Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(10)

But the texture of his mind was unlike anything Anakin had ever touched before. It was neat and well ordered, the patterns of thought flowing smoothly and precisely in ways not unlike those of scientists or mathematicians. But the content of that flow, and the muted emotions accompanying it, were completely opaque. It was like a neat and precise array of unfamiliar numbers.

He also wasn’t alone. There was a second nonhuman aboard.

“You say it’s just the two of us?” Anakin continued, targeting the likely position of the ship’s hyperdrive. If the intruder would lie about being alone, he would probably lie about other things, too.

Worse, the most likely reason for him to lie about Padmé’s ship was if he was involved somehow in her disappearance. If that was the case, Anakin wanted to keep him here until he got some real answers.

“Yes,” the intruder said. “Plus my pilot and your droid, of course.”

Anakin paused, his finger on the firing controls. “You didn’t mention your pilot.”

“Neither did you mention your droid,” the intruder pointed out. “Since neither will be joining us in our investigation, I didn’t think they entered into the discussion.”

“Artoo usually comes with me on missions.”

“Indeed?” the intruder said. “Interesting. I was unaware that navigational machines had other uses. Do we have an alliance?”

Anakin glowered at the alien ship. If the second being really was just a pilot, maybe that hadn’t been a lie so much as a mostly honest omission. Even now, after years of warfare, there were still Republic politicians who refused to accept clones as real human beings. Maybe for some unknown reason this particular culture considered pilots to be second-class citizens, as well. “So what answers are you looking for?”

“I wish to more fully understand this conflict in which you’re embroiled,” the intruder said. “I wish answers of right and wrong, of order and chaos, of strength and weakness, of purpose and reaction.” There was a slight pause; and when the voice came back there was a new formality to it. “You asked my identity. I am now prepared to give it. I am Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo, officer of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, servant of the Chiss Ascendancy. On behalf of my people, I ask your assistance in learning of this war before it sweeps its disaster over our own worlds.”

“I see,” Anakin said cautiously. There were long-standing rumors of vast civilizations lurking out beyond the borders of Wild Space. Was this Chiss Ascendancy one of them?

And if so, could they be persuaded to join the war effort on the Republic’s side? That possibility alone might make it worth coming to an agreement with this Mitth’raw’nuruodo. “Very well,” he said. “On behalf of Chancellor Palpatine and the Galactic Republic, I accept your offer.”

“Excellent,” Mitth’raw’nuruodo said. “Perhaps you will begin by telling me the true story of your quest.”

“I thought you already knew,” Anakin said, his neck tingling again. “You know about Padmé’s ship.”

“The Nubian?” There was a brief pause, and Anakin somehow had the impression of Mitth’raw’nuruodo shrugging. “The design and power system were unlike anything else I’ve seen in this region. Your craft displays similar characteristics. It was logical that one visiting stranger was seeking the other.”

“Ah.” If there was one thing Mitth’raw’nuruodo had in abundance, Anakin reflected, it was quick and reasonable answers. “You’re right, the Nubian is one of ours. It carried a Republic ambassador who came here to collect information from an informant. When she failed to contact us, I was sent to look for her.”

“I see,” Mitth’raw’nuruodo said. “Was this informant trustworthy?”

“Yes.”

“You are certain of that?”

“The ambassador was.”

“Then betrayal is unlikely. Has the informant contacted you?”

“No.”

“In that case, the most likely scenarios are accident or capture,” Mitth’raw’nuruodo said. “We need to travel to the surface to determine which it was.”

Finally. “That’s where I was heading when you barged in,” Anakin growled. “You said you knew where her ship was?”

“I can send you the location,” Mitth’raw’nuruodo said. “But it might be more convenient for you to first come aboard. I have a two-passenger shuttle in which we can travel together.”

Anakin smiled tightly. He would definitely like a look at the inside of Mitth’raw’nuruodo’s ship.

But not yet. Not until he trusted the Chiss a whole lot more. “Thanks, but I’ll take my own ship in,” he said. “Like I said, we might need Artoo down there.”

“Very well.” If Mitth’raw’nuruodo was offended that Anakin hadn’t taken him up on the offer, it wasn’t apparent in his voice. “I’ll lead the way.”

“Fine,” Anakin said. He’d prefer to have the Chiss in front of his laser cannons anyway. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“I’ll make preparations at once,” Mitth’raw’nuruodo said. “One additional thought. Chiss names are difficult for many species to properly pronounce. I suggest you address me by my core name: Thrawn.”