Vision of the future

Mara and Luke exchanged glances. 'Are you sure?' Luke asked, glancing around the group.

'There aren't very many of you, and we're not as light as we look. And we'll need to take Artoo, too.' I and my friends will carry you there, Child Of Winds repeated. Not for hope of gain, he added hastily, but because you have risked much already for the Qom Qae, and we have given nothing in return. It is only right for us to do this.

Luke looked at Mara. 'Going underground again will mean another long climb up the hidden stairway, you know,' he warned. 'You sure you're up to that?' Mara felt her lip twitch. 'Actually, I don't think we'll need to go into the High Tower at all.' Luke's forehead creased. 'Oh?'

'I was just thinking a minute ago about that big power source Artoo spotted when we first got into the underground room,' she told him. 'The one off in the direction Keeper Of Promises said was always fatal to Qom Jha who wandered off that way.'

She looked toward the High Tower. 'And then,' she added quietly, 'I started wondering about what Parck said Thrawn had told them. That if he was ever reported dead they should watch for his return ten years later.'

She felt Luke's moment of puzzlement, then the tightening of his emotions as he suddenly understood. 'You're right,' he said, his voice low and dark. 'It would be just like him, wouldn't it?

Just exactly like him.'

'I think it's worth checking out, anyway,' Mara said.

'Definitely,' Luke agreed, his voice and mind suddenly filled with new urgency. 'All right, Child Of Winds, you're on. Get your friends organized and let's get moving.'

* * *

The major sitting glowering on the Chimaera's aft bridge comm display was middle-aged, overweight, and almost painfully uncultured. And, if his answers were any indication, unimaginative and not particularly intelligent along with it.

But he was also completely and unwaveringly loyal to his superior. The exact type of man, Pellaeon thought sourly, that Moff Disra would naturally choose to run interference for him.

'I'm sorry, Admiral Pellaeon,' the major said again, 'but His Excellency left no instructions on how he could be reached. If you'd care to talk with his chief of staff, I can see if he's available—'

'My business is with Moff Disra personally,' Pellaeon cut him off, already well tired of this game.

'And I strongly suggest you remember who it is you're speaking to. The Supreme Commander of Imperial forces is, by law, to have reasonable access at all times to all high-ranking civilian leaders.' The major gathered himself into a sort of halfhearted attention. 'Yes, sir, I know that,' he said, his tone on the edge of insubordination. 'It's my understanding, though, that His Excellency is in fact with the Supreme Commander.'

Pellaeon felt his face darken. 'What are you talking about?' he demanded. 'I'm the Supreme Commander.'

'Maybe you need to ask Moff Disra about that,' the major said, clearly unfazed by the threat in Pellaeon's voice and face. 'Or Gran—'

He broke off, the stolid features twitching as if he'd belatedly realized he'd started to say something he shouldn't. 'But I personally have no official information on that,' he finished, a bit lamely.

'I expect His Excellency back within a few days. You can call back then.'

'Of course,' Pellaeon said softly. 'Thank you, Major, for your time.' He keyed off the comm and straightened up; and only then did he allow the infinite tiredness within him to flow visibly out onto his face.

To his left, standing in the archway leading to the Chimaera's main bridge, Colonel Vermel stirred. 'It's bad, sir, isn't it?' he asked.

'Bad enough,' Pellaeon admitted, waving at the empty display. 'Blatant insubordination from Disra himself I would have expected. But to get the same thing from a relatively minor lackey implies an exuberant confidence in Disra's palace far beyond anything he should have.' He stepped into the archway beside Vermel. 'And I can think of only one possible reason for that degree of confidence.'

Vermel made a sound in his throat. 'Grand Admiral Thrawn.'

Pellaeon nodded. 'The major nearly said as much—I'm sure you caught that. And if Thrawn is back, and is siding with Disra...'