Chapter Text
Prologue | Mitth’raw’nuruodo
“Commander Vanto,” Thrawn said.
“Yes, Grand Admiral?”
“I have one more request, for when you reach the Ascendency.”
“Yes, sir.”
“There’s a… talented engineer there. I believe her expertise would be particularly useful for the TIE Defender project. Truthfully, the project was partially inspired by her work. I’ve received permission from the Emperor to attempt to consult her on the project.” He slid the data drive across the desk to Eli. “If you’re able to make contact with her, please share these plans with her. Admiral Ar’alani will be able to help with arranging the exchange of her alterations to them. But you must deliver this directly to her. That is part of the Emperor’s condition.”
Eli said, picking up the drive. “How do I find her?”
“Her name is Mitth’ell’unaris. Thell. The last I knew, she was working in Research and Development on Naporar. But in all likelihood, I think she will find you.” Thrawn controlled his expression as he watched Eli search his face. He didn’t need Eli to ask questions on this subject. He also didn’t need to make things more difficult for Thell if she had remarried in the time since he had left the Ascendency, by having Eli show up making assumptions.
Eli nodded, “I see.”
Thrawn considered whether he ought to send her a message outside of the plans. Perhaps Thell had moved on, perhaps Thias had grown up with a new parent in his place. The thought still disturbed some small part of him after all this time, though he had long since made his peace with the idea. But perhaps worse was the idea that all this time she had waited, alone. In that case, receiving nothing from him but fighter plans… Even fifteen years later, he could almost shudder at the thought of the wrath that would incur. He didn’t want to interfere with their life, but he didn’t want Thell and Thias to think he had forgotten them.
“Could you remember a message for her as well? She will know what it means.”
“Of course, sir.”
1 | Mitth’ia’safis
Thias sat in the window, with her knees pulled up to her chest. She had found this spot on the highest level of the naval library data center in her first week at Taharim and had settled into it in the past months. None of the other students spent much time in the library, especially since they could all just download things onto their questises if they really wanted to read. But that made this place perfect for her.
She could sit here and read all she wanted with the perfect vantage point to see most of the docking bays. She got to watch all the warships and freighters and shuttles come in and out of Naporar.
She had also quickly discovered that the Taharim library had a wealth of knowledge on the alien species known to the Chiss. She had started alphabetically and now had made her way all the way to the Paataatus, her subject for today. Of course, all the information was intended purely for tactical purposes, but that didn’t stop Thias from fantasizing about visiting alien worlds.
A message notification popped up. Mother again. Thias swiped it away without reading it. Of course she loved her mother, but she could be a lot sometimes. Sometimes Thias just didn’t have the words. Mother wasn’t satisfied with one word answers. Thias felt a little bad, because she knew how worried Mother would get, but she didn’t have the energy.
Besides, her worry was unnecessary. Thias was nearly an adult. And she was well-practiced in managing her own risks. She had practiced her whole life with hiding her Second and Third Sight. Borika and Thalias had coached her, teaching her the skills while also keeping her secrets. Mother seemed to think she would wake up and forget how, or try to use it as a party trick. As if Thias was interested in attending parties or had friends to attend them with.
Thias had little experience interacting with peers her age, since she had spent so much of her life away from them. And she had quickly discovered that her peers were not interested in discussing the types of ships they would like to fly or the planets they hope to visit. She had also more recently discovered that the better she performed, the more her peers didn’t want to be around her.
Today, their feelings toward her seem to have shifted from avoidance into outright animosity. She had set a new Academy record on the simulator this morning. Afterwards, she had seen them all whispering and glaring. Then at lunch, Lakiith and his group had approached her.
Did you learn that from your traitor Father?
The question didn’t make sense, though now she realized the intention had likely been simply to hurt her. A lazy insult. Her peers seemed overly concerned with Family status and relations.
No. That would be impossible since I have no memory of him.
They had laughed at her response. But you admit you’re the daughter of a traitor?
That is what the Syndicure decided.
They had laughed less strongly at this and eventually just wandered off.
She was never sure why people reacted to the things she said the way they did, only that when she received flashes of what was happening in their minds, her peers seemed to spend a good proportion of time thinking about how to get away from her.
Another message from Mother pulled her out of her recollections of the afternoon. She flicked it aside as well, returning to her reading.
On days like today, where she was particularly feeling how difficult it was to engage with other Chiss, even other Chiss that shared her love of flying, she found herself particularly drawn to the fantasy of visiting alien worlds. And when she was exhausted and Mother was also being particularly persistent, she flirted with the vision of taking a ship and disappearing from the Ascendency entirely. With her piloting skills and her Third Sight, there was nothing to stop her. There was so much happening out there. If she was going to feel like an alien, she might as well actually be one.
But she would never leave her Mother. That would probably kill her. And she would probably miss Borika and Thalias and Zicheri too. Still, it was a nice idea.