The Ghost

3

Thrawn was flicking through bits of information his personnel retrieved from the hibernation capsule.

Unfortunately but not unexpectedly it was a very short read. Lynn, Cipher Nine, biologically twenty eight years old. The data stated she was a member of some sort of military faction called Alliance. Apart from that there was very little about her, just more medical data.

His enquiries about the nickname returned very little information. Cipher was a title given to the Sith Empire intelligence operatives during the Cold War and the following Galactic War, all over three and a half thousand years ago. There was nothing about a military force called Alliance.

Again, it was to be expected.

Thrawn frowned. The Chiss woman posed a lot of opportunities, if she will make it through. She could be a valuable source of information, many of which were lost through the millennia. And could provide an insight into his ancestors and in connection to the whole Chiss society and their adaptations through the ages. Interesting.

His comm rang. "Admiral, our special guest is awake."

"I am on my way." Thrawn flipped the comm off.

Lynn kept her eyes shut. It hurt to have them open and she was told she will be blind for some time. Which appeared to be true, she couldn't see a thing. Her head was spinning, and her body seemed to weigh ten times more than it should. She barely could move a finger. If not for her training and experience she would be mortified waking up in a situation like this one.

Not that I enjoy the unknown. Lynn thought humorlessly, trying to pick up anything from the sounds around.

There was some rustling around her, followed by steps. Not very loud but distinctively precise, timing between them indicated a tall person. A man. Someone in charge.

"Lynn I presume?" Pleasant, calm voice. Traces of Cheunh in the accent? If so, the man deliberately let it slip.

She swallowed hard trying to relax her throat, her voice was coarse. "Yes."

"And your full name is?" The man enquired.

"Atthra'lynn'miurani." She opened her eyes but everything was still black, she couldn't even see heat signatures of the people around.

"Atthra'lynn'miurani, I welcome you aboard Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera. I am Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo." An official greeting was followed by a short pause. "Thrawn. I assume that you have questions. So do we. But for now you will stay in the care of our medical team."

Lynn lifted her hand, it was painful. She let it drop onto the sheet and slowly turned her head at Thrawn's direction.

He observed her struggle. Considering the state of her body and muscles it must hurt her a great deal to move. Yet she didn't even flicker from the pain. No signs of surprise that I am a Chiss either. Was it more common in her time to have non-humans in higher ranks? Were Chiss a more common sight too? Or perhaps she didn't pick up the accent, which is unlikely.

"I see. Am I a prisoner?"

Her voice is not giving away any feelings. Neither her face, composed and calm. No signs of panic. If she really is a spy she was well trained.

"No. You are our guest and we will go from there." Thrawn stated. "We will talk when you regain more strength."

She felt a needle prickle in her arm. The last thing she heard before the sleep took over her were Thrawn's steps.