Mira’s P.O.V.
Mira sat in her cell, her knees tucked under her chin, and her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Ahsoka had already been dragged off, spitting threats, and Ezra and Kanan had long since given up on asking Mira what had happened. Silence reigned, allowing Mira’s thoughts to run rampant.
Without lifting so much as a finger, Thrawn had the capacity to rob her and other force-sensitives of their capabilities. On top of that, he somehow knew Rain.
He was expecting her. And he plans to use me against her.
That was the last thing Mira wanted, especially after—well, everything.
The years of arguing, of keeping secrets from one another…
Of course, Mira had her reasons for withholding Yoda’s words on Polis Massa.
“For your sister, this path is not,” the Grand Master had warned her, “Travel it alone you must, only with those who guide you.”
Mira had kept her promise to him, even though it had proved challenging. But years later when Rain had disappeared for over twelve standard months, having chosen to confide in Grievous but not her little sister, Mira had been undeniably angry. She’d even turned to loathsome Bane in search of answers but had received none, which only served to further inflame her temper, especially since she’d gotten the distinct feeling that Bane was lying to her. When at last Rain had returned, acting as though nothing had happened, she’d received little more than a cold shoulder from her younger twin.
I wish I’d hugged her instead, told her how glad I was that she was finally back.
Mira recalled the Admiral’s stinging words: “I believe she even sought to replace you…”
It had hurt her; she couldn’t deny that. But the mention of Rain seeming unbalanced had been enough to smother her self-pity with a familiar feeling of guilt.
Mira suppressed a sigh, her mind poring over every point of contention she and Rain had ever had: their opposing beliefs regarding the Jedi, their disagreements over Bane, over their mother—
Our mother…Rain always believed the horrible rumors people would spread about her. That she abandoned us, that she chose to die. If she’d only asked, only listened to someone who cared, they would’ve told her, like they told me. Mother loved us deeply. I wish I could show Rain that…turn back time somehow and make her see.
But fanciful wishes would accomplish nothing. If there was a chance they could survive this ordeal, then Mira needed to find a way to—
Make things right.
With a jolt, she recalled the words of the apparition on Christophsis, and in that moment, everything seemed to fall into place, and Mira knew exactly what she had to do.
“Ezra,” she called softly, the young padawan lifting his head in response to his name, “When we get out of this, I think…I’m going to have to leave the rebel alliance.”
“What?!” Ezra started, shock and disappointment mingling in his expression.
“Not forever,” Mira assured him, “I hope to be back someday. But I have certain things I need to take care of first, and I wanted to warn you...about Ahsoka.”
She paused, watching Ezra’s wide-eyed face, but he said nothing.
So she continued, “I’m not asking you to disregard her authority, or think the worst of her. I just want you to be careful. Don’t assume everything she says is the truth, or that she has your best interest at heart. Decide for yourself. And mind Kanan; he’s a wise master,” she added with a gentle smile.
“I know that,” Ezra said, ducking his head abashedly. A moment later, he raised his head again, his expression suddenly much more serious. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve always managed to land on my feet…even if I needed a little help every now and then.”
He glanced at Kanan.
“I just wonder,” Mira said, “You always seem to be on the lookout for someone to admire, but you have Kanan and Hera. Why do you feel you need someone else?”
Ezra ducked his head once more, but Mira’s smile remained.
He really is… she thought, So much like Rain.
Thrawn’s P.O.V.
Thrawn stared at the pitiful figure curled up on the floor, his frown deepening the longer her twitching and muttering persisted.
This reaction, coupled with the Inquisitor’s report, had led him to conclude that Skywalker’s former padawan was a most egregious disappointment. Of course, given the stories he’d heard of her performance during the Clone Wars, he couldn’t expect much of her to begin with.
Shortsighted tactics, high casualties, incomplete training…yes, as sore a truth as it was, sometimes the apple fell very far from the tree.
The Chiss stood from his seat, having already accepted that he’d be getting nothing from his prisoner. He was about to send for the Inquisitor when the door to his interrogation room opened, admitting one of the lower-ranking officers in his command.
“Grand Admiral,” he said hastily, almost tripping over his own words, “There’s an urgent communication for you!”
“Who is it?” Thrawn asked calmly.
“The Emperor, sir.”
Thrawn was hardly surprised. He’d been expecting such a call.
“Very well. I will take it in my quarters. Oh, and have this one—” He gestured to Ahsoka, who was still curled in the fetal position and whimpering pathetically. “—returned to her cell.”
The officer dipped his head in compliance, Thrawn striding past him into the halls.
His chambers were dimly lit so as to naturally draw the eye to the holographic art pieces displayed about the room. The atmosphere reflected quiet contemplation, which is what Thrawn so often did there.
Approaching his desk, he triggered the holodisplay, the Emperor’s hooded form springing to life before him. The Chiss gave a measured bow.
“How might I serve you, my Emperor?”
“I received your message. What a fortunate turn of events.”
“Indeed,” Thrawn agreed, “Though as of yet, there’s been no sign of your former General, or the elder Callyn.”
“If your calculations are correct, there is little doubt she will arrive soon, and when she does, I trust you will have no trouble capturing her. There is…not much Callyn wouldn’t do for her younger sister. My only wonder is what you might do once you have your intended prey.”
“I imagine I could derive many uses from former Jedi, given your permission, of course.”
“I’m afraid I have my own plans for them, Admiral.”
Thrawn felt a twinge of disappointment, but his mastered expression registered none of it.
“Naturally. And may I inquire as to what those plans might be?”
“Tano and Callyn have both tasted the dark side and found it to their liking. I intend to give them a fuller understanding of the power they so flippantly use. They shall be remade to serve my purposes; but first, you must follow my instructions exactly.”
Thrawn shifted his position, his curiosity deepening.
“I am listening.”
Rain’s P.O.V.
Rain took in the Imperial Star Destroyer slowly orbiting Myrkr, watching silently from the safety of her cloaked vessel, which was idling at least a mile out from the dreadnought’s position.
It hadn’t been there on their last visit to Myrkr, and in truth, Rain found its presence deeply unsettling.
Perhaps Grievous had been right. Perhaps this whole endeavor was grossly misguided.
No, Rain reasoned with herself, It’s not as if Thrawn could predict our coming. He’s done his research. He knows we’ve never carried out more than one mission in a single location. It’d be the last thing he’d expect.
Or maybe she was wrong, and Thrawn had long since realized just how much of a stake she had in this.
Rain tightened her grip on the controls, her knuckles turning white. She could feel the General’s eyes boring into her from behind, noting her reluctance, her lack of composure, all without a word.
I will NOT be indecisive. We came here to do a job, and we’ll kriffing do it!
But doubts continued to play through her mind.
If they were expected and if Thrawn had taken every caution to prepare…
Cloaked ships are hard to come by. Ways to detect them even harder. But surely it’d be well within the power of a Grand Admiral to acquire the necessary technology?
Rain released her grip on the controls, digging her nails into her forehead. She needed to focus, needed to remember the importance of why they were there to begin with.
But somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were headed straight into a trap, and all the while Grievous continued to stare, unshakably, incessantly.
Maddeningly.
“Perhaps—”
Rain geared the ship into motion, having made her decision. Whatever the General was about to say, he didn’t bother to finish.
Thrawn’s P.O.V.
“Grand Admiral! Our scanners just picked up another cloaked ship approaching Myrkr. They’re here, sir.”
Thrawn couldn’t help but smile.
“Prep the TIE fighters for attack but wait for my signal to launch them. I want our newest guests to be quite close before we send out the welcoming committee.”
“Shall we not just use the cannons to—”
“No,” Thrawn interrupted, his smile shifting to a frown, “It seems I was wrong to give our Inquisitor friend the lead before. Let’s try not to make things quite so…messy this time. Have the TIE fighters guide the rebels toward the tractor beam.”
“And…” His subordinate hesitated. “If they can’t?”
The Chiss suppressed a sigh.
“It doesn’t matter. I have an offer they can’t refuse. Now do as I’ve ordered.”
The underling bowed his head quickly before relaying Thrawn’s command. The admiral promptly tuned him out, his sanguine eyes sweeping the vast expanse of space which lay just beyond the viewport. He wondered where exactly his little rebel friends might be, and if they truly expected to evade the Imperial presence.
“Let me know when the TIE fighters are ready to launch.”
“They should be ready in a moment, Grand Admiral.”
“What is the rebel ship’s position?”
“They’ll be approaching our vector shortly.”
“Good.”
Thrawn waited, counting out the seconds while imagining his prey drawing closer and closer.
Then he gave the order.
A hail of voices assailed the bridge as coordinates were called out to the TIE pilots, directing them toward their invisible target. When one man couldn’t keep up with the enemy’s movements, the next would seamlessly take up the task, one voice flowing into the next in a noisy stream. Thrawn listened with imperishable concentration, picturing the rebel vessel as it ducked, weaved, and swirled through the firefight.
And then came, “Grand Admiral! We’ve lost their position! Our sensors are no longer detecting their ship!”
Thrawn released a long, slow breath.
“Cue up an open frequency communication. I’d like to have a chat with our rebel guests, if I could.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thrawn paused, giving his subordinates a moment to set up the comms channel.
Then he addressed the two fugitives, “This is Grand Admiral Thrawn. I have a message for the insurgents currently hiding somewhere in this sector. I possess information that may prove interesting to them—or at least, to one of them.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Presently aboard my ship is someone by the name of Mira Callyn. If you wish to see her alive, you will quietly surrender upon hearing this message. That is all.” Pausing again, he added to the officer manning communications, “Keep the channel open, and have our terms repeated every five standard minutes. We wouldn’t want them to miss such important news.” The officer nodded in acknowledgement and Thrawn turned on his heel, making to exit. “Once the rebels have surrendered, have the woman brought to my examination room. I’ll be in my quarters.”
“Yes, Grand Admiral.”
Rain’s P.O.V.
It took every ounce of willpower for Rain to hold herself together. She felt like the floor had dropped out from under her and she was falling into a terrifying abyss.
I have no choice. There’s no other way out of this.
After having uttered some hasty orders to Grievous, handing off one of her lightsabers, and digging up her space gear, she had left the ship, summoning up the memory of a dreadnought’s weak points before working her way to the right location and cutting an opening for herself. With that, she was onboard the Imperial cruiser, ready to hand herself over at the first sighting of a patrol.
It didn’t take long. She was disarmed, searched, and led to a drab, mostly empty room. Though when she felt her force connection abruptly ripped away, she reacted purely on instinct, fighting free of the Imps flanking her and scrambling back, away from that horrid feeling.
“Karking rebel!” one trooper spat, leveling his blaster at her, “Try that again and I’ll blow your head off!”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Thrawn’s voice said coolly. Rain turned her head to see him striding toward them. “The Emperor would be most displeased.”
The Imps backed away obediently, Thrawn dismissing them with a wave of his hand before turning his attention to Rain.
“Don’t worry. I won’t require you to subject yourself to the Ysalamir’s effects quite yet,” he said, gesturing to some lizard-looking animal across the room, “In fact, I’d rather you keep your wits for this part.”
Rain shakily pushed herself to her feet again.
“Where’s Mira?” she demanded, trying her damnedest to keep her voice even.
“All in good time,” Thrawn answered, sweeping past her to take a seat at the table in the center of the room.
Rain considered him a moment before throwing out a hand. Her force push never reached its target. She let her arm fall back to her side.
Thrawn smiled, “No, I’m afraid that won’t work, Rain Callyn.”
Rain felt her blood boil. The idea that she’d ever wanted to lay claim to this man—his talents, perhaps even his body—now sickened her.
“Shall we speak?” Thrawn prompted, raising his arm so as to display his wristcom, “Don’t forget, a word from me will easily end your sister’s life. It’s in your best interest to cooperate.”
Rain ground her teeth, hissing, “Talk.”
“My terms were quite clear, Callyn. You and the General were to turn yourselves in. Unless…you came alone? But no, it would be senseless for you to do such a thing, especially with you so possessed of fear toward the Ysalamiri. And the General seems far too loyal to you to allow you to come alone. So naturally that must mean that wherever you’ve hidden your ship and your other lightsaber is where the General must be also. So…where is it? Where is your ship?”
Rain said nothing. Thrawn watched her unblinkingly for several seconds, then spoke into his comm.
“Dispatch the TIE fighters to do a sweep of the dreadnought.”
Rain tried to hide the spike of alarm she felt but judging by Thrawn’s look, he had seen it well enough.
“I’ve seen it once or twice. Ships power down to avoid sensors. All you’d have to do is shake off the TIEs just long enough to not give yourself away. It’s a resourceful trick, but a simple one.”
“Damn you!” the words escaped Rain before she could stop them, “Where’s Mira?!”
Thrawn held up a finger, gesturing for patience.
“I should have my confirmation soon. Let’s wait a moment, shall we?”
Grievous’ P.O.V.
Grievous stared down at Rain’s lightsaber clasped in his clawed digits.
“Stay here,” she’d said, “Under no circumstances are you to board the dreadnought. I’ll try to come back with Mira but if…if I don’t make it, or things become too dangerous, then leave.”
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But the longer he waited, the more uncertain he became. Rain seemingly hadn’t been able to think straight ever since Mira left, and now, with her little sister at the very center of things…
This will not end well.
Somehow, he could feel it. And it felt…frightening.
The emotion evoked unbidden thoughts, memories of Rain lying on the ground screaming in helpless terror. Memories of himself standing at the edge of the Jenuwaa Sea, yelling until he was hoarse.
This same feeling had plagued him on that day as well.
If we had not separated…
But it was far too late to change those events.
Though perhaps not too late to change these ones.
Grievous kept his gaze fixed on Rain’s lightsaber, opening and closing his grip around it. He knew she’d be madder than a gundark with its tail on fire if he disregarded her orders, but somehow that hardly mattered to him now.
He’d made his decision.
Latching the saber alongside his others, he began puzzling out her point of entry onto the dreadnought. Climbing out of the small Conqueror-class vessel, he began making his way across the gargantuan cruiser, his talons anchoring him to its exterior. The sound of approaching TIEs caught his attention and he promptly retracted his body into itself, hunkering down and doing his best to blend in with his surroundings. The enemy fighters passed some distance from where he hid in plain view, right in the whereabouts of—
The ship…
The General watched loathly as the TIEs descended toward Rain’s cherished vessel, firing off a few shots which triggered a blazing eruption, flames billowing outward violently before dissipating just as quickly.
Rain would be livid when she found out.
Rain’s P.O.V.
“Hit confirmed. Target destroyed.”
The words sank in, sending a horrible numbness spilling through Rain.
No…
“Good,” Thrawn answered, triggering off his comm and fixing his crimson eyes on his hostage.
Numbness was replaced by anger. Rain’s shocked expression twisted into one of rage.
“You!”
She raced at Thrawn, the force-sapping bubble hitting her like a solid wall and knocking her legs out from under her. She collapsed, her grief weighing down on her and doubly crippling her.
The General was gone…gone. And it was her fault.
If he’d hidden himself away onboard the dreadnought, or if I’d even allowed him to surrender, he would still be—
Thrawn was saying something about her reaction, how it confirmed things for him, but the words felt strangely distant, incomprehensible.
She did, however, hear the word “Sister” loud and clear.
Yes. Mira was all she had left now.
I have to protect her, whatever it takes. I promised I would…
Somehow, she managed to summon her wits, pushing herself to her feet and facing down Thrawn.
“Take me to her.”
Mira’s P.O.V.
Quiet had descended over the cells again, though for a time, those dreary surroundings had rung with the shocked voices of Kanan and Ezra as Ahsoka had explained their captor’s frightening capacity to strip them of their force abilities.
“Mira, why didn’t you tell us?” Ezra had demanded worriedly.
“I didn’t want to frighten you further,” Mira admitted.
Ahsoka had tried to devise some wild plan to counteract the lizard-like creature’s effects but after Kanan had pointed out the obvious flaw in her scheme, that being that they’d all have to be outside their cells and present in the same specific area for it to work, Ahsoka had promptly snapped about how she didn’t hear anyone else offering ideas before lapsing into a moody silence.
Mira leaned against the wall of her cell, staring up at the ceiling and wondering what she might say to her sister when she got the chance. Though her deliberation was interrupted by the sound of the prison door opening and someone approaching.
It was Soleil.
Her formerly deadpan expression seemed oddly sullen now. Instead of fixing ahead, her gaze was on the floor. Then she stopped in front of Mira’s cell, lifting her eyes.
“Mira.”
Her name still felt surprising coming from the Inquisitor. And by the looks on her companions, they were equally nonplussed by their enemy’s evident familiarity with one of their own.
“Yes?” Mira answered.
“Grand Admiral Thrawn requires your presence once more.”
Soleil opened the cell, stepping aside so Mira could advance. She did so, Soleil promptly gesturing to the door before falling in step just behind her. As they walked, Mira couldn’t help but sneak a few glances over her shoulder, puzzling over the Inquisitor’s changed demeanor.
Finally, she managed to work up the courage to ask, “Soleil, what’s going on?”
The Atoan stopped dead in her tracks, Mira slowing to a halt just after her. Soleil would not meet her eyes, choosing instead to stare at nothing in particular. Mira watched her, an unsettling feeling lodging in the pit of her stomach.
Then Soleil’s gaze transfixed her.
“They’re going to kill you.”
Ezra’s P.O.V.
“Did you hear that?” Ezra queried, straining to listen.
“Hear what?” Kanan asked slowly.
Then came the unmistakable sound of the prison door opening. There was a pause, and instead of ordinary footsteps, the prisoners heard a raucous clanking.
Into view stepped none other than General Grievous, dragging two unconscious—or more likely dead—stormtroopers behind him.
“Hey!” Ezra called, feeling a burst of hope.
The General looked up, stepping away from his victims to overlook the hostages more closely. The three stood there awkwardly as he regarded them in silence for a moment.
Then that mechanical voice issued a question, “Where are Rain and Mira?”
“Rain?” Kanan echoed.
“We haven’t seen her,” Ahsoka answered in a level tone.
“But Mira was just taken away by an Inquisitor!” Ezra explained hurriedly.
The General’s eyes darted toward the door, his body following the motion.
“Wait!” Kanan shouted, “Aren’t you going to let us out?!”
Grievous considered him a moment.
“I see little reason to do so,” he admitted at last.
“We can help!” Ezra insisted.
“I know where Mira was being taken,” Ahsoka added darkly, “Thrawn will be there too. So if Rain is onboard this ship, there’s a good chance she’ll be there as well.”
Grievous paused, seemingly considering the offer, then nodded once, stepping forward and igniting one of his many lightsabers. He slashed the control panels on each cell, shorting them out and causing the force shields to subside. Upon being freed, Ahsoka turned to her companions.
“You guys need to find us a way out of here,” she instructed, “Head to the nearest launch bay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Ezra and Kanan nodded in unison before heading off the block, keeping a sharp eye out as they raced toward their assigned destination.
Stay safe, guys, Ezra silently bade, And stay safe, Mira.
Grievous’ P.O.V.
Ahsoka led the way cautiously but quickly through the corridors of the dreadnought, Grievous silently watching her back. It struck him as odd that he was acquiring aid from someone Rain so deeply despised, but such misgivings hardly had a place given the situation. They pressed on, easily dealing with one or two patrols along the way. Grievous flung the motionless forms over his broad shoulders; he’d simply dump them at the first convenient place he could find.
“You know,” Ahsoka said, eyeing his lightsaber collection, “I could probably handle these patrols twice as fast if you gave me a lightsaber.”
“No,” Grievous answered shortly after little contemplation.
Ahsoka halted, scowling.
“Are we working together or not?”
Grievous narrowed his eyes, looming over her.
“Lead on,” he ordered.
Ahsoka’s own cerulean eyes narrowed in return, and for a few seconds they stood like that, gazing menacingly at each other. Then the Togruta scoffed, turning away.
“You’re not worth it,” she muttered, resuming her trajectory, “Don’t forget, Grievous, I knew you during the Clone Wars, and—”
“What exactly did you know of me?” Grievous pressed, feeling his temper rise.
Ahsoka cast him a side eye, pausing once more.
“The room is ahead,” she said suddenly, gesturing in that general direction, “There’ll be a sentry, so you might want to consider keeping quiet.”
She did little to veil the bite behind the word “quiet” but Grievous hardly cared. Depositing the immobile stormtroopers in a careless heap, he moved ahead, but Ahsoka stopped him.
“Wait,” she said, prompting a spark of impatience in the General, “There’s something you don’t know. Thrawn has some kind of creature called a Ysalamir which can steal our force abilities. If you really want to help Rain and Mira, you’ll have to get rid of it first.”
Ysalamir?
A horrid image of Rain lying helpless on the ground jumped to the forefront of the General’s mind.
So that is what did that to her…
Grievous nodded in acknowledgment before pressing onward once more. They rounded a corner into a widening hall, the sentry Ahsoka had mentioned quickly entering view, though he didn’t even have time to call out before he was crushed against the wall by Grievous’ talons. As the imp crumpled to the floor, Ahsoka positioned herself opposite the General, readying for the coming confrontation. Grievous triggered open the door, they raced in, and—
No one was there. The room was empty and silent.
The General rounded on Ahsoka, fury pulsing through him. Had she intended this, to lead him on some wild bantha chase, to waste precious time in some sick ploy to make Rain suffer?
Ahsoka seemed to guess his thoughts and rushed to defend herself, “Grievous, you know I didn’t—”
“You’re too late,” said a voice.
They rounded back toward the door, spotting a figure draped in Inquisitor garb. Using the force, Ahsoka summoned one of the Grievous’ lightsabers to her hand, igniting it in preparation for a duel. The Inquisitor appeared unfazed. Then Grievous noticed the pile of stormtroopers beside her, the very one he had discarded mere moments ago. He shifted his gaze back to her, regarding her uncertainly.
“You’re too late,” she said again, making no move toward them, “The Grand Admiral’s orders have already been set in motion.”
Grievous took a step toward her.
“And what are those orders?”
Rain’s P.O.V.
Rain quietly trailed after her captor, the force-suppressing reptile carried just behind her between two stormtroopers. She’d almost managed to entirely forget its influence by focusing solely on Mira.
Yes…she’d see her little sister soon and they’d escape this nightmare together.
I’ll find a way.
Thrawn stopped in front of a semi-partition, Rain halting beside him.
“Where is she?” she asked impatiently.
“All in good time,” Thrawn answered, lifting his comm to his mouth and ordering, “Activate the shields.”
Two massive force shields sprang to life, sectioning off the group from a small, barren room.
A side door in said room opened, admitting four stormtroopers, a Ysalamir, and—
Mira.
She was cuffed, led by two imps while the remaining pair bore the animal specimen from Myrkr.
Rain clenched her jaw, turning a deadly gaze on Thrawn.
“What do you want?” she hissed.
“Why, nothing. I naturally had my own plans for your sister and her friends, but the Emperor’s will was made perfectly clear to me.” The Chiss’ crimson eyes bored into Rain. “All you must do is watch.”
Mira’s P.O.V.
Mira was half led, half dragged to the center of the room. She struggled to hear the muffled conversation on the other side of the force shield, her mind spinning frantically.
No! Things can’t end this way! Rain, Ezra…
She wished Soleil had not handed her off during transport so that she could beg the Inquisitor for her life now. Maybe she even would have listened.
But, no, she couldn’t depend on someone else to fix things for her. She had to try herself.
Yanking free of her escort, she aimed a kick at one, very nearly knocking his feet out from under him. Then the butt end of a blaster smashed against her skull, sending her sprawling across the ground with dark spots dancing in front of her eyes. She heard Rain scream and her heart twisted at the sound.
It was no use. She’d only make things worse by struggling.
There had to be something, anything that she could do or perhaps say—
Say. Of course! What is it I wanted to tell Rain?
Earlier, she’d only drawn a blank, and with her head still reeling from that hard smack, it seemed her luck wouldn’t be any better now.
Then it struck her. She did know what to say.
Because Rain had told her.
Rain’s P.O.V.
“Please!” Rain begged, dropping to her knees and frantically grabbing at Thrawn, “I’ll do anything!”
The two stormtroopers, having deposited the Ysalamir nearby, stepped forward to pry Rain off of their admiral, but he waved them away silently. He had a slight frown on his face, and seemed uninterested in addressing Rain’s pleas, choosing simply to regard her wordlessly.
No no no…this isn’t happening. This CAN’T be happening!
She turned her wide, frightened eyes on her sister and froze instantly.
Mira was smiling.
And as Rain continued to stare, she saw her twin mouth the words, “I love you.”
Then the tears came, streaming down Rain’s face, blinding her. She opened her mouth in a helpless, gut-wrenching scream.
The sound was cut short by the sight of a blaster bolt tearing through Mira’s temple. Rain saw the light go from her sister’s eyes and knew it was over.
Mira was dead.
Thrawn’s P.O.V.
An alarm blared suddenly, drawing Thrawn’s attention.
What in all the universe could THAT be? he wondered irritably.
Then he saw it, a gray terror barrelling toward them.
General Grievous? he thought, astonished, It can’t be. If he had been hiding on the dreadnought, if there was even a chance Callyn had not ordered him to remain on their ship, her reaction would not have been—
He didn’t even have time to finish before Grievous was upon them, having easily evaded the stormtroopers’ fire. Thrawn ducked, realizing too late that he wasn’t the target. He saw the Ysalamir go flying, Grievous skidding to a halt a short distance away.
“Grand Admiral!” one of the stormtroopers on the opposing side of the force shield shouted, “Someone get this shield down!”
The shield immediately dropped in response, allowing those four additional troopers to race to Thrawn’s aid, Ysalamir in tow. But a well-aimed lightsaber from the General’s hand effectively nullified their attempts, slashing the lizard-like creature in two and felling one Imperial soldier in the process. Thrawn resisted the urge to curse aloud.
Then he felt it. His skin was burning.
In the frenzy, he had taken his focus off Rain, but she was unwaveringly focused on him, and when he saw her face, a cold terror seized him.
The whites of her eyes had turned black, the deep brown of her iris now a vivid yellow. And her gaze was searing him.
He stumbled back, allowing his men to cover him.
“K-kill her!” he shouted, feeling a small spark of relief as the burning sensation ceased its spread.
But his men seemed hardly able to defend themselves. It was almost as though Callyn’s gaze grew more lethal by the second. Thrawn watched their armor scorch and give way, their pained screams filling his ears. Then he was running for the nearest exit.
He had to get away.
Grievous’ P.O.V.
Grievous stood, frozen in shock, watching from safety the devastation Rain caused through a single look. A part of him was afraid, afraid she might turn on him in her blind rage. But as the last stormtrooper fell, with Thrawn nowhere to be seen, she made her way instead toward where her sister had fallen. Grievous hung back, giving her a moment to make peace with the terrible loss.
He’d been too late to save Mira, having heard the blaster shot go off just as he’d entered the viewing hall.
“Good luck,” Ahsoka had bade sardonically, “I have no interest in going anywhere near an execution chamber. So if you manage to save Mira, you can keep her.”
Grievous forced down his guilt, cautiously approaching Rain’s kneeling form. Surprise struck him as he saw what she was clutching. Instead of Mira’s body, it seemed all that remained were her empty clothes. The General shook away his puzzlement determinedly. They didn’t have the time; they needed to get off that Imperial cruiser.
“Rain,” he called softly.
No response. Her eyes, apparently back to normal, seemed to be staring at nothing, her expression lifeless. Grievous picked up the lightsaber he’d thrown earlier, concluding that, if Rain didn’t have the strength to leave on her own two feet, he would carry her. She offered no resistance as he hoisted her into his arms, the clothes falling from her slack grip.
Then he was off, racing to enact their escape.
Ezra’s P.O.V.
Ezra and his master sat hunkered down in the Imperial shuttle, waiting and hoping for their companions to return safely. The minutes ticked by agonizingly until Ezra’s ear caught a sound. They had mind-tricked their way past the guards with little difficulty, but with that alarm blaring, there was little doubt that the cruiser’s security would be on high alert.
Ezra reached out with his senses, fearing what he might find, but his heart leapt excitedly into his throat when he felt Ahsoka’s familiar presence approaching.
“It’s Ahsoka!” he cried, sharing a relieved smile with Kanan, “She’s back!”
He reached out again, trying to see if he could sense Mira nearby, but a pang of worried doubt crept over him as his search awarded nothing.
Kanan hurried past to the lowered ramp, poking his head out of the ship and waving down their fellow rebel.
“Where’s Mira?” he asked as she boarded in a semi breathless state, “Did you handle the guards all right?”
Ahsoka said nothing, moving past them and powering up the ship. Kanan and Ezra exchanged a discomfited look.
Kanan tried again, “Ahsoka—”
“The guards were no problem,” she answered, not bothering to look back at them, “But I saw a whole platoon headed this way. We need to get out of here.”
“Ahsoka, where’s Mira?” Ezra pressed.
Ahsoka paused, her hand hovering over the controls, then turned slowly to meet their somber gazes.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “She’s gone.”
Ezra stared at her in bewilderment, refusing to accept the harsh reality of those words.
“No…” he whimpered, “No no no no no! That’s not—”
He turned to Kanan, the grieved expression on his master’s face enough to stifle his protests.
This can’t be happening…
“I didn’t have time to get our weapons,” Ahsoka was saying, already back to busying herself with the controls only to pause once more and lay a comforting hand on Ezra’s shoulder, “I know how much work you put into that lightsaber of yours, but the force will provide—”
A sudden swell of rage seized Ezra. He pushed her hand away.
“Are you even sad Mira’s gone?”
Something flashed in Ahsoka’s frosty blue eyes, “What?”
“And what about Grievous, and Rain?”
The Togruta’s expression hardened.
“They’ll have to find their own way out of here. For now—”
“For now what?! I don’t care about lightsabers, Ahsoka! I care about Mira! She’s gone…and you don’t even care!”
Ahsoka’s expression turned defensive.
“That not true, Ez—”
“It is! All you ever did was pick fights with her! Did you even try to help her?!”
“Ezra!”
Ezra barrelled ahead blindly, “What if it was me on the line? What if it was Kanan? If you had to risk, I mean really risk something, would you? Would you?!”
Ahsoka’s mouth formed a stiff line, her eyes gazing frostily at Ezra.
“Kanan,” Ahsoka said between clenched teeth, “Your padawan is upset. Perhaps you should—”
“Perhaps,” Kanan said, breaking his silence, “You should focus on getting us out of here.”
For a moment, the two stood stock still, staring each other down with arms crossed. Then Ahsoka turned away, promptly launching the shuttle. Kanan sighed, his hardened expression easing, and he laid a hand on Ezra’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry. We won’t be able to do anything for Grievous and Rain. But they’re resourceful. I mean, you’ve seen them in action,” he said, trying to smile reassuringly, “They’ll find a way.”
Ezra’s shoulders slumped, his eyes roving across the floor before settling on Ahsoka.
“I don’t want to work with her again, Kanan. Not ever.”
Kanan followed his line of sight, seemingly mulling it over.
“Okay,” he agreed gently, wrapping his padawan in a brief hug and adding, “I’ll miss her too, Ez.”
Then he pulled away, leaving Ezra to watch through the viewport as they pulled away from the dreadnought.
He pictured Mira in his mind’s eye, silently bidding her goodbye.
Grievous’ P.O.V.
The General’s talons screeched against the floor in his haste, the noise rebounding through the halls, but he hardly cared how much of a racket he made. They needed to get out of there before Thrawn pulled himself together and started mobilizing his forces.
But as Grievous made a perilous turn into the launch bay, he came face to face with the realization that their window of opportunity had already vanished. He counted at least twenty men before shots started ringing out and he had to make for cover. Grievous looked down at Rain dangling immobile from his arms. He knew full well that he couldn’t fight and protect her simultaneously.
There was no way out.
His grip tightened on Rain. As of yet, she hadn’t spoken a word. She may as well have been a lifeless doll.
“Rain…”
He wouldn’t let them have her, no matter what. A stormtrooper aimed around the corner, firing off a shot. Grievous spun on his heel, wrapping himself protectively around Rain. The blaster bolt consequently struck the durasteel armor on his back. Grievous quickly doublechecked to make sure Rain wasn’t injured but otherwise made no motion. A second bolt hit him in the back, but still he didn’t budge.
Then he saw the pair of raven boots approaching, lifting his head to register their owner.
The Inquisitor…
Her dark eyes held his for a moment, then she gave a slow nod, striding past him toward the hangar. Grievous heard some confused voices, then the sound of a lightsaber igniting, followed by shouting, screaming.
Then silence.
He stood, cautiously approaching the launch bay. He was greeted by the sight of bodies strewn around the entrance and the Inquisitor standing over them, her lightsaber resting at her side. She triggered it off before putting it away.
The silence continued to stretch on until at last Grievous broke it, “Why would you assist your enemy?”
The Inquisitor considered him a moment longer before answering, “The course of my life has always been taken for granted. But Mira asked me something—something no one ever had, that I’d never even thought of.” Her gaze fell. “She did not deserve to die.”
“She was too good,” Rain said suddenly, her voice a mere whisper, “Too good for any of us…”
A pause followed.
“Go,” the Inquisitor bade, “There’ll be more reinforcements.”
“Will you accompany us?”
“No. I must find my own way.”
Grievous nodded once, turning and heading for the nearest shuttle. He had it powered up shortly, with Rain carefully deposited in one seat. A few hasty settings, some added coordinates, then they were pulling away, leaving that fateful hour behind them.
Though as Grievous glanced once more at Rain’s prone form, he knew there was at least one thing they’d be bringing with them.
And if past experience had taught him anything, it’d be with them for good…