Anakin's Fortress - Book II (temporary cover)

Eighteen - Credence

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind are enemies anyway.
Year 11

—————

Anakin

I pull up Annie's feed and leave it on as background noise and begin pouring through everything related to the two Inquisitors that survived.

The Twi'lek has yet to kill a Jedi and therefore is not a Brother. I've suspected for a while he has feelings for the Thirteenth Sister, but I'm starting to wonder if he only became an Inquisitor to follow her. Not that it really matters to me anymore, but all information is relevant.

I barely listen as Thrawn goes over the controls. Kitten knows most of them, but she isn't comfortable flying, I know, and she listens quietly.

She sent me the recordings that told her they were coming to help me, and I agree with her assessment. But I pause it when Kitten lets out a little shriek on her droid's feed.

"That's alright," Thrawn says calmly. "Taking off and landing are the hardest parts." I smile without thought. He is much more patient than me.

"Approach the Chimaera, try to straighten and face the bridge."

"I can't do that; I'll run into your ship."

"I'll send the repair charges to Vader," he says, causing me to laugh. It feels so good to laugh, and I finally push away my work to watch their interaction.

"Thrawn," she sighs, but I watch her change her vector. It sounds like a simple task, but it is a fairly decent thing to practice, evening out and hovering in space. Up and down are meaningless when you can go any direction at all.

"Do you trust me now?" he asks when they have been quiet for a moment. I cock my head in curiosity.

"Anakin trusts you, so yes."

"How do you know?"

"He doesn't use my nickname around people," she says, but I hear her distracted focus on flying. It is a good time to pull information from her. "But he has never once called me Kat when we are alone."

"Ah. And I presume it stems from your name?" My heart flutters a bit. I still don't know why I chose to call her Kitten. It was something to do with her eyes, that is true. But not the big ones I told her—it's when she narrows them and a slice of green shines through. I also had the image of a when a small cat suddenly hisses and spits, going from adorable to threatening in a blink.

"Something like that." I chuckle, amused by both of them. Annie is watching the viewport so I see the Chimaera come into view and listen to Thrawn's careful directions.

"I can't see them," she mumbles once she is hovering. Of course Kitten would want to see inside; she's used to having eyes everywhere.

"They likely cannot see us, either. Go under the ship now."

She sighs like she wants to object, but follows his order and drops the ship. Honestly, she knows what she's doing. Every time she flies she gets better, and at this point, I think she has a handle on it. I'm not sure why she still hesitates.

"Oh," she says after a moment of him giving instructions. "What is that?"

"It is a depiction of a chimaera."

"I don't understand. Why would you make your ship stand out?" Always to the heart of an issue, my Kitten.

"In the navy, an admiral may distinguish their ship so enemies know who they have the pleasure of battling."