruits to fill the spaces left by the dead.”

“I suppose this is where a clone army comes in handy.” I had said as a joke but the sudden arching of his eyebrow told me that he had considered this idea and he wasn’t laughing about it.

“Indeed.” He had said. “The trouble with this idea is the amount of time it would take to grow a fully battle ready cloned army and the other problem is where to find the cloning equipment to do this. The Kaminoans could grow a clone to maturity in ten years but Kamino’s cloning facility is no longer available. The Empire used Spaarti technology, cutting this growth time down to a year but where the Emperor placed the spaarti facilities is still unknown. He and a few trusted aides who are now all dead were the only ones who knew the locations of these facilities. The Emperor did not trust anyone lightly with his cloning information. I am still searching for locations but until then, our military numbers are too small to do much about the rising attacks of the various factions that want a piece of the Galactic pie. If things stay as they are I can foresee Coruscant falling, if not to the rebellion then to one of the other larger factions out there and that would be most undesirable.”

I could not imagine Coruscant under the rule of someone else. It would forever be linked to the Emperor in my mind. He had imposed his will, his personality on that planet the way a sandstorm shapes the desert and undoing all that he had achieved would be a monumental task. Our conversation had drifted on to other things and sleep eventually over took us both, but the thought of clones and where the Emperor would have created them nagged at me and, like the title of a half forgotten song, the answer was on the tip of my tongue.

Now as I sat staring absently at the computer screen I wondered about the idea of clones and where the Emperor might have hidden such facilities. The Emperor had been full of secrets and lies. I was certain that there were answers to be found on Coruscant, but exactly where and how to find them would be a whole other story, one I would have to think carefully about.

Playing the Game 6

If there had been one thing I had learned from my time in the enclave it was that the Dantassi did not need much prodding to have a celebration. What I had hoped would be a quiet going away dinner turned into an enclave wide affair, much to my chagrin.

“You have a lot of friends here Kycsi’i.” Navaari had chided when I had grumbled about it. “They all wish to say goodbye properly.”

Saying goodbye properly was really an excuse for a night of revelling, although I didn’t mind as much as I seemed to. It was the prospect of leaving that made me sad not the party to say farewell. After all the Dantassi enjoyed life to the fullest. ‘We feast, we dance and then we couple to celebrate living!’ Navaari had once said. This was no exception but the reason for it made me a little melancholy.

Thrawn had been in contact with the Grey Wolf and because the storm which had grounded him was finally starting to taper off. Satisfied that there would be no safety issues, he had arranged for us to meet with his ship as soon as the weather cleared enough. I was fairly certain that after the farewell celebration I would not be in the mood to pack so I decided to do it before rather than after, I was in the middle of trying to decide what to take and what to leave when Navaari knocked on my door.

“If you are looking for Za’ar he’s speaking with Ma’kehla.” I said without turning around.

“Actually it was you I was hoping to find.” He said closing the door behind him.

I sighed as I stopped what I was doing to look at him. “Have I ever mentioned how much I hate packing?” I asked.

He just chuckled. “Often.” He said. Then he looked around at the room and I saw a flash of sadness cross his face. “What ever you want from this room is yours to take, Kycsi’i.”

I nodded feeling the lump in my throat grow. “I don’t think I will be wearing much Dantassi fashion on Nirauan though.” I told him trying to lighten the mood a little.

“Well now, you never know what you’ll be needing and when it might be of use.” He commented, his fingers casually caressing one of the dresses I had laid out on the bed.

I nodded. “What did you want to see me about, Navaari?”

He smiled. “Ah, I thought we might talk about what will happen tonight.” He said with a smile.

“You found something?”

He nodded. I believe I did, so do you want to hear it?”

I heaved a huge sigh feeling some of the tension I had been holding inside dissipated. “Will he go along with it?”

“I think so, but it needs to be done right.” Navaari said with a nod, then he sat on the bed and motioned for me to sit beside him. “So, listen carefully.”

And I did.

After our conversation outside Navaari had told me he would look through the laws, the ceremonies and rites to see if there was anything that I could use to essentially get back at Thrawn for what he had done in invoking the Rite of Pen’nai Da’ataith that would not have any negative repercussions for either of us. The Dantassi marriage ceremony of Nai’da had too many restrictions on it because it had been designed with growth of the Enclave in mind. Marrying under this ceremony would mean that both Thrawn and I would have to give up our other lives and come to Hjal and settle down for good. That was never going to happen in a billion years and since I had no reason to invoke the Rite of Pen’nai we needed to find another way for me to effectively and publicly bind myself to him.

I had never given marriage much thought before and as far as Thrawn was concerned it had actually never really entered my mind. It had always been enough to know he was there, but now I wanted to let him know that I had meant what I had said when I had told him I was his and only his. If this meant getting married well I was happy with that but both Navaari and I agreed that if Thrawn had wanted marriage he would have asked for just that. So it had to be something symbolic and meaningful but not legally binding which was the tricky part. Just about everything ceremonial or official which happened in the Dantassi world had some sort of deep significant meaning and usually came attached with a bunch of obligations. As Navaari explained to me what he had found out and how I was to go about it I grinned. It was perfect and I hoped Thrawn would not see it coming.

“It is not often I get to surprise him, so this will be worth it.” He said with a smile. “Now let’s get this mess sorted out, we have a celebration to attend in a few hours

With Navaari’s help I managed to finish my packing in time to have a bath and decide what to wear. By the time Thrawn returned to the apartment I was ready and waiting for him, curled up on the sofa with a book.

“We’ll be late if you don’t hurry.” I told him.

He just arched an eyebrow at me and vanished to change. I envied the fact that it took him less than ten minutes to get ready. It had taken me nearly two hours. When he appeared from the bedroom, changed into fresh clothes he looked so handsome that it took my breath away. Dantassi clothing suited him and he had chosen to wear black which set off the colour of his skin perfectly. I tried to picture him with hair as long as Navaari’s was because that would complete the outfit and the image but I had difficulty doing that. For as long as I had known Thrawn his hair had always been short, military short but he had told me that at one point in his life his hair had been very long and that if I did not believe him then I should ask Voss Parck.

I stood up, smoothing the long skirt of the dress I had chosen down, brushing away non existent dust and wrinkles. I was nervous and he could see that but I hoped he would put it down to the size of the gathering rather than anything devious.

“I have never you seen you wear that dress before. It is most becoming.” He said as he circled my waist with his hands, pulling me to him.

“Thank you.” I replied, making a half hearted attempt to move out of his hold. He simply tightened his grip so I didn’t resist when he leaned in to kiss me either.

“Do not be too sad, Tekari. We will come back here again, you know.” He murmured, nibbling on my ear, making my stomach drop.

“We’ll be late if you start that.” I replied as his mouth moved from my ear to my neck.

“It is acceptable for the guest of honour to be a few moments late, it allows everyone time to be seated first.” He said. I knew that tone of voice well, that honey laced I think I could forget about attending any celebration and just whisk you off to the bedroom sort of voice.

“Plenty of time for this later.” I said.

“Only if you stay in the enclave this time.” He teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Then we should go before Navaari sends out a search party.” I said pushing back from him. He just grinned and let me go, by the time we arrived in the great hall everyone was waiting.

As Navaari had suggested I waited until after the feast but before the revelling really got underway. It was during this time that the enclave Elder would call me forward to give me the traditional farewell blessing. When the moment came I felt as though all the eyes of the galaxy were staring directly at me. I made my way to the dais and stood in front of the High Elder. For a long moment he stared into my face and then he smiled. I knew that he had been one of the few of the enclave’s high council members that had not disapproved of me being here and I was grateful for his support. He was a powerful member of the enclave and everyone respected him greatly whether they liked or agreed with him or not. It had been he who had presided over my unmasking and as I stood in front of him now I could not help but recall that moment in my life. Somehow it seemed pivotal now looking backwards but at the time I had been too overwhelmed to even think about it.

When he spoke the entire hall stood silent. It was almost unnerving; you could have heard a grain of sand drop. I listened while he recounted my history with the enclave and wondered at the person he was describing. The things he said had done did not seem real to my ears yet they were true, he spoke of my contributions and he spoke of Navaari and Za’ar. When he was done he laid placed the tips of the first three fingers of his right hand against my forehead and he spoke the traditional blessing for those departing on a long journey. When he was done, I had to fight the tears that threatened to escape as he placed around my neck a bone amulet carved in the shape of a seated wolf pup. He smiled at me when he saw my expression. I did not have to ask who had made it. I knew Navaari’s work too well for that.

When he asked if there was anything I wished to do I nodded and told him. It was not a surprise to the rest of the enclave when he called both Navaari and Za’ar to come forward. As my appointed guardian and my Ta’kasta’cariad it was expected that I should thank them both publicly for all that they had done for me. I did this gladly. I had so very much to be thankful for and much of it I owed to these two men. They both accepted the small token that I had for each. Thrawn smiled as he took the small bone carving form my hand. I turned to face Navaari who nodded when I gave him his, passing to me the small bracelet he had made for this occasion.

“Now, Kycsi’i.” he whispered.

I turned to face the elder who looked at me with a smile. He knew because Navaari had cleared this with him first, it was never a good idea to surprise the enclave Elder with ancient rituals in the manner that Thrawn had once done. I stood up on tip toe to whisper in his ear and handed him the bracelet in such a way that no one else could see it. The Elder regarded it for a moment and smiled. I could feel all eyes bore into my back and I knew that Thrawn was staring at me with curiosity.

“Are you certain?” The Elder asked softly.

I nodded. “Absolutely.” He smiled at my answer.

The Elder nodded and motioned for me to step back and then he looked at the sea of faces watching us puzzled, waiting , expectant. The air crackled and everyone knew that something different was going on. There was a very long, pregnant pause and then the Elder spoke.

“Akiana’myshk’apavjäska, in accordance with the rite of Pen’nai Da’ataith, has chosen to give her Ta’kasta’cariad a token as an answer to his request.” He said.

Thrawn glanced sharply at me then to the bracelet that the Elder now held up in his hand for all to see. The expression on his face was unreadable.

“It has long been said that Da’hajn weaves lives together without us knowing why and so it is with the lives of Akiana’myshk’apavjäska and Nikätza’arth’pavjäska. The Rite of Pen’nai Da’ataith has tied him to her but with this token she now affirms that there is no other in her life but him.” He continued. “Do you Nikätza’arth’pavjäska accept this token? Do you accept this woman, past, present and future and the bond-gift that she now offers, to publicly acknowledge your request of Pen’nai Da’ataith?”

I turned to look at Thrawn. For as long as I had known him I don’t think I had ever seen him rendered utterly speechless before. A myriad of emotions rippled across his features and for a second I thought he might refuse. He stared at me for what seemed like forever and then he turned to address the Elder.

“I accept her gift, past, present, future, and all that it entails.” He said clearly. My knees nearly gave way with the relief that flooded through me. Navaari had said that there was a chance he would refuse even though this little rite was purely ceremonial and had no other significance or repercussions. In essence it was a formal reply to what he had done the very first time we had been here and nothing more than that but I knew better and this had deep meaning for both of us, more so than either of us could ever put into words, still…he could have refused it but he did not.

The Elder gave me the bracelet and I looked at Thrawn. His face was expressionless as he held out his right arm to me. With trembling fingers I slipped it on his wrist. It was a beautiful piece of work, similar to the Nai’da wrist torque that Navaari wore except instead of three strands of wire twisted together there were only two and silver one and a gold one, closed at either end with caps of pale blue metal.

As I clasped the slender metal band and tightened the gap so that it would not slip off I whispered “My heart to your heart is by Da’hajn forever bound.” It was an ancient line from an even older myth and although I had spoken it softly because of the acoustics in the great hall just about everyone had heard it. Everyone knew the story and murmurs of approval rippled through the watching crowd. Everyone loved a happy ending to a complicated love tale; it seemed it was even better when it happened in front of one’s eyes.

Time stopped for a nano second and then Thrawn reached out and pulled me to him. He cupped my face with both his hands and shook his head but before I could ask what that he had meant by that, very slowly and deliberately, he kissed me with such reckless abandon that had he not been holding on to me I would have crumpled to the floor felled by the muddle of emotions I felt coming from him in waves. His kiss lasted forever, languid and explicit in a way I had never known him to show in public. If anyone had any doubts about how he felt for me this was his way of shutting them up. It shut me up as well and once I got over my initial shock I did my very best to kiss him back. I knew then, in that moment I was whole again. When he finally, almost reluctantly drew back from me and held me at arm’s length his expression was so open it brought tears to my eyes. It was as though everything I had ever felt for this man was crashing around me and I opened my mouth to tell him that I loved him but he placed a finger across my lips and shook his head ever so slightly in a ‘don’t’ motion..

“Deeds speak louder than words, Tekari.” He looked at me intently and I nodded that I understood. It would have been too much all at once. I didn’t need to say the words, not here and not now because he knew anyway, exactly how I felt, saying it out loud would have been redundant somehow. Before I could think to speak he kissed me again and this time the enclave erupted in a cheer so deafening I hoped it would not bring the building down about our ears. The Elder grinned and clapped us both on the shoulders, then gave the word for the party to begin.

I thought I had seen the Dantassi celebrate with abandon but anything I had witnessed before this paled by comparison. As the music started and people began to dance, and move about Thrawn simple held on to me, the whole world swirled and blurred around us as we stood very still. He brushed the tears that had escaped from my eyes and were sitting on my cheeks away with his thumbs. I was certain he was about to say something but Navaari intervened by pulling us both in a bone crushing embrace. I could not remember the last time I had seen him look so pleased. When Thrawn untangled himself from the huddle Navaari had created I laughed at the expression on his face. He truly had not seen this coming and while it had pleased him, it had also annoyed him, just a little.

Navaari gave him an enormous grin and clapped Thrawn on the back so hard I saw him wince. “Now we are even, Nikätza’arth’pavjäska!” He grinned.

“Indeed, I had suspected that she might try to initiate something but this did not occur to me. I take it I have you to thank for this elegant piece of jewellery?” He lifted his right wrist to show off the slender silver and gold metal band that glinted in the light.

Navaari nodded. “Wear it well, kej’son.” He said. The two men regarded each other for moment and what passed between them I could not say but they clasped each other’s wrist and touched foreheads which I knew was sign of great honour and deep affection.

“And you little pup, are you happy?” He asked sweeping me up in a huge embrace, swinging me off the ground in a wide circle.

“Yes. Thank you, Navaari, thank you so much!” I told him as I buried my face in his neck and held onto him as tightly as I could wondering if it was possible to explode from loving someone so much. When he set me down on the ground again and I had to hold onto Thrawn’s arm because I was so dizzy. He just laughed but before he or I could say any more An’jast’a had come up and tapped him on the back.

“Let them be, you old fool, after that display I do not think they have standing around, chattering to you on their minds. So come and dance with me instead!” She said grinning at me. I liked An’jast’a a lot and I was glad that Navaari had finally let her into his heart. I had hoped to see them bound before I left but I guessed that would be a little while yet. I just watched as she dragged him into the middle of the dancing crowd and then turned back to face Thrawn. He stared at me and drew a deep slow breath in and then let it out even more slowly.

“That was very well played, my dear.” He said softly.

“Are you cross?” I asked, still uncertain about his feelings in this particular matter.

His eyebrow arched and a slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “No, not at all.” He replied shaking his head to emphasize this, and then he added, as he caressed my cheek with the backs of his fingers, “You honour me greatly.”

“That’s what you said the last time as well, but I didn’t know what it meant then.”

“And do you know now?”

“No,” I conceded, making a face, “not really.”

“Well, consider it something for you to puzzle out on your own then.” He replied, giving me one of those smiles which said everything and nothing all at the same time, driving me crazy. I just sighed and shook my head, he enjoyed getting the last word in and sometimes it was better just to let him win. I didn’t protest when took me by the arm and began to lead me away from the dais. “So… shall we dance?” He asked.

“I though you’d never ask!” I replied and laughed as we were swept up into the crowd.