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The dim Naporar sun mercilessly beats down upon the tarmac and Thunhe begins to hate that EDF uniforms are black and thick and generally uncomfortable. She hopes to one day wear white—though she doubts fleet rank uniforms are any more comfortable—but she is just about to graduate from Taharim and receive her assignment. She stands at attention with hundreds of other graduates and takes a deep breath, readjusting the grip on her wrist behind her back.
“Welcome, Cadets of Taharim,” Supreme Admiral Ar’alani addresses the masses. “I would first like to begin by saying how proud I am of you all to have made it to this moment. Look around, you will see that your families share the sentiment as well.”
Thunhe doesn’t bother looking into the crowd of families. She knows hers isn't here. Fourteen months ago, her dads had been deployed with no end to their deployment listed. She’s not upset—she can’t be, not when her family has dedicated their lives to service.
Including herself.
“I once stood here, where you are today, and I will tell you that the food is better on warships.” Family members laugh in the crowd, but Thunhe and her fellow cadets stay at attention. “In all seriousness, the friends you have made here will last for life. You will call upon each other, rely on each other, and, at times, come to each other's aid. You all belong to families, but the EDF is a kind of family like no other. We put service before ourselves and commit our lives to protecting our great nation, our families. It is an honor few know as our community is small and closely woven together, but it is one we take seriously.
“You stand here presently as cadets, and I trust that you will all serve the Ascendancy well. By the power vested in me, Supreme Admiral of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet, I declare you all Junior Warriors of the fleet. May warrior’s fortune smile upon you all.”
The crowd around them erupts into applause and Thunhe allows herself a small smile. Taharim, for all its bluster, had not been that bad. She grew up in the military and, apart from the PT and lack of yapels, her time in the academy was not so different from her life before.
“Families, you may file onto the tarmac and to greet your junior warriors. Warriors, please stay at attention until your family greets you.”
Thunhe grimaces. She’s going to be the last one on the tarmac. Great. She bends her knees slightly and settles in for a long wait. Only Chaos knows how long she will be standing here.
A flicker of white dances into her periphery, but she keeps her eyes trained forward. No flag officer is going to write her up for breaking attention today, no sir.
“Junior Warrior Mitth’un’hee’vanto.”
A smile splits across her lips, but she stays at attention until they step fully in front of her.
Thunhe snaps her heels together, and folds her arm across her chest, keeping her chin up and attempting to suppress her full grin. “Commodore Eli, Senior Captain Thrawn, sirs.”
Her dads return her salute and Eli says, “At ease, Junior Warrior.”
Like her strings have been cut, she lets her posture slip and she jumps into her da’s arms. “I didn’t think you were going to be here!”
“We weren’t sure either,” Da says and squeezes her tighter. “We didn’t want to get your hopes up if we weren’t going to be back in time.” He releases her and Thunhe leaps at Thrawn.
“I’m so glad you did, though.”
“How was your time here?” Thrawn asks as he gently pats her back.
She pulls away. “Not bad. I kicked everyone’s asses. I would have graduated top of my class if…” she trails off as a family passes by, glaring at Eli. He catches onto what goes unsaid Thrawn simply arches an eyebrow. “Anyway,” Thunhe continues, “they told us families were welcome to come get our first assignment with us. Want to come with and then we can catch a bite to eat?”
Eli gives her a soft smile and nods. “Yeah, that sounds great. Anywhere you want to go?”
Rolling her eyes, she scoffs. “Please. Like you even have to ask, old man.”
He elbows her as they walk. “That’s Commodore Old Man to you now, Junior Warrior.”
~
Thunhe is second in line and her stomach is swooping. The guy in front of her—she’s pretty sure his name is Alobrom—keeps scrolling to find his name and finally her patience snaps. “It’s alphabetical, you know,” she says. “By family name.”
The guy looks over his shoulder. “I know.”
She bounces on her toes.
“Take a deep breath,” Eli murmurs from beside her. “Your assignment will still be there when he figures out what letter comes next in the alphabet.”
“No,” the guy in front of her gasps. “No. This can’t be right.”
“Trouble?” she asks him.
“Silence,” his mother admonishes Thunhe. On either side of her, Thrawn and Eli straighten.
“I have to talk to Admiral Ar’alani,” Alobrom gasps.
“Supreme Admiral,” Thunhe corrects under her breath.
“Shut up!” he barks and slams his hand against the console. “I will not serve that stupid fucking Alien ,” he growls under his breath and Thunhe can feel her body slowing down, taking in all of his movements, preparing for a fight.
“Why not?” she asks, keeping her tone cool and even.
“I said shut. Up. ” The guy whips around and his eyes widen at the sight of Eli standing with his arms folded neatly across his chest.
“I’m really quite interested to know why you won’t serve one of the finest commodores of the Expansionary Defense Fleet,” Thunhe’s says, gaze flickering to his family patch, “ Erighal. ”
His eyes snap to her Mitth patch before he looks at Eli. “Because I am a Chiss. I don’t answer to those who are lesser.”
Thunhe opens her mouth and Eli rests a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Your opinions are your own,” Eli says clearly and in perfect Cheunh. “Though I would have to agree with your notion to put in for a transfer.”
The Erighal duo almost looks pleased.
“My ship’s crew consists of only the bravest warriors. I hope the Supreme Admiral can find you a more well-suited assignment.”
Their mouths fall open. Alombro’s mother gains her wits first and sputters, “You—I will not be spoken to like this… by—by—”
“A Commodore in the Expansionary Defense Fleet?” Thrawn supplies.
Their eyes flicker to Thrawn’s Mitth patch and they glare at the three of them. Trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, they huff and storm off.
It isn’t the first time her da has been snubbed. It is, however, the first time Thrawn has really witnessed how acidic people can be. It doesn’t matter, though. Da is sharp-tongued enough to fight his own battles.
With adrenaline still racing through her veins, Thunhe takes a deep breath and steps up to the terminal. Worst case scenario she’ll be stationed on a base. She’s just a weapons person—she can go almost anywhere. She specialized in wartime weaponry, but that doesn’t mean they won’t send her to a supply depot if they are short on manpower.
Her hands are surprisingly steady as she toggles through the list and selects her name.
J.W Mitth’un’hee’vanto - CEDF Warship Protector
Thunhe reads it again. And again. And once more for good measure.
“Thunhe?” Thrawn asks from behind her.
Slowly, she turns to face them.
“Well?” Eli asks.
“I’ve been stationed aboard your ship,” she says, though her voice sounds lightyears away. “I’ve been stationed aboard the Protector !” she squeals and leaps at Eli. It isn’t very becoming of her—as a freshly graduated enlisted, and him as an officer—but she can’t help it. He will always be her father first, and his embrace is the safest place she will ever know.
He catches her easily, because he always does, and squeezes her once before setting her down. “Good to see that all the social pariahs are together again.”
She loops one arm around Eli’s and the other around Thrawn’s. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Dinner?”
~
Her soul feels calm, sitting in a cramped booth with her dads at the little noodle place they like to frequent. The waitress takes their order and Thunhe watches them, sitting across the booth from her. Thrawn’s body is turned slightly towards Eli’s, like a plant reaching towards the sun, and she would bet everything she owns that Eli’s hand is resting on Thrawn’s thigh. She likes to tease them, of course—it’s her duty as their daughter—but she will never tire of seeing them together like this.
“So,” she says and takes a swig of her water. “Tell me, how many strings did you pull to get me on your ship?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Eli says and holds his hands up in surrender.
She turns a steely glaze over to Thrawn.
“You earned the position upon your own merit, I took no action.”
“Somehow I don’t believe either of you,” she says.
“If you want my honest opinion,” Eli says. “I would rather you be stationed planetside for your first year. Learn about base operations.”
She rolls her eyes. “No, you’d prefer that I’m out of the line of fire.”
“I’m your father, of course I’d like you somewhere nice and safe.”
“And right by your side isn’t safe?”
Eli’s lips flatten into a hard line. “You know from experience that it isn’t.”
A rock settles in her gut and she stirs her straw idly. Being Eli’s daughter has never been easy, even being Eli’s friend at the beginning was difficult. The Chiss did not take kindly to having him aboard the Steadfast . There were several times where warriors would make their opinions very well known whether through physical or verbal means. Before her sight faded, Thunhe would try and draw him away from altercations before they happened. Bloody and bruised and Ar’alani demanding to know what happened, he never snitched; though Thunhe wishes he would have thrown them under a speeding freighter upon the first opportunity.
“Well, at least we don’t have to worry about any of us being presumed dead. Wait, does this mean we can have a family movie night on the ship?”
“No,” Eli says.
“But you’re commodore. We could do it for morale! Just think, we could put a projector in one of the hangars and everyone can bring their pillows and blankets.”
Eli shakes his head, but there is a smile twisting his lips. “You’re being ridiculous.”
Thunhe puts her elbows on the table and settles her chin into her hands. “This is going to be so much fun.”
~
It feels odd, being home. She knows this will always be her haven, but at the same time, she feels as though she has outgrown the space. The paintings from art classes feel like they were done by someone else, by a child.
A soft knock sounds at her door and Thunhe glances at the chrono. It’s late, but the hour isn’t horrendous. Thrawn has probably already gone to sleep—he much prefers mornings—and Thunhe takes too much after her da. She, similarly, hardly sleeps at all.
“Come in,” she says.
The door creaks open and her da slips in. His graying hair is a little askew, like it always is, and he wears his loose pajama pants and a sweater. “Hey,” he whispers.
“Hey,” she says and sits on the edge of the bed next to him. “Everything okay?”
“I was just about to ask you that,” he smiles. “I got up for some water and saw your light. Nervous for tomorrow?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s an odd feeling.”
“Want to talk about it?”
She sighs and takes a moment to collect her thoughts. Her da doesn’t pressure her to speak, he never does. He sits beside her, offering silent support until she’s ready.
“I’m not nervous to meet my CO, obviously.”
He nods.
“But at the same time, I’m… nervous about letting you down.”
He turns to face her. “Bun’hee—”
She holds up her hand. “I know, I know. It’s just… You were right when you said that the Protector is filled with some of the bravest warriors. I’m just… me.”
“That’s exactly right,” Da says, resting a hand on her knee. “You’re you. I don’t need another me or Thrawn on that ship. I need you , someone who is an expert in their field, who works well with others, who will leap into action when the defecation hits the ventilation.”
She snorts and looks away from him.
“Just be yourself. I think we all might experience some growing pains, but you and I have worked together before and we did just fine.”
She considers his words. This will hardly be her first time on a warship, so she’s not worried of getting lost or being out of place. She knows her CO, they worked together for a little over a decade before her Sight faded. There is nothing to worry about.
“Thanks,” she says with a smile. She looks back up at him—she can see the way time has started to age him. His hair is silver at his temples and his eyes crinkle at the corners.
“Feel better?” he asks and despite all the age on his face, she can still see the warmth in his eyes—that look hasn’t changed since she’s known him.
She nods.
“Want a hug?” He opens his arms for her and she curls up in his embrace.
“Da?”
He hums.
“I’m really excited.”
“Good,” he says and kisses the top of her head. “Now get some sleep. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us.”
~
Thunhe barely sleeps and wakes well before the sun. She never bothered to unpack, but she goes through her bag anyway, only adding her yellow blanket and a few journals and pen sets. She showers and braids her hair back like Vah’nya taught her and takes special care when putting on her new Junior Warrior uniform. She checks herself in the mirror—making sure her sash is at the right angle and her belt buckle is perfectly straight—and steps out of the bathroom only to be greeted by the spiced scent of tea.
With a smile blooming on her lips, she strides out into the kitchen. Thrawn is mostly ready as well, though his uniform tunic is draped over his barstool at the breakfast bar. “Good morning,” he greets and his gaze flickers over her form. “You wear the uniform well.”
Her smile turns into a full grin and she accepts the proffered cup of tea. “Thank you. It’s an honor that doesn’t quite feel real yet.”
He nods. “I understand.”
“Does it ever feel less special?”
He hides a smile behind his mug when he says, “No.”
She does the same. “I didn’t think so.”
He motions for her to sit in her spot and she slips onto the barstool. “Are you nervous?” he asks.
She shakes her head. “Not really. I talked to Da last night, he set me at ease.”
Thrawn contemplates for a moment, drinking his tea. “Last night, at dinner, what did he mean by saying that it has not always been safe to be in his company?”
Thunhe takes a sip of her tea. “Do you want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Well, some warriors didn’t take kindly to having Da aboard. They reacted accordingly—sometimes physically, other times verbally. Some would request to be assigned to him just so they could report his every action to the Syndicature. He has had a tough journey, and I was with him for all of it up until I lost my Sight.”
“He has never told me this.”
“Da has never been one to live in the past, you know this. He takes his lessons and he moves on.”
Thrawn grips his cup a little tighter and takes a sip of his tea.
“If you’re going to tell him to wear tactical armor when he briefs the Syndicature, he already does. He takes all the precautions he can.”
“Has anyone…” his question trails off and he takes another sip of tea.
“Tried to kill him? Yes.”
Silence stretches between them. There have been a few moments where her da has nearly lost his life, and all of them have been just as scary as the last. She thinks that the hardest part about losing her Sight is not sensing an attack before it happens. He’s left completely defenseless, now.
Well, maybe not anymore. She glances at Thrawn. He is lost in thought, no doubt scheming a way to increase security around the commodore and she lets herself relax. Between the two of them, nothing will happen, she’s certain.
~
Thunhe sits in the hangar with the rest of the new members of the Protector . Most are recent graduates from Taharim, but there are a few noncommissioned officers in their midst. A Junior Commander has Eli’s attention, pointing to a few things on her questis while he listens. He says something, motioning to the questis as well and she nods. Stepping back, she gives him a salute and he returns it before giving his attention to Thrawn.
They look good together, she decides. She has always known this—standing in the kitchen in their pajamas they look like two halves that finally became whole. But in their EDF uniforms, they look invincible.
“Good morning, everyone,” Eli says, stepping up to the gaggle of new recruits. The chatter fades and everyone turns their full attention to the commodore.
Thunhe takes a moment to observe the hangar. It looks the same as any other one she has seen—large, spacious, filled with equipment—and she lets her gaze trickle over the fellow new recruits. Her heart lurches when she sees the Erighal junior warrior from before—the one who said he would never serve under her father.
The base of her skull itches and she squeezes her eyes shut.
“I know you are all just dying to get to work, so I’ll keep this brief. My name is Commodore Eli and this is my first officer, Senior Captain Mitth’raw’nuruodo. Welcome to the Expansionary Defense Fleet Warship Protector . I’ve had the quartermaster assign rooms to everyone and I’ve sent out shift schedules. On your schedules, you will see blocked out training shifts. We have about a week’s worth of travel until we get to our deployment sector and in that time I would like new recruits to train on the bridge with our senior officers. This is an opportunity to gain experience that you’ll need later on in your careers and make connections that will similarly help you gain your own command.
“Additionally, I want to let you all know that if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask. We’re a team and we’ll only achieve mission success by acting like that.” He pauses to look at everyone. “Are there any questions?”
Everyone remains silent.
“Great. Check your questises for your shift schedule and room assignments. Dismissed.”
Fighting back a wave of nausea that could be nerves or something more nefarious, Thunhe unhooks her questis from her belt and reads her assignment. She’s sharing a room with Junior Warrior Yokima and her first bridge training session is with Senior Commander Laknym the day after next. She heaves her duffle from the floor and makes her way to her quarters, doing her best not to stare down the Erighal as he does the same.
~
Thunhe enters her quarters to find her roommate already setting up on the right side of the room. She’s tall and muscular—the exact opposite of Thunhe in every way possible. No matter how much she eats and trains, Thunhe stays the same—short and thin and slightly resembling an adolescent.
“Hi. I’m Mitth’un’hee’vanto,” she says as she claims the other bed.
“Coduyo’kim’ara. Look, I know you’re a Mitth but I was here first and I want this side—”
Thunhe holds up her hand. “I don’t care what side of the room you want. I just want to unpack and get used to the layout of this ship.”
That silences her roommate for only a moment.
“You’re weapons, right?” Yokima asks.
“Yeah. Navigation?”
Yokima nods. “One of the best. Van’to—I haven’t heard that before.”
“It was my father’s family name before he earned flag rank.”
Yokima seems to flip through her knowledge of Chiss families, realizing that there is no Vanto clan, and her eyes widen. “You’re the commodore’s daughter?” she gasps.
She shrugs. “Technically, no.”
“But you live with him.”
She nods.
Yokima sits on her bed and faces her. “What’s he like? Really?”
Hesitantly, Thunhe does the same. There have been very few people who haven’t judged her for her family ties—and she is skeptical of those who feign interest in hopes of finding an exploitable weakness. “What do you mean?”
“I mean is he as smart as they say he is? I’ve heard so many stories about him.”
“I think most of the stories are probably true, within reason. He’s so smart. Like,” she shifts forward. “He can solve hyperlane jumps in his head.”
Yokima’s eyes widen and her words tumble from her lips, “That’s multi-dimensional math. They teach it to us in Nav school but it’s almost impossible to do without at least a calculator.”
“It’s not entirely impossible,” Thunhe says. “He’s also just a good person, a good CO. You’ll like it here.”
Yokima leans back. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. The ruling family guys are always such jerks.”
Thunhe gives her a soft smile. “I know. I’m only a Mitth because I couldn’t be a Vanto.”
“Probably for the best. What good could a clan of two accomplish?”
Thunhe doesn’t have an answer. Being one of the Nine has afforded her more luxury than she ever thought possible—but even now, they hold little of her trust or respect.
“Hey,” Yokima says, drawing her from her thoughts. “I know it’s a little late, but do you want to catch breakfast and maybe wander around the ship? I don’t have a shift until tomorrow.”
“I’d like that.”
~
Thunhe forces herself to take a steadying breath before she steps onto the bridge. Everything feels similar and different all at once. Walking through the halls brings up memories of her childhood—the fear she had whenever an unknown Chiss stepped in her path. She remembers how she used to cling to her da’s leg and shy away from those newcomers.
She doesn’t feel the same fear now. For the first time in her life, she feels like she belongs here. She steps onto the bridge and confidently strides over to the weapons station. Eli is already in the command chair and Thrawn is leaning into his space, reading something off of his questis.
Doing her best to ignore the butterflies swooping in her chest, she takes the seat next to Senior Commander Laknym. “Good morning, Senior Commander.”
He turns and gives her a lopsided smile. “When I was told that a Junior Warrior Thunhe was joining me, I had hoped it was you.”
“The one and only, sir.”
He scoffs. “Please. I have known you since you were this high.” He holds his hand up to the back of the chair. “Just Laknym is fine.”
“Okay,” she grins. “So what kind of sims do you want to run through?”
“How about you show me what we’re working with, and then I’ll find some difficult sims to run?”
She shows him, alright. She flies through the introductory sims and then he starts showing her sims based off of previous battle maneuvers Eli has implemented. She can see his hand in the movements, how the ships move like his thoughts do—analytical, swift, unforgiving.
She finishes the sim just as a wave of nausea rolls over her. She clutches the console.
“Are you okay?” Laknym asks.
The base of her skull aches. If she didn’t know any better, she would say—
She looks up at Eli as his assailant plunges a knife into the slope between his neck and shoulder. Thrawn whips around as the assailant removes his knife and flees. Clutching his bleeding throat, Eli falls to his knees. Thunhe leaps from her chair and bounds up the three steps to the command platform.
She slides next to her da and looks him over. His gaze is fixed on the overhead lights as he tries to control his breathing and hold his throat together. She looks up at Thrawn. “Go. Catch the bastard. I have him.”
He doesn’t need to be told twice before he is sprinting off the bridge and into the hall.
“Laknym!” she barks, not tearing her eyes away from her da. “Grab the medkit!”
Da opens his mouth to speak and blood spills from his lips, staining his teeth and dripping down the side of his cheek. He shaved this morning, there is no stubble to slow its path.
“No. Don’t talk. Listen. Just hold on. Okay?”
Laknym slides in beside her. “What do you need?”
She racks her mind, going through the introductory medical course all enlisted have to take. “Tamponade, I think. I need this bleeding to stop. Comm!” Thunhe looks up and in the direction of the comm officer. Get a medical team up here, now!”
“Gauze ready,” Laknym says. He holds out the cylindrical gauze roll.
She grabs it and looks down at her da. “On the count of three, move your hands. Okay?”
He blinks.
“One, two, three.”
He lets go and blood squirts across her face. She jams the gauze into the wound and applies pressure. “Okay. Okay. We’re okay.”
They are definitely not okay. His white uniform tunic is saturated with blood and his eyes are starting to droop from the blood loss.
“What happened?” the medic asks as they dash up beside her.
“Stab wound to the throat. Injured the artery, I think.”
The medic’s eyes widen and they jump into action.
Thunhe rises shakily to her feet and sees the entire bridge crew staring at her. She swallows. “We need to lock down this ship. Everyone needs to report to their primary positions and stay there until the all clear has been issued. Comm, get the second officer up here. Nav, reroute us for Naporar.”
“You have no right to give orders, Junior Warrior,” someone snaps.
“Then you come up here and do it,” Thunhe retorts.
No one moves to take command. “The Protector has just experienced an act of terrorism. We need to take the necessary precautions and get the commodore to a surgical team. Now!” she barks and everyone moves into action.
She takes a deep breath and they exit hyperspace.
“Junior Warrior Thunhe,” the comm officer says. “Mid Captain Afwik is on his way up.”
“Great. Nav, what sector are in?”
Yokima references her map before giving the answer.
“Comm, can we contact Naporar from here?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Get me a line.”
If she’s going to usurp command, she may as well go all the way.
“Whatever you say, kid,” the comm officer mutters.
Thunhe climbs up the steps to the command chair. She hesitates for only a second before she sits down, crossing her left leg over her right knee like her da would.
The comm officer gives her a hand signal to let her know that she’s on.
“This is Junior Warrior Mitth’un’hee’vanto of the Expansionary Defense Fleet Warship Protector . We have experienced an act of terror. Commodore Eli is wounded. Senior Captain Thrawn is in pursuit of the assailant. We are en route to Naporar and should be there in a standard day. We will need immediate emergency attention. Repeat. We are in need of immediate medical action and security forces. Junior Warrior Thunhe out.”
Comm cuts the line just as the Mid Captain steps onto the bridge.
“Nav, jump whenever you’re ready and able.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mid Captain Afwik strides up to her. “Is there a reason you’re giving orders on my bridge, Junior Warrior?”
She snaps to attention. “Yes, sir. Would you like a sitrep, sir?”
“Would I like a—Bridge office, Junior Warrior, now .” He points to the bridge office doors. She turns on her heel, military perfect, and marches to the end of her short career.
~
They make it to Naporar in record time. Upon hearing that it was Eli who had been wounded, the Navigator refused to take any breaks and instead hurried them home at a pace that risked an overload spell.
Thunhe has never been prouder of one of her sisters.
Upon landing, both she and Thrawn are whisked away by high command, and the assailant, sporting a fat lip and a broken nose, is escorted away by security forces. Thunhe nearly stumbles into her own guard when she notices it is the Erighal boy from before. She should have known, she should have trusted her instincts—she should have told Thrawn and Eli.
She should have known.
She is placed in a room that looks more like an interrogation chamber than it does a debriefing space, and tries to ignore her anxiety until Supreme Admiral Ar’alani opens the door to her cell.
There is nothing more terrifying than facing the consequences of one’s actions, but there is some added terror in receiving punishment from the highest ranking official of their military, and her auntie.
Thunhe stands when Ar’alani enters. “Supreme Admiral, ma’am.”
“Be seated, Junior Warrior. Leave us,” she says to the guard accompanying her.
Then they are in silence. The flickering light above them buzzes and Thunhe valiantly resists the urge to squirm under the weight of her gaze.
“Do you know what you have done?” Ar’alani demands, voice icy and sharp.
“I did what I had to,” Thunhe says.
Ar’alani clicks her tongue. “I do not understand how one family can cause me so much grief . Are any of you capable of following the rules?”
“I did follow the rules. To the letter.” She counts on her fingers, “I assessed the situation, eliminated the threat, secured the injured, and notified command.”
“That is a job for officers , not the freshly graduated enlisted .”
“I don’t see the difference. The outcome is still the same, just this way Afwik’s feelings were hurt.”
Ar’alani tuts again. “You’re too much like your father.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
Ar’alani gives her a deadpan look that means, not really, but she’s still in trouble because she has to be. She is still a junior warrior, she technically should have ceded command to one of the bridge officers—it’s not her fault they all panicked in a crisis.
“Do you know how he is?” Thunhe asks quietly.
“I heard that he was whisked away to surgery as soon as the Protector landed.”
“Navigator Ja’pik deserves an award for how quickly she got us here.”
“Indeed, she does.” Ar’alani sighs. “There will be no court martial, considering there are eye-witness accounts that do state you offered command to the next highest ranked individual on the bridge, albeit in the least professional way possible. However, there will be a black mark on your record, and you will be docked pay for a week.”
“Understood, ma’am.”
“After that, you will be returning to the Protector as Mid Warrior Thunhe for recognition of your leadership in a time of crisis.”
“Wait, I’m getting promoted?”
“Yes. It seems you have much in common with both of your fathers. Do not push your luck.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Thunhe nods.
Ar’alani stands and Thunhe does as well.
“Thrawn is in the hall waiting for you,” she says. “I suggest you go wait for Commodore E’li to get out of surgery together.”
“We will, ma’am.”
With that Ar’alani takes her leave. Thunhe allows herself a moment to catch her breath and walks out into the hall.
~
Da is still in surgery when they arrive at the medbay. Thunhe and Thrawn sit side by side in the waiting room and it feels like an odd echo of years ago when she and Da had sat here waiting for Thrawn. The chairs are just as uncomfortable, the walls are still painted a soothing color, and her chest still aches with worry.
Thrawn sits back, his right leg folded over his left, and his chin supported by his clasped hands as he watches the news playing across the room.
“He’ll be okay,” Thunhe offers gently. Thrawn hasn’t spoken a word since they left their perspective interrogation rooms and arrived at the hospital.
Thrawn says nothing.
“He keeps blood stored for occasions such as these. I thought he was crazy at first, but being the only human…” she trails off as she notices Thrawn’s eyebrows drawing together. “Are you okay?” she asks.
“I should have killed him.”
His tone is so icy and so dark, that Thunhe reels for a moment. “Who?”
“Erighal’obro’min,” he says, glancing in her direction.
Thunhe’s heart races. She has never seen Thrawn like this before, aloof and completely devoid of anything . His eyes are dim, nearly pink, they are so faint. His gaze is cold and unforgiving. His jaw is clenched tightly. She blinks, she can practically see the dark aura swirling around him like when he worked for the Empire.
“Violence isn’t always the answer,” she offers softly.
Thrawn hisses and looks away. “When attacked, the only acceptable responses are that of equal or greater force. He stabbed —” Thrawn’s voice cracks and he closes his eyes, sets his chin atop his folded hands once more.
Thunhe rests a gentle hand on her dad’s shoulder. “You did the right thing by letting him face trial.”
“They will just let him go.”
“They won’t.”
“Even I am not so ignorant, Thunhe.”
“Listen to me,” she orders. His jaw snaps shut, but he doesn’t turn to face her. “That man will face trial. Do you really think Thalias won't bring the power of the Nine down on him?"
"Eli is not Mitth."
"No, but he's her friend and that means more than any name could."
Thrawn curls in on himself, pressing his forehead to his clasped hands. "He is my only friend."
Her heart shatters. There is solitude in being different. When she was a navigator, she was the only child aboard the Steadfast ; Eli had been the only human. But Thrawn, he’s different in his own way. He looks like every other Chiss, yet when he walks his own path.
A path that has never truly been solitary. “Dad,” she rasps.
He looks up at her and she turns in her chair to fully face him.
Gently, she takes both sides of his face in her hands. “You are not alone. You never have been. Da loves you but he isn't the only one who does.”
Thrawn's eyes squeeze shut. “I do not know what I will do if…” he trails off, unable to voice his negative thoughts.
“Do you really think Da will be taken down by a single kid with a knife?” she asks, releasing him.
“One man with a knife can shift the balance or war.”
“Maybe, but this isn’t war. This is politics played out in physical violence. Da is a fighter, even you know that when you're too busy sulking ."
"I am not sulking."
"You are."
Thrawn says nothing.
Thunhe leans over and rests her head on his shoulder. It's uncomfortable; the arm of the chair digs into her ribs, and he’s too tall for the angle to be right, but she doesn't move. “It’ll be okay. He’ll be okay.”
~
Two hours later, Da is out of surgery. Another two and they are cleared to go see him. They find his room easily enough—Thunhe isn’t entirely convinced that it isn’t Thrawn’s from when he was hospitalized—and they hesitate outside for just a second.
Thunhe keeps her hand just above the keypad as she addresses Thrawn, “I want to make this clear before we go in—none of this is your fault.”
“Noted,” he says and motions for her to hurry up and open the door.
She does.
The lights are dim in the room and her da lays slightly propped up in his bed and under a mound of blankets. He is grossly pale, even his form seems cool in the infrared, and a thick bandage covers most of his neck and disappears under his gown. His gray lips turn up in a lopsided smile. “Hey,” he rasps.
Thunhe takes the left side of his bed and Thrawn takes the right.
“How are you feeling?” Thunhe asks, perching on the edge of the bed.
Da hums and blinks slowly. “Like I’ve been stabbed. Nurse said they used all the blood I had in reserves.”
“It's a good thing you had the foresight to do that.”
“Learned that from you,” he slurs.
Thrawn lingers at the side of Da’s bed, noting all the wires and machines. An IV is secured at the back of his hand and on the opposite an oxygen reader is clipped to his forefinger. The heart monitor beeps steadily on the wall behind Da.
Da seems to notice Thrawn’s hesitance and pats the side of the bed. “Come’re.”
Thrawn sinks onto the bed and Da catches his hand in his own.
“Should probably get some wound cream for these,” Da murmurs, trailing his thumb across Thrawn’s knuckles.
Thunhe’s gaze snaps to Thrawn’s hands and the deep bruising on his knuckles. She hadn’t noticed before. She swallows, thinking of Thrawn busting up the Erighal’s face and summoning the strength to stop before he beat him to death.
“I am more worried about you,” Thrawn murmurs. Freeing his hand, he reaches up to trace the outline of the bandage on Da’s throat.
“I’m already doing a lot better,” Da says with a wink.
Thunhe rolls her eyes. The man is literally on his deathbed and he is still flirting with Thrawn.
“The person who did this will face the consequences,” Thrawn states.
“Think he already has. How bad’s the damage?”
“He is not dead,” Thrawn grinds out.
“You’re better than me, I would’a killed him.”
Thunhe’s eyes widen. She probably shouldn’t be surprised, but hearing the admission is still a shock. Sometimes she forgets that her dad is just as fierce and ruthless as a Chiss—maybe moreso when those he loves are threatened.
“Thunhe.”
She looks back at her da. With the sleeve of her uniform tunic, she reaches up and wipes some of the sweat from his brow. “Yeah?”
“I’m so proud of you. You saved my life.”
“Isn’t the first time, probably won’t be the last.”
He smirks. “No, probably not.”
“Ar’alani is furious, though,” Thunhe says.
“Oh?”
“I’ve been suspended for usurping command.”
Da grimaces.
“But I’ve also been promoted for taking charge in a crisis scenario.”
Thrawn’s gaze snaps to her. “You were promoted?”
She nods. “In a week, I’ll be Mid Warrior Mitth’un’hee’vanto.”
“In a week?” Da asks incredulously.
Thrawn frowns. “Ar’alani is getting soft in her age, it seems.”
Da huffs a laugh followed by a wince.
“What do you need?” Thrawn murmurs, his attention turned fully back to his partner.
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
Thrawn arches a threatening eyebrow.
“I want you all to stay. I’m fine, really. Just… tired.”
“We will stay,” Thrawn declares. “Get your rest.”
Da’s eyes droop shut and he clumsily swats for Thrawn’s hand. Once Thrawn’s fingers are firmly secured in his own, he brings them up to his chest. He flattens Thrawn’s palm out on the sliver of exposed skin and pats it twice. “I’m’kay,” he slurs as sleep finally claims him.
Thrawn keeps his hand there and bows his head.
Thunhe slips off the side of the bed. “I’ll get us some tea.”
“I will be here,” he rasps.