"I know," Here they were, two men in love, and there was nothing the two of them could do about it. Thrawn had to return to the Empire, and Eli would stay on the Steadfast to return to Chiss space. Thrawn couldn't abandon the Chimaera, and it would be selfish to ask Eli to come back with him.

But, one day, when the time was right, Thrawn would return to his people. It was his true goal, to shape the Empire into a true force to fight greater evils within the galaxy. Perhaps then, he and Eli would be free to be with each other.

"You have me all to yourself for the next hour. Let us not waste time."