Chapter Text
First, the Meeting
On entering the primary office, reserved for only the highest politicians, Eli Vanto determined it was possible for there to be too many Grand titles in a single room.
The sense of self importance loomed ominously over the two already present. Grand Moff Tarkin stood behind the massive desk, gazing out the window onto the Capitol City of Lothal. He made no show of acknowledging Grand Admiral Thrawn’s entrance. However the gray-white skinned Grand Inquisitor turned his piercing yellow eyes to the door. Vanto gratefully stayed near the entrance, along side ISB Agent Kallus. Neither of them wanted to enter this madhouse of egos. Only Governor Pryce thrived from her position next to the desk.
Thrawn cast a curious glance towards the Pau’an and continued to the polite distance from the desk. “Grand Moff Tarkin, the summons did not include mention of the Inquisitorius.” The Grand Inquisitor scowled briefly before controlling his visible emotions. Apparently his summons had not included mention of the Grand Admiral.
“A precaution, Admiral. Word of this Rebel Cell on Lothal has reached the Emperor. While he does not deem it an immediate concern, he wants it dealt with.” Tarkin turned to face them. He triggered the desk display. Gentle blue holos glowed from the desk. A rotation of the wanted posters. “The Emperor decided to combine your efforts.”
The Grand Inquisitor huffed. “My assignment is to hunt down the Jedi, not rebels.”
“These Jedi are part of the rebel cell. You have failed repeatedly in your assignment. Lord Vader is occupied with other matters or he would see to your punishment personally. This will be your final opportunity to complete your task, Inquisitor.” Tarkin’s sharp tone quelled any argument. “Admiral Thrawn, this is a major issue in the security of Lothal. Governor Pryce has requested you personally. Because of the importance of the Imperial Factories I have granted that request. Agent Kallus will be able to debrief you on the situation.”
“As the Emperor commands.” Thrawn nodded. As the Grand Admiral’s aide, Vanto now got to look forward to more encounters with oppressive countenance of the Grand Inquisitor. Eli did hear an uncomfortable swallow from the ISB agent next to him. Apparently Kallus had encounters with the Jedi Hunter he would rather forget. “Has this rebel cell infiltrated the factory itself?” Thrawn continued to satisfy his curiosity.
Pryce puffed up her chest in an arrogant display confidence. “Of course not. The security is absolute.”
“Nothing is absolute, Governor Pryce.” Thrawn spoke softly as he approached the holos. He stopped it on the young boy. “While these particular rebels have not entered the facility, there may be others. It will be work to determine the truth.”
“And I expect the truth to be exposed and the insurgents eradicated.” Tarkin interjected. “I expect results.” The Grand Moff turned off the holos and marched from the room. Pryce followed, having received everything she wanted.
Thrawn and the Inquisitor remained, facing each other. Powerful non-humans needing to fulfill the expectations. The Pau’an carefully stepped closer to the Chiss. “My loyalty is not yours.”
Not giving ground, Thrawn arched an eyebrow at the statement. “I do not require your loyalty. That may remain with Lord Vader. As mine is to the Emperor. What I do require is all of the information you have learned regarding these Jedi. If I am to defeat them I must understand all aspects of their beliefs and capabilities.” Those red eyes narrowed. “This includes all materials you are able to provide about the old Jedi Order.” Eli noticed a change in Thrawn’s demeanor. The Grand Admiral went from intense to curious. Something Eli had not seen since Thrawn had been promoted to Commodore. He held his breath, expecting Thrawn to request something insane. “Since you are present, an analysis of the Jedi fighting style is possible.”
“You presume much, Grand Admiral.” The Inquisitor’s voice dropped dangerously low.
Thrawn quirked a small smile. “Yet you have similarities in your lightsaber forms. Knowing how the Jedi fight will allow me to understand the methods of this particular rebel cell.”
A careful lift in the Inquisitor’s lips indicated his realization. “You will need a sufficiently large chamber to truly understand their capabilities.”
“Commander Vanto, please clear the primary training facility.” Bright red eyes gleamed with excitement. Thrawn wanted to spar against the Inquisitor. “Now, while that is being prepared, perhaps you could explain certain motifs I have encounter within Jedi artwork.” Thrawn brought up his private collection of art holos.
Vanto pulled out his datapad and exited the room. Kallus followed, taking advantage of opening. With the two Grand titles in conference, Eli had a different job. “Grand Moff Tarkin said you had information for Grand Admiral Thrawn.”
“Where shall I send the reports, Commander.” Kallus kept the pure professional presentation expected of an Imperial Officer.
“To me. Grand Admiral Thrawn will determine if he has need of the in-person interview. Once he has satisfied his curiosity.” Eli sighed. “Now I have to get the beskar fighting sticks from the Chimera. And here I thought I had this day planned out. But of course he would find the most obscure possibility.”
“But the Grand Admiral hadn’t known there would be an Inquisitor. How could you have planned the day?”
“Exactly. It was supposed to be a meeting with the Grand Moff. Get a new assignment and get on with the assignment. Now he is going to spar against a Force and lightsaber wielding Inquisitor. All to better understand some rebel Jedi which he has no business fighting in the first place.”
Kallus paused, making Vanto turn back curious. “I have fought against Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger.”
“Really? Then you should join me when observing the sparring match. Grand Admiral Thrawn would like to hear about your experiences when confronting the Jedi rebels.” Eli immediately sent a message to Thrawn about this observation. Despite the unusual detours the day presented, Eli found himself curious about the outcome. He barely remembered the last time Thrawn had sought out a sparring match to better understand the situation. But with a Inquisitor? The Grand Admiral had better have skills Eli had not yet seen.
Two hours later, he stood along side Agent Kallus in the protected entry to the training room. The cavernous chamber had the capability of changing the terrain level. It currently remained flat and unremarkable as the Admiral and the Inquisitor squared off in the center. All Eli could think about was how dangerous this would be for the non-Force capable warrior.
“You are putting a great amount of trust in my desire to control my strikes. Are you certain that is wise?” The Inquisitor ignited a glowing red blade, holding it in a ready position midline with his torso.
“Your honor as a warrior holds you to a certain standard when facing an opponent. When you seek my death, then I will be concerned. Until then, we have insurgents to apprehend.” Thrawn stepped into a ready stance. His fighting sticks poised for defense. “Agent Kallus, in your encounters, how have you initiated contact with the Jedi?”
“It is typically Trooper blaster fire, sir. Overwhelming numbers force them to retreat.”
“Ah, so they do not wish to prolong the fight. And are often on the defensive. Nor are the Storm Troopers of much use in close combat. This will be interesting.” Thrawn shifted slightly, gaining an immediate change in the Inquisitor’s tight expression. Unrestrained excitement exuded from the Pau’an.
Thrawn rushed in, unlike his normal restrained probing of an opponent’s defenses. His batons a flurry of strikes, easily blocked or parried by the lightsaber. The Inquisitor remained on the defensive far longer than Vanto had expected. Thrawn pushed the Inquisitor to the far edge of the room, then the terrain changed.
With a flick of his fingers, the Inquisitor threw the moveable blocks at the Admiral. The first meter thick cube struck Thrawn in the shoulder, dropping him to the ground. Rolling to regain his footing, the Chiss dodged the next three blocks with increasing ease. Because of the distance, Thrawn drew his blaster.
Blaster bolts ricocheted harmlessly off the red blade and dangerously close to Thrawn’s head. Though otherwise useless, Eli saw Thrawn’s progress before the Inquisitor. The Chiss used the terrain blocks as cover and the blaster to distract, gaining the lost distance. Eli did not see Thrawn initiate the repulser lifts on one cube, but the sudden kick to the terrain block sent it flying at the Pau’an. Thrawn charged ahead in its wake. The Grand Inquisitor easily used the Force to knock aside the block but was suddenly confronted with a blinding flurry of attacks.
Abruptly both froze. Forced together in the mock killing blow. The bright red lightsaber hovering at Thrawn’s throat encouraged Thrawn’s eyes to glow brighter in its proximity. But it was the Inquisitor who stepped away first. A baton had dug into his gut. Calmly, the Pau’an extinguished the lightsaber. “Unexpected. It appears I must reevaluate your tactics.”
Thrawn likewise stepped away, placing both batons into one hand. “It is the unexpected encounters where the most can be learned. It was a very near event, Grand Inquisitor.”
The Inquisitor’s sharp teeth glittered in the harsh lighting. “For now, there is a hunt to be on. Grand Admiral.” With an imperceptible tilt of his head, the Inquisitor confidently strode through the doors. Vanto and Kallus giving him a wide berth. Thrawn dismissed the ISB agent immediately with orders to gather reports on all the current information about the crew of the Ghost in four standard hours.
Accepting the beskar fighting sticks, Eli snuck a glance up at the Grand Admiral. The Chiss had a peculiar lilt to his lips. One Eli had not seen in years. Eli’s grin remained poorly hidden as they walked the corridors of the Command Dome. Thrawn only called attention to it once they were behind the closed doors of his office. “You have something to say, Commander.”
The grin widened. “Only that I was glad to see you enjoying yourself for a change.”
Thrawn stopped in his tracks. His own preoccupied smile grew. “Indeed. Perhaps it won’t be the only encounter.” For this little moment of diversion, dealing with the Grand Inquisitor might be tolerable.