"You need not keep up this charade. It is just you and I, for the moment," Thrawn said. He didn't take offense to the so-called rebel's words, and was merely making an observation.

Flicking the last of the dried blood off his fingers, away from either of them, Thrawn examined the other man, red eyes roaming over his face, looking for some kind of clue. The blood's color pointed to a species whose natural skin color didn't match that of the captured rebel.