Thrawn Ascendancy Book 3: Lesser Evil

That one would be disastrous, and not just for Che’ri. Even though the medics would probably be able to cure her once the Springhawk limped back to Naporar, he and Thalias would then be dumped straight into the career-ending scenario he’d warned her about before she and Che’ri agreed to this madness.

Samakro had no way of knowing what the odds were on that one. Frankly, he was afraid to even research it.

Still, as the hours and days crept by, the plan seemed to be working. Che’ri continued to guide the ship through the Chaos on the course Azmordi had worked out for her, taking her breaks when protocol required them, eating meals when she was hungry or when Thalias insisted, and sleeping the four hours per day that Samakro had calculated was the most he could allow her. At every break Samakro checked the Springhawk’s progress and confirmed it was on course, and during Che’ri’s brief sleep periods Azmordi or one of the other pilots continued the ship’s progress via jump-by-jump.

And finally, to Samakro’s relief and mild surprise, they were there.

“One more short jump to go, Mid Captain,” Azmordi reported, offering his questis to Samakro. “I can handle it if you want to let Sky-walker Che’ri get some sleep.”

“She definitely needs it,” Samakro said, checking the data on the questis and confirming that the Springhawk was situated correctly for their arrival at Sunrise. The single jump Azmordi had specified, he noted, would only take about five minutes. “Go set it up,” he said, handing back the questis. “I’ll tell her she’s done.”

Che’ri was at the desk in the duty office, just finishing the last couple of bites of the meat-striped fruit squares she’d requested for today’s lunch. Thalias was standing over her, ready to take the empty plate and holding a fresh juice box ready. Both of them looked over as Samakro came in. “How are you two doing?” he asked as he walked over to them.

“I think we’re okay,” Thalias said. “Che’ri?”

“I’m fine,” the girl said. “Are we ready to go?”

“We’re ready to go,” Samakro corrected. “You’re ready to go get some sleep.”

“No,” Che’ri said, shaking her head. “Not yet. I need to finish it.”

“You’re as finished as you need to be,” Samakro said firmly. “It’s a single five-minute hop, then an in-system jump, and we’ll be there. Lieutenant Commander Azmordi could handle it with his eyes closed.”

“No, Che’ri’s right,” Thalias said. “She needs to do it. The timing … she needs to do it, that’s all.”

“Does she, now,” Samakro said, peering closely at them. Che’ri’s eyelids were drooping, and her face looked gaunt and a little pale. But aside from that she seemed bright-eyed and alert. Way too alert, actually, for someone who’d had as little sleep as she had over the past few days.

Bright-eyed.

“Finish your lunch and we’ll discuss it,” Samakro said. “Caregiver, I’d like a word with you outside, if I may.”

“Certainly,” Thalias said, handing Che’ri the juice box. “Drink a little more juice, Che’ri. I’ll be back in a minute.”

A fully crewed bridge wasn’t the ideal place for a private conversation. But right now, it was more important that Che’ri be out of this particular conversation. “All right,” Samakro said in a low voice as the office hatch slid shut behind them. “Let’s hear it.”

“Hear what?” Thalias asked.

“You know what,” Samakro growled. “Che’ri is way more alert than she ought to be after the run she’s just had. Is this the Magys playing more brain games?”

“I don’t know,” Thalias said tiredly, rubbing her eyes. “Che’ri is … she wants to finish the job, Mid Captain, that’s all. She needs to finish the job.”

“Why?” Samakro countered. “We’re here. The job’s done. What else does the Magys want her to do?”

“I don’t know,” Thalias said again. “She won’t tell me. Maybe she doesn’t know herself.”

“Not good enough, Caregiver,” Samakro said, shaking his head. “I need answers.” He eyed her closely. “Or I’ll take speculation, if that’s all you’ve got.”

“I don’t know if I’ve got anything even that solid.” Thalias exhaled a long, painful-sounding breath. “As best as I can figure, the Magys can … I don’t know. See or know things that are going to happen.”

Samakro felt a tingle at the back of his neck. The Magys affecting the Springhawk’s sky-walker from light-years away was bad enough. But if she was also manipulating the girl toward the future and things that hadn’t even happened yet, that would be far worse. “That’s absurd,” he said.

“Maybe,” Thalias admitted. “Probably, even. And no, I don’t have any proof that that’s what’s happening. But think about it. Isn’t seeing into the future exactly what sky-walkers do?”