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“You’re insane.”
“Yup.”
“Tch. The least you could do is deny it.”
“Well, what fun would that be?” Ivant crosses his arms and grins. “They already think I’m stupid, may as well think I’m crazy while they’re at it.”
Of all the things Senior Captain Samakro expected when a very covert, very off-the-record meeting was called to discuss the failure of Thrawn’s nearly two-decade long objective and his subsequent disappearance, this scrawny, odd-looking Human was not it.
Worse, the poor fool had no problem admitting his attachment to his mentor, to the man who groomed him for his role—according to Ar’alani—and sent him away. He was just asking to be manipulated.
“You don’t need to go to extremes,” he advises the younger man. “The Humanity has it covered.”
Ivant rolls his eyes. “I’m well aware, Senior Captain.”
“Gentlemen,” Thalias interrupts, her tone unassuming yet laced with the subtle reprimand of a parental figure drawing attention back to themselves. Che’ri—now grown, now Sacher—stands beside her, watching with amusement as her pseudo-parent mothers someone else for a change. “A reminder that all parties present are equally insane for their concern on the behalf of the Ascendancy’s only surviving Exile.”
Samakro scoffs. “I’m just here to keep you all in line.”
“Good fucking luck,” Ivant mutters. Ar’alani coughs. Ivant doesn’t apologize, but he doesn’t continue, either.
“Ivant has a unique skillset,” Ar’alani begins. Between them, she lays out her questis and projects a map of the Unknown Regions. “He also has several contacts in Lesser Space.”
“They say Thrawn’s fleet was carried off by Star Whales under the control of a Jedi,” Ivant advises.
“Regardless of the cause, the trail is cold,” Samakro reminds them. “It’s been nearly two years since then.”
“Which is why my knowledge of the whales’ migration routes is important. We have a heading, at least.”
Great, Samakro thinks, growling, “You planning to hitch a ride?”
“Not helping,” Thalias rebukes.
“Yeah,” Sacher offers, “What if it was me or Thalias who had been taken?”
Decidedly not flushing, Samakro grunts a quiet, “That’s different.”
“A reminder that you insisted on being in this meeting, Senior Captain,” Ar’alani presses. “I am inclined to echo Thalias’ earlier sentiment. I am likewise of the belief that Thrawn sent Ivant here fully cognizant of and, shockingly, reciprocating his feelings. He always did have a… thing for competence.”
Shocked, Ivant stutters, “I’m sorry, what?”
Samakro swings his gaze back to Ivant. His face is brilliant with heat and shock. Thalias hides her laugh behind her hand, but Sacher and Samakro laugh in stereo.