Towards the future I see

Chapter 24 Part 3

I had been some time in my quarters doing my embroidery work. So, getting out was necessary. I had gone to the mess hall and drank some caf and talked with Commodore Faro who also was there. Soon she had to leave back to bridge and so I went back to my quarters. On the way, however, I met with a familiar face.

“Colonel Yularen?” I called.

“Lady Mira, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He said inclining his head.

“It is good to see you too. But why are you here? I didn’t know that ISB was summoned.” I wondered.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn called me here.” He said.

And that told me everything. Thrawn is close to finding the spy but needs just a little help with it. He must have already narrowed the suspects and needs an extra pair of eyes and from someone he trusts.

“I see. Then I won’t take more of your time.” I said and made a curtsey before I left.

I got back to my quarters and went through the datapad for any news. Nothing. For some reason, I had been left out of operations for some time. I wasn’t mad about that but something felt wrong. Is this another way for Thrawn to narrow down the search? Perhaps. I thought about continuing my embroidery when I got a notice on the datapad. I was requested to Thrawn's office. I got there fast and realized that there were already others waiting as well. There were Thrawn, Colonel Yularen, agent Kallus, Lieutenant Lyste, and Admiral Konstantine. Quite a meeting in this office.

“Ah, Lady Mira, glad that you could come.” Thrawn greeted me and also managed to get every pair of eyes pointing at me. Colonel Yularen and agent Kallus both greeted me while Lyste and Konstantine only inclined their heads. Thrawn pointed me to stand beside him for the time of the meeting. Lyste and Konstantine sat at the chairs in front of the desk while Kallus and Yularen stood behind them. I already knew the topic of this meeting.

“A traitor in our ranks is feeding the rebels information,” Thrawn said. “That is the only logical explanation for their success. And our failure.”

“I will do everything in my power to find this spy, Grand Admiral,” Lyste said and got up from his seat.

“Thank you for your enthusiasm, Lieutenant. However, few are above suspicion. ISB Colonel Yularen will question each of you.” Thrawn said.

“In the meantime, be vigilant. Watch your subordinates closely and your peers even closer.” Yularen said to everyone.

“Our spy must be unmasked quickly as I’m on the verge of locating the rebel base in this sector,” Thrawn said. Then he approached his desk and keyed something that brought out a holomap. “I’ve narrowed down to these worlds.” From all the planets a handful of them were marked.

“From among thousands. How?” Konstantine asked.

“An analysis of rebel hyperspace routes, their attack on Imperial ships and facilities, and rather importantly proximity to Lothal,” Thrawn explained. “You are dismissed.”

The four men left the office, leaving me with Thrawn.

“And what is my part in this? Am I to be questioned too?” I asked.

“No need, my Lady. You have been confirmed already. But Yularen may need your assistance on the questioning later.” Thrawn said.

Yularen did return to the office. I guess he talked with Kallus about the possibilities of who the spy is or how the information got out. And I think I had read that Kallus was his pupil at the Academy. I didn’t ask about it. Instead, I gave him my datapad and showed him the information I had from the case at the factory on Lothal. He also asked if I had any additional information from the other encounters with the rebels. I didn’t have them with me but I offered to go and get them for him. As I left I met with Governor Pryce on the way. She didn’t say anything but I inclined my head as a greeting before I passed her. Apparently, they still had something to discuss. I had to go to the main terminal to download the necessary information, reports, and logs of the cases, which meant several datapads. Once I got them all, I headed back to Thrawn's office. On the way, however, I crashed with another officer, Agent Kallus, and two droids. I almost dropped one of the datapads, but Kallus got it before it hit the floor.

“I apologize, Lady Mira. We should have looked ahead.” Kallus apologized glaring at the officer as he handed me back the datapad.

“No need for an apology, I should have also looked ahead, more reason with all these datapads,” I said and arranged the pads so it was easier to carry them.

“Are those for Grand Admiral?” Kallus asked.

“Not all of them. Most of them are for Colonel Yularen, but once I asked the information of the cases, some other officer asked if I could drop one extra datapad for Grand Admiral's office.” I explained and showed the datapad in question. “Are you headed there too?”

“We are going to pass it. If you wish we can drop that datapad on our way. You might need to go to Detention Block B7. Colonel and Grand Admiral are there.” Kallus said.

“Thank you I appreciate that,” I said and handed the datapad to him. It was one less but it got much easier to carry the other datapads now. I walked away and left the two men. I didn’t get a good look at the other one with greycap, but something felt familiar about him. Was it Lyste? Maybe not. He seemed a hint smaller. Or did I imagined it? I didn’t hear them talk after I left their sight.

“We should have made her come with us.” the younger officer said to Kallus.

“We aren’t here to extract her out.” Kallus reminded him with a stern tone.

“We can’t leave her here either.” The officer said. “She holds important information to the rebels.”

“Which hasn’t been forced out of her yet. If she is put to a spot, then that will change. She is as much of a prisoner as we will be if we aren’t careful.” Kallus said.

The young man seemed to be about to say something but he simply pursed his lips together. The C-model droid made impatient sounds and urged them to keep moving.

-

I got to the Detention Block, but I didn’t need to go any further when I met Thrawn, Yularen, and Pryce, followed by two stormtroopers. They had serious look in their eyes.

“Lady Mira, why are you here?” Thrawn inquired.

“I was told that you were here. I brought the additional information about the cases.” I said and lifted a bit my hands to show the pads.

“Who told you we were here?” Yularen asked.

“I met with Kallus and someone else on the way. Kallus told me you were here.” I answered.

“Who was the other one?” Pryce asked a bit eagerly.

“I’m not sure. It was an officer. A younger one.” I wondered.

“Lieutenant Lyste?” Yularen asked.

“Probably. I didn’t take any better look.” I said yet I wasn’t sure if that was right.

“Where did they go?” Thrawn asked.

“Kallus seemed to be heading somewhere else, but he offered to drop a datapad that was sent to you from the main terminal. As for the other officer, I didn’t ask.” I answered.

Thrawn and Yularen shared a glance for a moment before Thrawn grabbed my arm and jerked me to follow him.

“Grand Admiral!” I almost shouted. The pull almost made me drop all the datapads again. I had to quickly match my steps to keep up with him as he led me away from the detention block. When we got to my quarters I was ready to snap at him.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn, I demand an explanation,” I said with anger.

“Now isn’t the time.” He said. Then he ordered one trooper to open the door to my room. When the door was open he dragged me into my room and then turned to leave.

“You better not be locking me in my room, Grand Admiral,” I warned him.

“Forgive me, my Lady but that is exactly what I’m doing.” He said just before the door closed after him.

I rushed to the door and tried to open it with my codes, key card, and my cylinder. None were working. I pressed my ear to the door trying to hear what went on out there.

“…one gets inside. Don’t open this door unless it’s me or Colonel Yularen.” I heard Thrawn talk to the troopers.

“Yes, sir”

One guard. On our way here, Yularen and Pryce had left to somewhere else, and two troopers followed us to my room. And now one remained here. Something is happening. I went to get my datapad and used it to download information from the terminal in my room. First, I looked at the detention block. It was B7, what was supposed to be there? A shuttle thief? A male bounty hunter from Lothal. I went through the possibilities inside my head. If it’s Lothal then it could be the Phoenix squadron. It can’t be Zeb, he can be distinguished from a distance. That was the reason I was now with the Empire. It could be Kanan, but from what I learned of him, disguising as a bounty hunter isn’t his thing. On the other hand, Ezra likes different kinds of disguises, especially something with a helmet. And if it’s Lothal, then he would be the first choice. But if it really is Ezra, shouldn’t Kallus recognize him? That thought stayed with me for a moment. It echoed inside my mind. Was Kallus really…? I dropped it at that. That would only make sense if it really was Ezra. But there could have been a chance that it was someone else. It could really be a random bounty hunter. I scroll down the datapad to find more. When the prisoner was brought in, an unregistered communication was dispatched. The prisoner couldn’t do that it might have been a droid. I froze on that thought. The only droid I knew that capable of making a call, not being detected by the Imperials, was Chopper. But if Chopper was here then the bounty hunter is one of the rebels. Then it could be Ezra, then Kallus should have recognized him. No, don’t speculate. So far, there is no indication of such or proof that Kallus could be a spy. My thoughts jumped to when I met Kallus in the hallway. With him was an officer, Ezra would never wear a grey uniform. But with them were two droids and one was a C-model. No, no, don’t decide without proof. If Kallus was a spy, then…

I had to stop there and move from the datapad. If I reach out to the force and try to feel the presence of the intruder, I could figure it out. But it scared me to even try. If I reached out and it was Ezra, he could feel it too. And if he decided to get me out of here, then the worse could happen. Ezra would definitely want me out. But if I’m taken to a rebel base, and found again, then Vader will definitely give me away to the Emperor. And if that happens all the future will be at risk. Fear and worry began to take over me. Too many things pointed to a scenario where I had to do something that I didn’t want to. My head began to hurt. I went to the bed and laid down. There was no proof of any of that. Just my suspicions. If I claim that I didn’t know and it could be left to that, then I rather never know. I closed my eyes and wished that I was wrong.