Anakin's Fortress - Book II (temporary cover)

Thirteen - Outré

We have to transcend our differences to transform the galaxy.
Year 11

————
Kat
Six months later

The comm on my desk goes off and my heart flutters knowing it's Anakin.

"This is Kat."

"Kitten," he growls, alerting me to his frustration. "I was supposed to be meeting an important ally today, but I am delayed." He says the last word in disgust. "I need you to take care of him until I can get there."

"Okay," I say slowly. Sure, there's been guests before, but none that I interacted with. They rarely come to the private side of the castle at all.

"He has recently been promoted to admiral, and I believe he could be an ally. His flagship will enter the system sometime around midday. You will need to greet him on my landing platform with the utmost respect, Kitten. But I warn you, he is...unique."

That isn't much of a warning. "Alright. Midday is less than two hours away." An admiral? I've had mixed luck with admirals...

"Yes. Distract him, Kitten. Do not let him feel slighted by my absence. Worst case scenario, he will need to retire to his ship this evening." It fully clicks then—this isn't official.

"Okay." I run my hands through my hair. "Just keep me updated on your ETA."

"Will do. Kitten?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"This alliance is important. But I am not sold."

I understand what he means. The man might help us defeat Palpatine, or at least stay out of our way. He needs to learn which way he'll lean.

"Understood, sir."

"Good. I'll send you a briefing. Goodbye, Kitten."

"Bye," I say quietly and hang up, resisting the urge to stay on the call as long as he'd let me.

———

I set up the second-level meeting room and have Vader's cooks working to get things prepared.

Letty sends a message saying the Destroyer has entered the system and the admiral will be landing in half an hour. Steeling myself, I clean up and find myself standing on the landing platform on the roof of the palace, the one only Vader uses. He had not specified to use this one, but I figure it will indicate trust.

I don't know. This isn't my specialty. I'm extremely nervous, and still trying to decide what "unique" means in this context.

The huge ceiling splits in two and opens to show the sky above. Heat rushes in, and I am momentarily blinded by the bright sun. Less than three minutes of standing there, an Imperial shuttle comes into view.

The first thing I think could be the 'unique' Anakin spoke of is, of course, the fact that this Imperial is not human. I am no social expert, but regardless, I don't know what the man's species could be.

His uniform is a crisp white, his skin is a solid blue, and his eyes are a shocking red. I watch as he steps off the ramp and puts his arms behind his back.

"Admiral," I say with a slight bow. This is the man Anakin thought I would get along with?

"Kat Velez, is it?"

Alright, his voice is also unique. It's smooth, so much so that it reminds me of the bedtime holo-stories my mother would put on for me as a child. I think he could lull me to sleep based on just those four words.

"Yes sir. I apologize, I was only given Thrawn for your name."

His lips move just a fraction into a smile, smaller even than Anakin's casual grins. His eyes, however, never waver from me. He seems to be taking me in, analyzing me like an equation.