boxofmisfits | Plucked From the Clutches of Death

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Plucked From the Clutches of Death

Ever since coming to the future, following the Force's whims had been something Altair had done less and less. He could still sense it, of course. Shutting himself off completely would be unacceptable to him, as it had always been his companion of sorts and while it would probably lead to less shenanigans, he could not close his eyes and cover his ears. He could hear the whispers, feel the threads of it weaving through the galaxy and it was beautiful. When he meditated whispers became a distant song, and threads became beckoning guides that wanted to lead him to far off places.

In the past, he would have let himself get swept along as time allowed, always certain that someone would be there to pick up any momentary slack. In this time, while he had faith in Thrawn's people and Thrawn himself, he couldn't justify taking the time to rush off whenever some new thread weaved itself into the galaxy's tapestry. There were no other Sith who would pick up his slack, and he had promised to assist Thrawn with his goal, after all. Tempting as it was to let himself drift in the river of fate to let it carry him to new and strange places, give him new and strange riches, he wouldn't, and couldn't.

At least that had been the case until a particularly insistent call in the Force had become too much to ignore.

It wasn't dangerous, was what he had said to Thrawn, upon seeking permission to leave for a time. Not dangerous. Not like the fleet, not like the Silencers, and Iokath. It just was. That nebulous concept had been what was most difficult to explain, really. But whether or not Thrawn understood didn't matter, because he had, at least, seen his seriousness and respected it.

Altair wondered what he'd think now.

The Force had led him to an ancient temple- Altair still wasn't certain if it was Sith or Jedi in origin- and that temple had led him to a strange place. Branching paths and moments in time. For a while he had wandered- admittedly he'd sought a way back to his own time. It would have broken his promise, which he hated doing, but still. A part of him would always miss his people.

He hadn't found it though.

But he had found many strange artifacts. Plucked them from moments in time whenever the Force felt like it was urging him to do so. Whether that was some kleptomaniac instinct or actually the Force though, he wasn't sure. Maybe both.

Through one such window into the past, he'd come across someone in a situation that wouldn't end well. Plucking items out of these moments was one thing- would maybe end in a bruised ego or two somewhere far in the past- but people? Still, it was the only glimpse that was truly an open door to be reached through. The Force was quiet, not urging him one way or another, despite its strong presence in the silence between moments and its somewhat subtle insistence that he claim artifacts before. In the end though, when given the opportunity to save someone, he had.

The idea of simply leaving someone to die when all he had to do to save them was reach out his hand pained him. He couldn't do it.

And so, outside of the temple in the dark and quiet night, he sat with the two people he'd rescued by the fire they'd built for light and warmth while they waited for morning to come so they could head for the ship he'd borrowed with the promise that he'd bring it back in one piece, without fear of anything that might be lurking in the blackness of the forest the temple was surrounded by.

It had been day when Altair had entered the temple and found his way into that strange place, and while he felt no more hunger than usual, Altair could somehow tell that this was not the first night that had passed since he first arrived. He assumed it had been a few days, at least.

He wondered how he was going to explain this one though.

A Chiss and a Jedi who- while remaining nearby- was perhaps expectedly standoffish in the presence of a Sith. Out of the two of them, Altair figured he'd have most luck talking to the Chiss, though they'd all exchanged relatively few words even now. Shock, Altair assumed.

Seemed the most likely explanation, and also understandable. Expecting death only to be yanked through the veil of death and time to safety was probably a lot to deal with for people who weren't used to it.

"You don't have to worry, you know. I have allies who will be able to help you. Wherever you may want to go, I'm certain it can be arranged."

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Thrass glanced at the bag, trying to glance at the items within, but only seeing a passing glance. The man was a collector, that much was clear. Though what species he was could be anything. Any number of species had Chiss-like proportions, though the accent was unfamiliar. The mask also made it hard to read his face.

He was also the best chance Thrass had of contacting Thrawn, and letting him know that he was safe. His brother had to be worried about him.

Catching the ration bar, Thrass turned to Lorana, "What do you say?"

The young Jedi still regarded Altair with caution. As much as he screamed Sith, he felt more complicated than that. Neither fully dark nor light. "I think our lives are in his hands for now, and we have no choice."

Thrass had to agree. Besides, he had his charric blaster and she had her lightsaber, so if he did try to rob them or kill them then they were prepared. Both of them ate their ration bars before laying down by the fire to sleep.

What would Thrawn say, Altair wondered, when he came back with these two in tow. Altair didn't like placing possible burdens on the man- he already had much on his mind, and duty heavy on his shoulders- but this was necessary. Should Thrawn refuse to give any assistance, Altair figured that at least he had the Doombringer. By now, at least its hyperdrive had gone through enough modernization to not be completely useless. Though its shields still left something to be desired compared to modern dreadnaughts.

As his unexpected companions ate and then laid down to sleep, Altair remained sitting where he was. Like with Thrawn, he couldn't get a read on this Chiss at all. His mind felt similar- vaguely familiar, even- but still. It was closed off. Inaccessible. The Jedi, though her guard was up, was a lot more open. He could sense how cautious she was. That was a good thing, he supposed.

Mistrust was wise in this situation.

As they slept, Altair looked up to the stars above them. The night went- uneventfully. Some animals popping by- skittishly staying at a distance- and the occasional stretch of his legs when he got up to keep the fire from going out. By the time the sun came up, another ration bar had been set down next to the pair of them, while Altair himself was seated where he had been, fiddling with one of the artifacts he'd taken. An artifact that felt much darker than the darkness he had in himself, really.

He would allow them time to eat breakfast before making the trek to the ship at least. He was rather happily occupied, and not in so much rush to not allow at least that much.

Thrass woke up before Lorana and ate what passed for breakfast. It wasn't bad, but he didn't see how travelers could eat them day after day. When he returned to Csilla, he was going to treat himself to a snowberry tart. As he ate, he eyed the item in their savior's hands, not recognizing it.

Lorana woke up soon after, but before she could start on her own ration bar, she froze and eyed the artifact fearfully. "What is that?" Her voice came out as a squeak.

"An artifact. It won't hurt you."

Nor would it drag her into darkness, but he didn't think that was a debate that would bring her much comfort. The artifact was steeped in darkness- violence and hatred as echoes in the Force. Altair himself felt like innocent curiosity. A collector merely tinkering, the same way one might poke at some fascinating puzzle.

Compared to darkness he'd felt in the past, this artifact was nothing.

But he supposed a Jedi might have a different frame of reference. Especially in this time. What darkness would this Jedi have encountered in the past? Darkness found in regular people, perhaps. A dark Jedi or two, maybe. Possibly even a Sith unlike himself. Even the Jedi of his own time had been wary around relics that held secrets of the dark side. A Jedi from closer to this time... Well, her reaction was more than enough.

"It is dark. But you are not. It is here with me, and you are at a distance. Instead of focusing on this-" He said, holding the artifact securely in both hands, "Ground yourself. Feel the life of the forest around us. The plants, the animals. The water, the air. There is light here too- let that guide you, rather than letting fear grip you."

He both understood, and he didn't. But he could tell she was afraid, and so would do his best to acknowledge those fears, though encourage her to move past them.

Returning the artifact to the bag at his side, he rested his hands in his lap.

"You have slept a whole night, and I- who am an enemy of the Jedi by my existence alone- have sat here for hours peacefully. You have overcome plenty of fear already. Don't let this be any different."

This all probably seemed strange to the Chiss. Altair did think it was necessary though. Letting the girl shake with fear the entire way back was a scenario he'd prefer to avoid, though he was certain the two would look to each other for support as well. Still, better that he speak and hopefully still her fears at least a little. He meant neither or them any harm, and would not let her fall to a dusty old relic, either.

Despite the feeling that listening to a Sith would always lead to ruin, Lorana still took his advice. Perhaps it was because despite being Sith, he was telling her to focus on the light, something similar to what the Jedi taught her. Perhaps it was because she could sense a light inside him. Or perhaps she was hungry for guidance after seeing what became of her master. Either way, his advice helped and she relaxed.

Thrass watched all this play out curiously. He regarded the Sith. "It's odd. My people have never heard of the Force, and it was only a week ago that I found out about it. Yet you two speak of it as something you've known your entire lives."

Lorana hadn't exactly had time to give him any details, since they'd been about to die, and they'd been too emotionally drained for conversation last night.

"I cannot remember a time in my life that the Force has not been my companion."

He'd used it instinctively as a child. Lashing out, occasionally affecting minds, always feeling its presence, but being ignorant as to how to tap into it with purpose. Now though, now he was old enough to know. And old enough to know that the Force bound everything in the galaxy together. The dark, the light, and all that was in between was there. It was both terrifying and breathtakingly beautiful at the same time.

An existence without it was one he'd prefer to not imagine.

"It's in you too. It flows through all living things, whether you're aware of it or not."

Thrawn had also mentioned that the Chiss had not heard of the Force. That the Ascendancy's stance on people like him was something he needn't concern himself with now, because there were no more people like him. The ones who'd been exiled or executed in the past were long gone, and only he remembered that time now.

"But yes, its presence is usually quite pronounced in the life of a Force sensitive. That has been my experience, at any rate. For better or for worse."

"Does it, now?" Thrass wasn't sure what to make of that. What little he knew about the Force, it sounded like some form of energy that just hadn't been discovered in Chiss space, that to hear it was everywhere and inside everyone, including him, was a lot to take in. What Thrawn would give to be part of this conversation, with how much he loved to gather information. Thinking about his brother made him feel a pang of homesickness, and it reminded him of how close they'd come to losing each other.

"I cannot even imagine having that kind of power," He said. "Let alone having it dictate part of my life."

"In the Jedi Order, you're taught that having such power is a great responsibility," Lorana said. "That you should use such power to help protect the galaxy and defend peace." She sounded sure of what she said, but Thrass could see a note of sadness there too. Like she had seen something that shook her worldview. Thrass knew that many Jedi had been aboard that ship, and they were all dead now.

"And the Sith are taught... Something entirely different. Though what we have in common is that the Force guides much of what we do."

Much as Altair loved discussing doctrines, the Jedi girl was jumpy enough around him already. Last thing he wanted to do was upset her further, when the relic alone had been enough to scare her. There was a time and a place, and this was not it.

Had Altair been younger, then he would have charged ahead and kept talking, but he was old enough now to know when not to.

"Though it's not so complicated, really. All people live their lives being guided by something or other, and all people generally have expectations put upon them by others. For us, it's just a tad more... Nebulous sometimes."

The path forward was not always clear, and sometime a path could land one in hot water, but that was true for anyone.

"Once you two are ready we should get going though."

He turned his head to look back at the ancient temple. He would have liked to have stayed a while longer. So many mysteries, so much history to be uncovered too. But he supposed he could come back in the future. He now knew that it was here, after all, and could explore it more when he got the chance again. Had he been more selfish, he would probably just have let them wait on him, but he wasn't. He had saved them, and now he would help them get to where they needed to be.

"You have a point there," Thrass said, eating the last of his ration bar. Of course, he knew better than anyone that someone didn't need magical powers to do great things. Charisma and a command position could suffice.

Once they were finished with their minuscule breakfast, Thrass and Lorana rose and waited for the Sith.

"I guess the rumors of the Sith returning weren't exaggerations," Lorana said, apparently feeling braver. Thrass supposed that after their near-death experience, agreeing to accompany a Sith was far easier. "I mean, I heard about the Sith who killed Master Qui-Gon on Naboo, but I'm not sure if I was ready to believe it."

Altair rose to his feet as well, making sure his bag was securely at his side. He couldn't stay to examine the temple, but at least he'd gotten himself many trinkets to study until he could return again in the future. Perhaps some of them would even prove useful once he'd figured out their secrets.

He merely shrugged at the Jedi's words, apparently uninterested. He knew a thing or two of the Sith of this time, after all- mostly things that Thrawn had told him, discussions they'd had. But it would be better if that knowledge came from someone who wasn't him. The Chiss was one thing, but the Jedi would have a more difficult time trusting him. Still, he had to wonder just when he'd plucked them from.

A Jedi and a Chiss wasn't exactly a usual pair in any time.

"I haven't really returned to much of anything. I simply live my life the way I wish."

Certainly didn't have any ambitions like what she must be imagining. The only goals he had in mind were Thrawn's.

"I am Sith, but it's not like I'm part of the club or anything."

Even through the modulation of his mask, there was a twinge of humor to that statement, as he motioned for them to follow him, so they could get back to his ship, easily keeping his pace somewhat quicker than theirs, despite his tiny size. Better that he let them have the comfort of walking slightly behind him, rather than worry that he might attack them should he relax his pace to walk in step with them.

He knew the risk that they might choose to stab him in the back once they got back to the ship, of course, but it was a risk he was okay with taking.

"I may not know much about the Force, or those who wield it, but it seems to me that the line between light and dark isn't as clear cut as you'd like to believe," Thrass said to her. Lorana was the only Jedi he'd met in person, and this man was the only Sith he'd met in person, so perhaps he didn't exactly have a good sample size. Yet a self-proclaimed Jedi had tried to murder his brother, and this Sith had saved their lives and been cordial to them.

Lorana just made a noncommittal sound and kept her eyes ahead. Thrass saw in her face that she might have agreed with him on some level.

Altair glanced back at the pair, though didn't comment. Something must have happened, but he wouldn't pry. It was hardly his place, after all. He did hope the Jedi would find her answers though, once she got to where she needed to be. It would put them at odds in the future, if she went searching for whatever Jedi were left, but for now, he had no quarrel with her and would safely deliver her and the Chiss to Thrawn so he could sort them out.

The trek back to the ship was a relatively quiet one. A few animals could be spotted here and there, and insects flitted about. Altair kept up his pace, only slowing every now and then to make sure that his temporary companions could recover a little. It wasn't so far that they needed to take any real breaks though.

The ship wasn't exactly a large one, but it would comfortably fit all three of them. He led them aboard and then moved to set his artifacts safely aside, before going to get them both something to drink and more ration bars, "Take it easy for now. We shouldn't need to travel too far, but take the time to eat and drink, and sleep a little more if you feel the need."

Altair hoped Thrawn wouldn't be too upset with him, when he arrived with two more people in tow who needed help. But he thought that he'd understand that Altair couldn't just leave two people to die when he had the means to help.

"I'd appreciate if you both stayed here for the entire flight. I'm an adept pilot, but still prefer to be undisturbed."

Rather, he wanted the privacy to remove his mask, and to try and eat and drink something himself as well. While he was fully capable of functioning on very little, he had not eaten in nearly two days now, nor had he had anything to drink. He probably should fix that, really.

It was amazing how a near-death experience made one appreciate the little things all the more, such as the sound of insects and animals, the breeze in one's hair, or just being allowed a soft moment. Thrass couldn't appreciate it on the same level as Lorana, as she could sense all of this in a way that he couldn't, and was connected to everything in a way that he wasn't, but it was still lovely. Thrass let himself enjoy the walk to the ship.

The ship wasn't of a make he was familiar with, but he wasn't exactly an expert on spaceships, let alone alien ones. He and Lorana settled in the back, eying the Sith when he requested that they stay in this part of the ship. "Very well. We'll leave you to pilot us back."

If the Sith tried anything or ended up taking them somewhere with the intention of betraying them, then surely Lorana would sense something and they could act on it.

Once they'd settled in, Altair fetched himself a ration bar and a bottle of water to take with him, and went to get them on their way. He'd endured it well during the night and the morning and the walk back, but being in the presence of a Chiss who wasn't Thrawn was terrifying. Had he not been starving more than normal, he would have remained completely armored until they got back.

Compared to the lengths of his travels in his youth, this one wasn't very long at all. Several hours, yes, but at least not days. Had the Chiss not been, well, Chiss, Altair would likely simply have taken them to the nearest populated planet, with a bit of food and money, to let them make their own way to where they needed to be.

But that wasn't really an option. Finding one's way back to the Ascendancy without helped seemed like it would... Probably be an issue. Honestly he couldn't be sure.

Once they arrived at their destination, he put his mask back on and pulled his hood back up, going to fetch his guests who would be Thrawn's guests once he brought them to him.

"Follow me. And try not to mind the skittish people. Half the ship is convinced I'm going to eat them if they look at me wrong. Apparently not considering how difficult it is to store human meat for long enough to be useful beyond the first few days. It would be an awful waste of food."

That was a joke. He hoped that came across in his tone. Or at least in the fact that he didn't really look like he ate much of anything at all.

And honestly, it was much better now than it had been. But most people who had had no direct contact with him were still a tad bit nervous. From what he could sense though, Thrawn could be found in his quarters. Studying art, probably. Altair would have to apologize to him for interrupting by giving him an embroidery.

During the trip, Thrass and Lorana chatted a bit, wondering if they could really trust the Sith. Everything Lorana had been taught told her not to, but she also sensed that he wasn't trying to trick them and seemed to be sincere. In the past day, everything she'd known her whole life had been turned upside down, and she still wasn't sure how to process that. Thrass told her that if the situation turned bad, then they could find a way to contact his brother. Thrass didn't hold it against her that her former master was the one who tried to kill said brother.

When they reached their destination and exited the ship, Thrass couldn't help but look around curiously. It had to be huge, judging by the size of the hanger. Even more curious was that it seemed to staffed with nothing but humans. Was it possible that they were in Lesser Space now? Or had one of Thrawn's humans gotten the word out about this region of space and this vessel was sent to investigate? Hopefully they weren't here to make war with the Ascendancy.

The crew gave Thrass some curious looks as they passed, assuming that they'd never seen a Chiss before. He also saw a few of those droid things that Thrawn told him about.

"Is this a Republic ship?" Lorana asked, still speaking in the trade language they'd been using.

"It's not."

He definitely needed to let Thrawn explain. Altair had been in this time for a while, but there were a lot of gaps in his knowledge. Even if he explained what he knew- the state of the world, everything that these two might have missed, there was so much he was missing, that it would result in more questions rather than answer them. Even after Altair had come to accept that he couldn't go home, he hadn't gone digging. He hadn't lived through it.

He led the two through the halls- the curious looks from the crew, their wariness toward him- though a few of them at least gave cautious nods in greeting.

As expected too, someone had ran ahead to let Thrawn know that he was on his way, given that no one tried to dissuade him as they approached the Grand Admiral's quarters. He wondered if Thrawn had been told they had other guests too.

"Be polite," He said to his temporary companions, "But don't worry too much. He's..."

A good guy? That was correct, but somehow referring to him that way felt wrong. Or perhaps it was just the straight forward compliment that seemed like it would be wrong. Altair had no issues saying what he admired about Thrawn, but outright speaking to his character like that and in such simple terms was a bit beyond him.

"... Reasonable."

"Fear not, I have extensive tutoring in manners and etiquette," Thrass assured him. Such a thing was part of schooling when he went into politics.

"And you learn to behave when you have Jorus C'baoth as your master," Lorana added.

As they entered the Grand Admiral's quarters, Thrass felt some anticipation. He'd never heard of the rank of Grand Admiral, among any species' military. The room was dimly lit, and the officer had their back to them, examining a glowing orb that almost seemed to swirl, as if it contained a piece of the sea. Even in the dim lighting, Thrass saw a hint of blue skin.

The Grand Admiral was a Chiss? What was a Chiss doing in command of a human vessel, serving another military?

Their host turned to greet them, but right as he opened his mouth to say something, he froze. Thrass did too, gazing at the other Chiss in disbelief.

"Thrawn?"

The Grand Admiral slowly approached him and whispered, "Thrass..."

So they knew each other. Thrawn. Thrass. Were they related? Altair did suppose he sensed something familiar about the Chiss he'd saved. Like he'd felt a similar mind before. And being there with them now, he definitely sensed it. Not to mention the fact that Thrawn was emoting in a way more obvious way than Altair was used to.

It wasn't the expression a human would make, but it was indeed an expression.

If not related, they were at least close, he'd bet real money on that.

"The Force works in mysterious ways indeed. You two know each other."

It wasn't a question.

Thrawn looked a little like he'd just seen a ghost.

Thrawn stopped right in front of Thrass, the two looking each other up and down. Lorana stepped back for now, not wanting to interrupt. Both Chiss switched to Cheunh as they spoke, grasping each other by the forearm.

"Thrass... my brother." He gripped his brother's upper arm, as if checking to see if he was really there. "You're here. You're alive."

Thrass looked over Thrawn's face, noting the few grey hairs and lines around his eyes. "How long has it been?"

"Far too long, Thrass," Thrawn replied softly. He glanced at Altair, "You brought him back to me. How?"

Altair still wasn't proficient in Cheunh. But he knew that word. Brother. Remembered his own feelings that came with it. A snarky grin, and the occasional toothpick being poked into the back of his neck. A bond so close they'd been called the twins despite being different ages and despite not having been brought up together. It would appear he had brought Thrawn's brother back to him. No wonder the Force was insistent. No wonder Thrawn's expression looked like that.

How very mysterious and fortunate indeed.

"The Force beckoned me to a temple of... Unknown origin. In examining it I found something like a... Path between moments in time. I was mostly plucking artifacts left and right- it was like a veritable candy shop except with rare and powerful items- but came across a door. It seemed like they were going to die if I did nothing, so... I reached in there and pulled them out. I don't like leaving people in trouble when I'm capable of helping, after all."

Was this the person Thrawn had been close to? The one who'd- Oh.

"Then I promised them both help. So I brought them here."

"Time travel," Thrawn mused. He would have to make a note of that for later, and see if such a thing could be useful in his war with Nuso Esva. But for now, he felt like he was dreaming, and he would wake up and his brother would still be gone.

He turned to Thrass again. "You were declared dead."

"I would be dead, were it not for your friend. As would she," He nodded towards the Jedi. Thrawn regarded her for a moment. It was her, the sole surviving Jedi from Outbound Flight. He would have to speak with her later too.

"A lot has happened, brother," Thrawn said. "Decades have gone by since you took the ship, during which I was exiled." Thrass put a hand to his mouth, eyes widening. "I was found by the galactic Empire and worked my way up their ranks to Grand Admiral. At the moment, my official mission is to chart the Unknown Regions outside of that Empire. Unofficially, I have made my own Empire, one that protects the galaxy."

"Exiled," Thrass breathed. "I'm sorry, Thrawn."

Time travel indeed. Altair wondered if he'd find the path back to his own time, if he wandered for long enough in that place. Even if he did, he wondered what he'd do, really. Keep his promise to Thrawn, or go back to his own time to live, grow old, and die there. Nothing to ponder now, at any rate.

"I can tell the two of you have a lot you need to discuss. Might I suggest putting that off for a little while though?"

He'd love to give them the peace to discuss brotherly matters, but they had just traveled for a long time, and all Altair had been able to give them was ration bars and water.

"I'm sure they're both hungry and would like to sit down and rest for a while. All I had to give them was ration bars, I'm afraid."

He'd need to replenish his stock, too. Being without his usual hoard made him nervous.

"Catch up with each other while eating. And make sure to ask the girl what she'd like to do, too. Out of everyone here, she's the most lost." He said, in Cheunh. His pronunciation was certainly off, but it was understandable, at least.

Thrawn regarded the girl. Yes, he would tell her about the fate of the Jedi, and their uncertain status in the present, and then give her the choice of sending her home or allowing her to stay. Thrawn could think of several uses for a Jedi, especially if Altair took her under his wing, but he wasn't going to unwillingly conscript her.

He would also have to give Thrass the choice of joining him in exile or going home.

To Thrass, he said, "Lord Nox is right, brother. You and the girl should rest. I will have my men escort you to the guest quarters, and meals brought to you." He repeated his words in Basic, for Lorana's benefit.

"I suppose some rest is in order," Thrass admitted. If he was surprised by Nox speaking Cheunh, he didn't show it. It wasn't as if Thrawn hadn't taught others to speak the language.

Thrawn pulled away to push a button on his desk, making arrangements for Thrass and Lorana to be put in guest quarters, and have meals brought to them. Once that was over, Thrawn escorted his new guests back outside, promising to speak with them later.

Once they were gone, escorted away for now, Thrawn walked back over to Altair. "You do not know how much this means to me, Altair. I am forever in your debt for saving my brother's life."

"You can repay me in crafting supplies," Altair said, easily. Not to dismiss Thrawn's feelings for seeing his brother again, of course. He could tell how much this meant to Thrawn. Had Thrawn been human, Altair was certain he'd be crying. Maybe he should demand a holo of his current expression. He'd never seen him show his emotions so easily.

"In all seriousness, you are not in my debt. I saw someone in trouble, and I wished to save them, is all. You are ensuring the safety of the people I am fond of in this time, you have given me a place to call home aboard this ship, and a purpose once more."

He hesitated, before reaching to grasp his arm, giving a gentle and comforting squeeze, careful so that his clawed gloves wouldn't snag on any threads in that pristine uniform, "I am glad I could bring your brother back to you. If accepting that we are even is not enough, then I am serious that I will ask for no more than pretty thread and sturdy needles. And perhaps the occasional ball of yarn or length of fabric."

That last part was just a jest, of course. He wouldn't demand much at all.

He smiled, not that it could be seen with his mask, "What sort of monster would take advantage of the feelings you must be feeling right now?"

"I do not know much about the Force, but if it led you to him, then I am glad." Though the fact that he was now older than his brother was odd. Thrass was just as he remembered him, the age he'd been when Thrawn said goodbye to him for the last time.

"I mourned him for the longest time, felt responsible for his death. My adopted family blamed me for it as well. I told myself that I would find the remains of Outbound Flight and recover his remains."

Plucked From the Clutches of Death

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