Towards the future I see

Chapter 52 Part 3

I was most surprised when I saw Eli Vanto here. I didn't know where he had gone. Apparently, he had joined the Chiss, according to the uniform he now had on. Ronan saw this too, and I could tell already that he was everything else except happy to see him. He barely had time to ask Thrawn what was going on when the door opened again and another Chiss woman came in. This one was younger, maybe twenty-something. She walked around Ronan and me and went to the little girl. As she passed us, I could feel something faint. Is she perhaps... sky-walker? That is what Thrawn said the Chiss's force sensitive were called. Were the both younger Chiss girls sky-walkers? The situation seemed more dire than I first thought. I was so focused on the Chiss that I almost missed the situation that was on. According to Thrawn, there was one more Grysk ship out there, and if they learned that the girl was alive they might destroy the post and us in it. Eli recommended a plan to put the two living prisoners in a shuttle and use them as bait for the hiding ship. Thrawn talked with the Chiss woman, I recalled that she was called Admiral Ar'alani. They talked in a language that I couldn't understand, the same one from before with the girls. I saw Eli Vanto come closer to Ronan and me.

"They are working out a battle plan. Basically, a flush and trap setup..." Vanto began explaining.

"Are you talking to me, traitor?" Ronan cut him off. I saw what it was, Ronan didn't like me because of my history with the rebels. But he had now more hatred toward Vanto because he used to be part of the Empire but not anymore. An obvious traitor. It was petty, in this situation.

"Apparently not," I said coldly and turned to Vanto with a smile. "Thank you, um... lieutenant, for considering us. But as you see, he doesn't care. As for me, I trust that the plan will be carefully considered and executed."

I walked away from Ronan who looked at me with annoyance and shock, I went to stand and lean against one of the walls. I managed to see Ronan give up his pride and ask Vanto to translate to him what the others were saying. After that, everything seemed to be muffled. The sounds became quiet. I managed to look at everyone but little by little my vision got fuzzy. Now that I had nothing to do or say, my mind finally registered what had happened here. The bodies, the dead aliens and humans, the living Grysks, and the little Chiss girl. The horror that happened in this post. The danger that waited outside. My mind was slipping into the darkness where the visions began. Death, fear, and voices that made questions. No, that wasn't here. That was somewhere else. Where? When? The voices sounded familiar.

"Mira."

I jolted as I came back to reality. Everyone was looking at me. Ronan with suspicion, Vanto with concern, the two Chiss Skywalkers with a mixture of worry and curiosity, the Chiss Admiral with precaution, and Thrawn with alertness and worry. How long was I...gone?

"Lady Mira, are you alright?" Thrawn asked with concern in his voice.

"I... I... I think so." I stuttered. I didn't feel hurt, cold or nauseous. I didn't feel sleepy, yet somehow... "I apologize, I didn't mean to... zone off like that."

Thrawn had a look in his eyes that I had come to know as a sign that he was about to scold me or warn me off of something. I had a good guess that it would be the first one.

"You shouldn't have come here." He said in a quiet voice that only I could hear.

"I..." I began but then I tried to clear my throat as it felt as if I was making an excuse. "I tried to stop the Assistant Director from coming here. Clearly, I failed. But I assure you, it was not my intention to disobey your order. He was already in the shuttle when I managed to catch up to him."

Thrawn didn't say anything for a moment. He then turned to others, said something in the strange language, got his answer, he said something again, and then he turned to me.