Towards the future I see

Chapter 25 Part 3

I don’t know how long I slept but I woke up to the sound of the door opening and closing. Someone came in. My head still hurt so I probably haven’t slept long. The guard was informed that only Thrawn or Yularen are allowed to open the door or come in. It must be Thrawn, who else?

“Lady Mira?”

Yep, it was him. I felt how Thrawn entered into my bedroom. His steps are so quiet. But I knew it was him since he had called me. I didn’t get up. My head hurt and I was not in the mood to begin any kind of conversation with him.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

I don’t know how close he was since I was facing away from him, but his voice came very near. But as I said I was too exhausted to do anything.

“My head hurts but otherwise I’m fine,” I answered. I won’t resort to pretend-to-be-asleep trick, I was simply tired.

“I see.” His voice was heard now even closer. “Do you need to visit the Medical?”

“No. Just rest,” I said.

I had to fight the urge to turn on the bed. But I kind of wanted to know how close he was, just in case I had to move away or tell him to give me space. But something was nagging me.

“What has happened on Chimaera?” I asked.

There was a moment of silence. I thought he would not tell me. I felt the mattress sink a bit as he sat on the bed behind me.
“Are you sure you can listen to it with your headache?” He asked.

“Yes. I need something else to think.” I said as an excuse.

“At the Detention Block B7, a prisoner had escaped. When you came to us we had just confirmed this. Not only that, but we found out that all the security systems had been turned off by the official cylinder carried by the officers. Do you know what that meant?” Thrawn began his explanation.

“The rebel spy made a move. Was the prisoner a rebel?” I asked.

“Yes. Since we had not only a spy on the loose but also a rebel. I had to bring you to your quarters and keep you here.” He kept telling.

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to mix you in this matter. Governor Pryce wanted to use you as bait for the rebels and the spy, but in my opinion that only complicates things. There are already suspicions of your stand and I rather not give the rebels another possible ally.” Thrawn said.

“In other words, you don’t trust me,” I said bitterly.

“Oh, I trust you alright. I trust that you will remain loyal to your master's wishes. And to your people's beliefs. Especially to the agreement, you have with Lord Vader. Besides betrayal isn’t honorable among your people nor is lying. If we would have gone through with the suggestion of using you as bait, it would have failed, since you can’t lie or betray the rebels. So, the easiest option is to keep you out of all this. And we already confirmed that you aren’t the spy.” Thrawn said. “As for the rebels, we already have confirmed their identities, both the escaped prisoner and the spy. Care to hear?”

I didn’t say anything. That was the most troubling part of all this. If it was Ezra then all made sense and everything was already settled. I could sense through the force that Ezra was not aboard the ship at the moment, so if it was him, he had gotten away. Probably with the droids. If it wasn’t him but someone else who just worked with Chopper then there was a chance to claim the ignorance. I got up to sit on the bed. I still faced away from Thrawn. I didn’t want him to see my reactions. Whatever he would say now would either confirm my fears or give me relief.

“Who was the prisoner?” I asked bracing for the answer.

“Ezra Bridger,” Thrawn said.

A gasp escaped from my mouth. I got quickly up from the bed. I faced the wall in front of me and I simply walked toward it until I rested my forehead to the cool surface of it. Ezra stood right in front of me moments ago. He was here. I hadn’t recognized him and he was right in front of me. I should have recognized Chopper too. They were here. If things were different, if I had more courage, then maybe all it took was one word, and I could be with my friends again. I tried to keep myself from crying. I didn’t want to show weakness in front of the Chiss. What worried me more is that now I knew who the spy was. Agent Kallus. He knew Ezra, so he should have recognized him and turn him over. But no. They stood together in front of me. If Vader ever finds out then I will be in trouble. Even if I claim ignorance, he will find a way to punish me.

“Lady Mira?”

I had to keep my cool. I can’t show him that I know. I have to convince him that I’m not well.

“Grand Admiral, my headache isn’t getting any better. Could you please leave me alone? I better take a shower to ease the pain.” I asked with a trembling voice.

My hands were turned to fists and my whole body was trembling. My head hurt more and more. I’m might break soon.

“I would highly recommend visiting the medical. This headache of yours seems severe. A proper medication might be in order.” He said and walked to me. “You are trembling and seem to be pale. I don’t think a shower is enough to comfort you.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder and made me turn to face him. I didn’t want to look at him. Just seeing those glowing red eyes felt like a hole was piercing through my head. But I had no escape from this.

“Please, just let me be in peace. I need rest.” I begged.

“As you wish. If you aren’t any better in four hours, I’ll send the medical droid to examine you.” He said. I agreed to that. I just wanted to be alone. He bowed his head at me before he turned and began to leave.

“We shall continue our discussion later, my Lady,” Thrawn said before his form disappeared from my sight and I heard the door open and close. When I was sure that I was alone, I fell to my knees and began crying.  I cried a while and dragged myself to the bed. I cried more muffling all cries to the pillow till I fell asleep again.

-

The headache didn’t go away when Thrawn came back again. As he had said, he sent for the medical droid. But that was of no use. Vader had made a note to my files, saying that in case of headaches, faints, or another kind of similar case that required rest, I was not to be given any kind of medication. Visions were more likely to appear in these cases and Vader didn’t want to take a chance that visions could be affected by the medication. So, all I could do was lay on the bed and try to sleep. Whether I could sleep due to the headache was another matter.

I did get a vision. But not of the future. It was of the past. I saw Kallus and Zeb trapped in a cave of ice. Both fighting together for survival against a beast. They had their doubts about each other but both also let it go in order to survive. It got then blurry, but then I saw Kallus help Sabine escape with two young men wearing black TIE pilot uniforms. It got blurry again. Then I saw Kallus facing Ezra and Kanan wearing trooper uniforms. Like all visions, they gave both answers and created questions. I didn’t need to ask when it happened, I already knew. I had read the case files about the Tie pilots who wanted to eject from the Empire. And the case in Lothal factory was later confirmed. This time my only question is, what to do now?

My headache lingered the next day. Sleeping felt like the only solution to this horrible feeling. And the medical droid was of no help. Once the file popped up then all they could do is recommend a tea, a shower, or whatever optional relief there was to a headache. There was no need for me, so I remained in my room watching vids from the holonet or doing my embroidery work. I was watching the holonet for news when Thrawn visited me.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

“Better,” I answered.

“I'm glad to hear that. We need to continue our conversation.” Thrawn said sounding content.

“That you already know the identity of the spy,” I said while keeping my eyes on the pale images of the holonet as I scrolled the news.

“It seems you already know it too. Did you figure it out yourself or did someone tell you?” Thrawn asked with interest.

“When you told me that the escaped prisoner was Ezra, then there is just one possible person. He should have identified him immediately but he didn’t alert anyone. Which leads to only one conclusion.” I explained, my gaze still not leaving the holonet.

“Which is?” Thrawn asked.

I have seen him do this before. Guiding others to come to the conclusion by themselves. Like teaching them to notice things and make the right deductions. Now it was apparently my turn.

“Agent Kallus is the rebel spy,” I said.

I couldn’t see what face Thrawn had. But if I would have to guess, it was not of surprise. When he made these ask-and-learn sessions, he would either have a small smile on or keep the usual calm and collected face on. I haven’t seen him angry, but then again so far no one hasn’t given the wrong answer.

“Your deduction is correct,” Thrawn said and reached over my shoulder to key the holonet off. Now I had no choice but to face him. “Colonel Yularen and I came to the same conclusion.”

“How did he take it, that one of his best students was the spy?” I asked but I kept my face to where the holonet used to be displayed.

“Disappointed no doubt.” He said. “Since we have identified him, Colonel returned to Coruscant.”

“So we shall never see Agent Kallus again.” I sighed.

“And why is that?” Thrawn asked.

“Didn’t Colonel take him in the custody?” I asked. “Since he is identified as the spy, he is arrested, isn’t he.” Something wasn’t right.

“Agent Kallus has not been contained yet,” Thrawn said. If Thrawn already knew this why wouldn’t he arrest Kallus? All my efforts to not make eye contact with Thrawn ended there. I turned my head and looked at with obvious question forming in my mouth.

“Why?”

“Because he is still of use to me. I still need a little help to find the rebel base. And since both Kallus and Bridger were in my office, surely they took the opportunity to either remove data of the base or add other planets as a decoy.” Thrawn explained and leaned closer as he was going to whisper something. “No one else knows this, except me, you, and Colonel Yularen.”

I don’t like this. Whatever he has planned I don’t want part of it. But will I have a choice? Vader already expects me to act if I ever learn the spy’s identity. But then I had to reveal him to Thrawn. But if Thrawn already knows then what is he expecting of me?

“Why am I included in this?” I asked.
Thrawn looked at me a moment but then he pulled back and placed his hands behind his back.

“There is something I need to confirm and I need your assistance with it.” He said.

“What do you need me to do?” I asked.

“Nothing. Just be yourself. I’m sure Kallus will reveal something to you.” Thrawn said.

“Why would he do that?” I asked questioningly.

“He has shown interest toward you. And since you have prior contact with the rebels and you still consider them as friends, I’m sure he might confine something to you.” Thrawn answered.

“Okay, there are so many things wrong with that. First, Kallus doesn’t have an interest in me. No one does. Second, if rebels want me back they would have tried it already. Third, it is not like Kallus will come to me and reveal something to me on his own.” I protested.

“My lady, it seems it is you who is wrong or you have ignored the things around you by choice,” Thrawn said. “To your first argument, yes, Kallus is interested in you. What sort of interest, is yet to be known. But don’t think that no one is interested in you. Even I am interested.”

That made my skin crawl. In what way did he see me interesting? I tried to lean away from him but since I was seated to a holotable I couldn’t get anywhere.

“To your second argument, not all rebels know about you. But the crew of the Ghost has shown some interest in you. As to why they haven’t tried to extract you away, could be that the rebel command doesn’t trust you. Also, you have been kept close to me, which has kept you safe from any attempts of kidnapping.” Thrawn kept clarifying.
True, that could be the reason. I’m never alone except when I’m in my room. Simply capturing me without my cooperation will be impossible. And if that ever reaches Vader then that was it.

“As to your third argument, Kallus will pay you a visit. Once he hears that you aren’t well and not receiving any medical help.” Thrawn said.

“I'm fine. I already feel better.” I responded.

“For now. You will now remain in your quarters till we get back to Lothal. I will send the medical droid to give you a check-up regularly. That will hopefully be enough to create an illusion that you are not well. And since Kallus has already heard of your no medication policy, he will come to see if you are alright.” Thrawn explained.

“And if he doesn’t?” I asked.

“He will.”

“And if he doesn’t?” I pressed. Thrawn clicked his tongue at me before he continued.

“So little confidence, but is it on him or you?” Thrawn said maybe more to himself than to me. “Either way, you will now remain in your quarters. He will come to you, and even if in the slight possibility that he won’t, there isn’t much you need to do.”

He turned to leave the room. I wanted to protest against this idea, but what will it accomplish? Whether Kallus came or not, my room will be now monitored. And that was something I didn’t want.