Rain’s P.O.V.
The forests of Myrkr stretched out below, green and lush.
And excellent cover, Rain thought, her deep brown eyes scanning the trees for an opening large enough to accommodate their cloaked vessel.
They had spotted an Imperial encampment relatively near the outskirts of Hyllyard City and had already established a comfortable distance between themselves and it. Now all that remained was finding that landing point.
There, Rain thought, her eyes locking onto a small clearing.
She steered toward it, deactivating the ship’s cloaking device just as she started to touch down.
“Decloaking,” she announced, then added, “Checking for nearby lifeforms.”
She switched on the integrated scanner, pausing when it didn’t respond in typical fashion.
“What is it?” Grievous asked, approaching noisily from behind.
Rain frowned, “Sensor’s not working. Must be the trees. Well,” she said, getting to her feet, “That only means some additional scouting work for the two of us. Shall we?” she prompted, donning a gentle smile.
Grievous gestured for her to lead the way and Rain did so.
She paused once outside, however, to take in their surroundings. After spending so much time either on the rocky plains of their rebel base or else in the vast expanse of starry space, it felt almost strange being around so much flora.
Rain’s wandering thoughts were cut short as she felt the General’s gaze on her. She turned to see him regarding her questioningly.
“It’s nothing,” she said in answer to his silent scrutiny, “I’ll take the left. We’ll work our way due east, toward the encampment. Stay within earshot, in case either of us encounters the enemy.”
They set off, splitting away from each other and heading into the trees once they had set a suitable gap between them. Rain took to the trees so as to give herself a better vantage point and reduce her chances of being spotted by a ground patrol. She doubted they’d find one so far from the Imperial encampment, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
She paused to glance in Grievous’ general direction, noting with satisfaction that there wasn’t a solitary sound to be heard from his location.
The General’s stealth skills had improved significantly after his cough had been cured. Rain had been surprised to see just how naturally it seemed to come to him. She had avoided bringing him on covert missions long after they had first formed their group of elite, and since most of their early missions had been strictly stealth operations, it had ended with Grievous spending most of the time on the base, something Rain was almost certain the General had been aware of and deeply unhappy with, though he had hardly let on. So after the improvement in his functions and his subsequent insistence on participating in most all their expeditions, Rain had been apprehensive of the results. Needless to say, in the end, she had been pleasantly surprised with his performance. Though in retrospect she supposed that it shouldn’t have been all that shocking to her, since she had heard the stories of Jedi Masters taken unawares by Grievous during the Battle of Hypori.
Those were in the early days of the Clone Wars...back when I was a Jedi...when Mira—
She left the thought unfinished, returning her focus to the task at hand. She ventured onward, leaping lightly from one branch to the next. The trees grew relatively close together so there was no great difficulty in moving between them. And all the while, Rain kept her eyes peeled for any sign of Imperial forces. After having cleared some more distance, she paused, her attention attracted by a faint sound. She reached out with her senses, searching for whatever had made the noise. Her consciousness passed over a few small lifeforms, only making a quick note of them before probing further.
Then something pushed back. To the east, it was as if a wall had risen up to block her out, telling her she could go no further. And in that space, there was only an uncomfortable emptiness; a soundless, lifeless, dark void at the edge of her senses. Rain released her concentration, her brow furrowing in confusion.
What in the name of the force...?
She closed her eyes and reached out again, pressing further this time. Again, that empty blackness rose up to meet her, her senses moulding around its spherical edge. Unlike what she had first thought, it was less like a wall and more like some sort of circle...perhaps a bubble? Either way, it was unlike anything Rain had ever felt before. Yes, she had encountered shieldings by other force-users before, but it was always distinctive, like a blurry and twisted image that defied all logic or definement, yet still presented strongly within the living force. And while it was admittedly easy to miss if one wasn’t looking for it, it was unmistakable when one was.
But this...this is...vacant. It’s nothingness.
The thought made Rain’s skin crawl.
“Grand Admiral. Shouldn’t we make our way back to camp?”
Rain’s eyes snapped open, scanning her surroundings until they found the speaker. An Imperial stormtrooper stood score or more paces away, facing east, his attention fixed on whoever it was he was speaking to. Beside him stood a second Imperial trooper; this one had his weapon raised and was surveying the westward landscape silently.
Rain’s unease worsened dramatically. She reached out a third time, feeling some small relief as her senses at last registered the three newcomers.
They must have been inside that queer bubble a moment ago. That’s why I couldn’t sense them…
The idea was unnerving. For all Rain knew, there could be a whole army nearby and she’d have no hope of detecting them.
What is it?! her mind screamed at her, What is that emptiness?!
Focus, she told herself, For now, focus on what you understand. There are only three Imperials that you know of. Monitor them.
She forced her anxiety down, pressing closer to the trunk of the tree in which she was perched and keeping a watchful eye on the Imps. She couldn’t see much of their Admiral as he stood furthest away from her and was blocked from view by his escort.
But she heard him.
“No,” he told his men, “I see no reason to return to camp when we’re only just beginning to understand the mysteries of this forest.”
His voice was quiet, his speech refined.
And something about it sounded oddly...familiar.
“After all,” the Admiral continued, “What better way to study nature’s phenomena than in its natural state?”
I know someone who spoke like that, Rain thought, her mind racing, But who? When? And where…
The questions weighed on her, resounding in her head in an endless loop. There were so many...too many. She needed to take control of the situation. She needed to ground herself.
Calm down, Rain. Think.
Somewhere in the dark recesses of her mind was a memory fighting to be recalled. If she could only summon it to the surface, she would have some answers.
Think!
“All due respect, Admiral Thrawn, but I—”
Thrawn.
The memories surged to the forefront of Rain’s consciousness, nearly overwhelming her.
She remembered her unexpected entanglement with Skywalker and his unauthorized mission on Batuu. She remembered encountering Thrawn’s ship above the planet. Anakin’s impatient back-and-forth with the stranger.
Then seeing him on Batuu.
Back then, Rain had responded with the lovestruck musings of a typical teenage girl.
But now? Now she was experiencing...very different thoughts.
“What was that?” one stormtrooper demanded suddenly.
Rain instinctively straightened, drawing herself entirely outside the enemy’s line of view. She knew it wasn’t her they had heard, but nonetheless, they were more likely to spot her if they were expecting to find a hostile presence. It cost her a visual but her hearing was just as useful.
So what is it you heard? she wondered, tentatively reaching out through the force to see what she could determine.
As she brushed up against that empty abyss once more, she quickly withdrew, uttering a soft hiss of frustration.
No, it looked as though her physical senses would have to cut it.
So she waited and listened, and in the meantime, the sound the stormtrooper had heard—whatever it was—grew closer.
“Grand Admiral!” the imp exclaimed.
Rain could hear the panic in his voice, the unspoken question: Do we flee?
But the Admiral did not respond.
Rain leaned out, chancing a look.
Then it appeared, crashing through the foliage, its long tail lashing, muscles rippling under a black hide, red eyes burning.
The hell is tha—
The canine creature pounced on the screaming Imperial soldier, scoring his armor with claws and teeth marks. Then it locked its jaws around the trooper’s helmet and bit down, cracking the armor like an egg and effectively silencing its victim’s screams. The other imp stumbled back in horror, his senses apparently kicking in at last as he raised his weapon and fired. His aim was scattered, however, allowing the beast to evade his attacks.
“Grand Admiral, get to safety!” he shouted.
But it was foolish to believe there was anywhere safe in that moment.
A second creature came bounding out of the forest, but instead of heading for the easier prey, it raced straight toward Rain’s location.
Great.
There was nothing for it. Without so much as a trace of hesitation, Rain vaulted out of the tree just as her hunter leapt to meet her. In a flash, she ignited one end of her lightsaber, delving it into the creature’s chest. It released a piercing howl before falling lifelessly to the ground, Rain landing by its side and rolling on impact. Tucking her fingers in her mouth, she uttered a shrill whistle which resounded through the forest.
Danger! her senses screamed, Behind you!
Rain dodged, clearing the hazard zone a split second before a third beast entered the fight.
But its role was short-lived.
Grievous came barreling out of the forest in answer to Rain’s summons, tackling the creature ruthlessly and slamming it into the ground. His clawed digits dug into the now whimpering canine’s neck, twisting and breaking it in one vicious motion. He then turned to Rain, his ferocity quelled as suddenly as it arose, and offered a helping hand. She gladly accepted it, allowing him to help her back onto her feet.
A sweeping glance revealed that only the first beast remained. It had just finished dispatching the last of Thrawn’s guard and was now headed for Thrawn himself. Rain watched with interest, her eyes drinking in Thrawn’s unshaken countenance as he faced off his opponent. A hefty, silver-handled pistol was clutched in his right hand, lowered but ready.
The beast charged yet the Admiral still didn’t budge. Rain could see an unwavering resolve in the Chiss’ vermilion eyes, an intense concentration with the object to destroy, and it somehow excited her.
The creature pounced and Thrawn dove right under it, turning and leveling his pistol as it wheeled about for a second try. The beast charged again, but Thrawn withheld his fire, waiting. It must have been close enough for him to metaphorically see the whites of its eyes by the time he fired his blaster. It was a dead center shot, right between the eyes, and it immediately felled the creature.
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It didn’t even have time to cry out.
Rain smiled.
He’s perfect. Just like he was. Absolutely perfect…
She advanced, tucking away her weapon to show she intended no harm.
“I knew you’d be able to handle yourself,” she addressed the Admiral, “After all, you proved yourself more than capable all those years ago. Congratulations on your title, by the way. Though it’s a shame you’re serving the Empire. I imagine your colleagues aren’t the most friendly. I found the Imperial ranks tend to be a bit…humanocentric.”
Thrawn holstered his blaster, straightening leisurely and folding his hands behind his back before turning to face Rain.
He regarded her silently for a moment before inquiring, “Do I know you?”
“We met on Batuu. I accompanied Skywalker, if you’ll recall.”
A light of recognition dawned in Thrawn’s eyes.
“Ah, yes,” he acknowledged, “I remember. You were very…attentive.”
Rain’s smile wavered slightly and Thrawn’s gaze turned to the cyborg.
“General Grievous, leader of the Confederate armies during the Clone Wars and now a rebel combatant. I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance. I once familiarized myself with your conquests throughout the Clone Wars and must say I found your strategies to be quite inspirational.”
Grievous responded with the slightest of nods. Rain felt a swell of pride on his behalf.
“So you are part of the rebel cell that destroyed the prison on Stygeon Prime,” Thrawn continued, “An impressive feat, I must say, and near perfectly successful.”
Rain’s sense of pride promptly vanished, replaced by the tug of misgivings.
She narrowed her eyes, echoing, “Near?”
The Chiss’ sanguine eyes betrayed nothing, but they didn’t have to. His lingering silence said it all.
“I assumed you were aware,” he said at last, “My apologies for being the bearer of bad news but, according to recent reports I’ve been hearing, Lord Vader survived your attack, and is now overseeing the Spire’s reconstruction himself.”
Rain’s eyes blazed with anger.
“What?”
She felt the color draining from her face, her jaw clenching involuntarily.
He was sucked into the atmosphere. He should have fallen to his death, suffocated, or frozen. It doesn’t matter how but he shouldn’t have survived. HE SHOULDN’T HAVE SURVIVED!
She wanted to break something, wanted to siphon her anger into destruction. But Thrawn was watching her, probing her. A lack of composure on her part could easily be wielded against her by an enemy. But Thrawn wasn’t merely an enemy; she had bigger plans for him, in which case any sign of weakness could prove devastating.
So she restrained herself.
“It’s no matter,” she said, her voice struggling to get the words out.
“Oh, I believe it is,” Thrawn remarked, turning to gaze into the distance, “Your track record would not be as good as it is otherwise.”
Rain’s eyes narrowed fractionally.
“You’ve been studying us,” she concluded.
“Of course. It is, after all, my job to have an understanding of the Emperor’s enemies and how they operate. Your rebel cell had just shy of a 100% success rate before the events at Stygeon Prime. It is obvious that nothing less than total victory is acceptable to you.”
Rain’s expression revealed nothing.
“I imagine that’s true of anyone wishing to survive in my line of business.”
Thrawn fixed his eyes on her, an almost inquisitive light in his face.
“Business?” he echoed, “Yes, I suppose some see it that way.”
Rain couldn’t help herself.
“And how do you see it?” she queried.
Thrawn considered her briefly before turning away again.
“I consider war a game of skill.”
“A game?” Rain suppressed a twinge of disgust. “Rather bloody for a simple game.”
“That is precisely why there is nothing simple about it, Miss…” He paused. “Forgive me, but your name seems to escape my recollection.”
“Rain. Rain Callyn. I would ask your full name as well but I won’t make Skywalker’s mistake of assuming I have any hope of pronouncing it correctly.”
Surprisingly, Thrawn smiled, a light of humor in his face.
“Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” he said, “But you are right, of course. It is best if you stick with Thrawn.”
Rain inclined her head graciously, a measure of humor in her own expression. It vanished quickly, however, replaced by an unreadable mask.
“Shall we speak plainly?”
“If you prefer.”
“I wish to know why you’re here on Myrkr.”
Those crimson orbs seemed to bore even deeper into Rain.
“And why would such information be of interest to you?” As Rain opened her mouth to respond, Thrawn cut her off. “Do not forget, Miss Callyn, your own prompt to speak plainly.”
Rain smiled despite herself.
“Very well,” she conceded, “Truthfully, I have a primary interest in you, Admiral.”
“In me?” Thrawn echoed, his eyes alight.
Rain gave an affirming nod. Thrawn seemed to mull it over.
“It seems you are lacking something,” he said suddenly.
“And what is that?” Rain asked, keeping her voice level.
“If I’m not mistaken, your rebel cell should consist of at least one more.”
Thrawn’s eyes held hers, prompting a spark of unease within Rain.
“My question,” Rain said, swallowing her uncertainty, “You haven’t answered.”
“I doubt a simple mining operation would be of much concern to you, which I presume is why, as you said, your interest lies primarily with me.”
Rain scoffed, “The Emperor would be a fool to waste your talents on mining. And the Emperor is no fool.”
“The Emperor did not consign me here of his own accord. I wished to study the planet.”
“Why?”
“For the very reason I imagine you are here.”
“I’m here because the Empire is here,” Rain insisted, stepping forward.
“Precisely,” Thrawn answered, “You had questions. You wanted answers. In that respect, our purpose here aligns.”
Rain’s eyes narrowed reflexively.
The interference with the scanners when we landed…could that be what he’s seeking to study? Such a thing could be a dangerous tool.
It’d be best to cripple the whole operation.
And what better way to do that than to take away the person heading it?
“I have an offer for you. Join my elite.”
Thrawn regarded her out of the corner of his eye, unmoving, silent.
“Aren’t you tired of being surrounded by mediocrity? You did a better job protecting yourself than your armed guards did. And they’re all the same, even the higher-ups. I’ve seen it for myself. They’re only out for self-gain. They care nothing for greatness, only greed. Such pawns would only serve to stifle you. It may just be your undoing. But if you were to join my elite, I would give you charge over a faction with—according to your own words—a near perfect track record. You would give the orders and they would be carried out immaculately. What do you say?”
Rain’s mind was buzzing in the silence that followed.
He could be the key to bringing down the Empire. At long last! He must say yes. It would be foolhardy for him to give any other answer. He knows that… I must have him. I MUST HAVE HIM!
“An intriguing offer,” Thrawn answered, contemplatively tapping his forefinger against his chin, “Though I must admit I find certain functions of your rebel cell rather…perplexing.”
“Perplexing?” Rain blurted.
She silently cursed her lack of control.
“Yes,” Thrawn replied, drawing out the word agonizingly, “Suffice to say, I find your request for new leadership puzzling…though perhaps not so puzzling given your current leadership, which seems to overlook a more, well, obvious choice,” he finished, his eyes settling on Grievous.
Rain’s stomach twisted.
“Anything else?” she bit out.
Another sidelong look from those crimson eyes. “Miss Callyn, I believe there are far greater evils in the galaxy than the Empire I now serve. The Chiss Ascendency agrees. Your enemy—those I now serve—are simply a means to an end.”
Rain felt a flourish of hope.
“So your allegiance is to your people. Quite noble of you.”
“I agree, of course,” Thrawn said, “Which is why I require certain assurances.”
“Whatever other qualms you may have with how my rebel syndicate is run or how we may lack, I’m sure you can set it to rights shortly. All that’s needed is for you to say yes.”
“No.”
For a moment, Rain was convinced her ears had deceived her.
“I beg your pardon?” she asked quietly.
“No,” Thrawn reiterated, stretching the word in an almost self-satisfied manner.
An intense quiet. A growing indignation.
Then an icy response, “No?”
“It is a most generous offer, but I’m afraid I must refuse.”
Rain stared at him unblinkingly, her teeth grinding in frustration.
“Why.”
It was more a demand than a question.
“I’m afraid such a partnership would simply not suit my purposes. You see, the assurances I require I believe would be impossible for you to provide. I pray you understand.”
No…no, I don’t understand, Rain wanted to scream.
Fury and dismay mingled together. Her fingers closed around the hilt of her lightsaber.
“You may claim a noble cause, Admiral, but the Empire is no lesser evil,” she hissed, igniting the blade.
Thrawn was unfazed.
“I take it our unspoken truce has just ended.”
“Correct.”
If I can’t have you, THE EMPIRE MOST CERTAINLY WON’T!
“No matter,” Thrawn was saying, casually adjusting the previously concealed communicator on his wrist. No doubt, he saw little point in hiding it any longer. “I imagine my reinforcements will be arriving shortly.”
“Fine,” she dismissed, “I only need a few seconds.”
“Then if you’ll indulge me one final question—”
“Your stalling has become rather obvious, Admiral,” Rain interrupted, stalking toward him.
“It concerns a family relation of yours.” Rain stopped dead in her tracks. Thrawn continued, “I believe I recall one being mentioned in reports I recovered from the Clone Wars. Are they perhaps your absent companion?”
Rage boiled up within Rain. She gripped the hilt of her lightsaber in both hands, its scarlet hue illuminating her features.
“You know nothing,” she hissed, gathering her body like a creature of prey, “And your time has run out.”
Thrawn instantly flew into action, launching himself into a backwards somersault and drawing his blaster midair. He fired off several shots just as Rain’s boots left the ground, sapping her momentum by forcing her to parry. Then he reconnected with the turf, getting his feet under him and seamlessly transitioning into a dead run upon impact. Rain landed a split second after, but instead of continuing the pursuit, she paused, a maniacal grin splitting her face.
“Admiral, you aren’t running, are you?” she giggled, “How pathetic!”
She crouched down, her muscles bunching and readying to send her catapulting forward.
I’ll end this in one blow, and the great Admiral Thrawn will be nothing more than a smoking heap of body parts!
She sprang, lightsaber poised to strike, gravity catching her midway and carrying her downward, straight toward her target. She could almost taste victory as Thrawn turned back to level his pistol at her, a gleam of panic in his red eyes.
It’s over.
Then that bubble, that sheer emptiness that seemed to swallow every trace of the living force, that silent sphere that she had completely forgotten about hit her dead on, and every fiber of strength in her body, every thought in her head, even her willpower itself vanished in an instant. Her lightsaber fell from her grip, her body hit the turf with a hollow-sounding thump.
And she lay there, her face in the dirt, an all-consuming silence in her soul.
Somehow she managed to turn herself over, and the great expanse of sky greeted her sight, smiling down at her through the trees.
For a second, there was tranquility.
Then it came crashing, tearing, gushing through her.
Fear. An uncontrollable, immeasurable terror.
She did the only thing she could.
She screamed.
She screamed until her throat hurt. She screamed until her lungs burned. She screamed until she couldn’t scream any longer, and she prayed that someone, anyone, would come save her.
A face swam in her vision, but in her hysteria it was unrecognizable to her.
“Where did it go?” she whispered hoarsely to the figure, “I can’t feel it anymore. It’s gone. It’s gone it’s gone it’s gone it’s gone it’s gone…help me. Please, get me out of here.”
“How interesting,” the figure responded, extending a silver object to her.
No, not to her. He was pointing it at her.
And then he was gone, overwhelmed by a gray streak. The gray streak morphed into something more solid, something that scooped Rain up in a cold, unyielding, but strangely comforting grip. It carried her away, away from that awful emptiness, toward the living force.
What Rain imagined would be a gentle embrace hit her like a ton of bricks, as though someone had poured liquid fire into her veins. In a split second, she could feel everything again. It was sharp, yet somehow still unclear. She could hear shouts in the distance, the wind on her face.
“What…what happened?” she whimpered, but no answer was offered.
She looked up at the face of her savior.
Grievous.
Recognition dawned on her. Blaster bolts were flying all around them. They were in danger. They were running.
Try to make sense of it.
The ship…they must be heading for the ship. Yes, they were going west! West, away from the enemy.
The enemy?
Thrawn.
Thrawn.
Rain dug her nails into her palm, drawing blood.
She wanted him dead. But he wasn’t dead. He was alive.
Alive… Rain thought, picturing his undefined face as he stood over her watching her beg piteously, And more dangerous than ever.