The Imperial Star Destroyer hung motionless in the void of the Unknown Regions, a gray dagger set against the impossible bulk of the ark-ship. The alien vessel drifted without visible thrusters or course, its hexagonal hive-like shape vast enough to make the Star Destroyer look like a shuttle in comparison. Faint bioluminescent patterns pulsed slowly across sections of its hull, like the slow heartbeat of something that had been sleeping for a very long time.
Governor Shador Prar stood at the forward viewport, arms folded. Beside him, Grand Admiral Thrawn regarded the structure with the same calm intensity he might have given a rare piece of art.
“Admiral Thrawn,” Prar said, “You know the Unknown Regions better than anyone in the Empire. Do you recognize the builders of that thing?”
Thrawn’s red eyes narrowed fractionally. “I am familiar with many of the peoples who dwell in these regions. None of them possess the capability, or the ambition, to construct a vessel of this scale.”
“So no one local built it,” Prar muttered.
Ochô stepped closer to the glass. “Certainly not the Empire. No shipyard in the galaxy could produce something that size.”
Vice-Admiral Betrayus snorted. “Have you looked at it? That monstrosity could swallow fleets.”
“Which means we are dealing with a civilization completely unknown to us,” Ochô finished.
Prar turned from the viewport. “Admiral Banner. You’re certain the signal ended here?”
Banner nodded. “Before it vanished, the trajectory pointed to this exact sector. That ship is the only object of note within range.”
Thrawn’s voice remained quiet. “Then the rebels are somewhere aboard.”
Prar’s expression hardened. He strode toward the exit. “Prepare my equipment. I want three full battalions ready to board.”
Senator Organa, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. “Three battalions, Governor?”
Prar stopped and looked back. “Have you seen the size of that vessel? How else do you propose we locate a handful of rebels inside it?”
“I had hoped we might try diplomacy first,” Organa said carefully. “This could be the Empire’s first contact with an entirely new species. Charging in with an army risks giving precisely the wrong impression. Allow me to board as a representative of the Senate. If we approach them openly, they may be willing to help us find the rebels.”
Ochô studied the senator. “You’re suggesting we send you alone?”
“Not alone,” Organa answered. “But without the full weight of an invasion force.”
Prar closed his eyes for a moment, weighing the suggestion. When he opened them again, the decision was made.
“Very well. You will accompany us. But we take one battalion—and the Black Knights. We still have no idea what waits for us over there.”
He left the bridge without waiting for further discussion.
Thrawn turned to Banner. “Admiral, as a guest of this task force, I would recommend launching a fighter screen to scout the hull and identify viable entry points before the troops deploy.”
Banner inclined his head. “Sound advice. Make it so.”
Minutes later, a flight of TIE fighters led ten Sentinel-class landing craft across the gulf between the two vessels. They found a series of open docking bays along one section of the ark-ship’s hull, vast, silent, and empty. The shuttles set down in formation. Stormtroopers and black-armored Black Knights spilled out, taking defensive positions across the abandoned docking apron.
Governor Prar descended last, clad in his white battle armor, helmet under one arm. Ochô, Thrawn, and Senator Organa followed close behind. The cavernous hangar stretched away into dimness. No lights activated. No figures emerged to greet them. The only sound was the soft hum of the troopers’ armor systems.
Prar looked around, unimpressed. “Promising start.”
Organa’s voice was quieter. “I would have expected some form of welcoming party… or at least a challenge.”
A stormtrooper’s voice cut in over the comm. “Sir—we’ve located what appears to be a computer terminal.”
Prar’s expression brightened slightly. “Excellent. Someone, bring the protocol droid and the astromech.”
A golden protocol droid approached at a measured pace, followed by a familiar blue-and-white astromech that rolled along with obvious reluctance.
“We’re coming, we’re coming,” C-3PO fretted. “There is no need to rush.”
Prar pointed at the terminal. “Have the little one access the system and locate any recent activity, especially anything that might indicate rebel presence.”
Thrawn observed the empty hangar with mild interest. “In the absence of objections from the owners, I see no difficulty in examining their systems.”
R2-D2 emitted a series of protesting beeps and stayed exactly where he was.
“Please, Artoo,” C-3PO said, “not this again. Simply do as the Governor requests.”
Ochô raised an eyebrow. “That droid has character.”
“You have no idea,” C-3PO replied with long-suffering dignity. “I put up with it every day.”
Senator Organa crouched slightly so he was closer to the astromech’s level. “Artoo. Access the terminal. Tell us whatever you can.”
With a final, aggrieved warble, R2-D2 rolled forward and extended his interface arm. For several seconds, the only sound was the soft whir of internal processors. Then the astromech began beeping rapidly.
C-3PO tilted his head. “Are you certain?”
Prar frowned. “What’s the problem?”
“It appears my counterpart is having difficulty interfacing with the ship’s data systems,” C-3PO reported.
“Keep trying,” Prar snapped.
“I’m afraid the issue is more fundamental, Governor. Artoo reports that the binary language of this vessel is… incompatible with standard Imperial protocols.”
Thrawn’s attention sharpened. “That should be impossible. Binary is universal. Any system operating on base-two mathematics ought to be mutually intelligible.”
“Nevertheless,” C-3PO said, “the language structure here is sufficiently alien that Artoo cannot parse it.”
Ochô shook her head. “Binary is ones and zeros. How can that be untranslatable?”
“When dealing with a civilization this far outside known space,” Thrawn answered quietly, “even the fundamentals may differ.”
Prar’s patience evaporated. “Then these droids are useless. Get them out of my sight.”
R2-D2 suddenly emitted a new sequence of beeps, higher, more urgent. C-3PO’s photoreceptors brightened in surprise.
“What is it now?” Organa asked.
“Most peculiar… Artoo reports that the ship’s binary language has just… rewritten itself into a form he can understand. He is now able to access limited data.”
Prar and Thrawn exchanged a long look.
“What in the galaxy is going on aboard this ship?” Prar muttered.
Meanwhile, deeper inside the ark-ship, the rebel group had taken shelter in what appeared to be a sealed chamber. They sat or leaned against the walls, catching their breath. The situation was far from encouraging. They had lost the professor’s trail, and the strange, half-glimpsed creatures prowling the corridors made every step a risk. The air here carried a low, almost subsonic hum, as if the ship itself were breathing around them.
Brad ran a hand through his hair. “This isn’t going the way we planned.”
Frall grunted. “You think? We never should have set foot on this ship.”
“It’s a little late for regrets,” Lop said. “We still have to find the professor.”
Drasha nodded. “Agreed. The problem is we have no idea which way he went.”
Brad turned to Rahm Kota. “General, can you sense him at all?”
The old Jedi shook his head. “No. Whatever dark presence saturates this place is blocking me completely.”
Lop sighed. “Don’t look at me either. If Master Kota can’t push through it, I certainly can’t.” TD-4 gave a soft, reassuring beep beside her.
Drasha crossed her arms, thinking. “Have the two of you tried working together? Maybe if you combine your focus, you can break through the interference long enough to get a direction.”
Lop and Kota exchanged a glance.
“It’s worth attempting,” Lop said, while TD-4 beeped at her.
“Very well,” Kota agreed. “Let us try.”
When the small droid floated away from Lop, they knelt facing each other on the metal floor, hands raised with palms almost touching. Both closed their eyes. The air around them seemed to still as they reached out into the Force, straining against the heavy, oppressive presence that blanketed the ship. Lop’s long ears and the tips of her hair trembled with the effort. The rest of the group remained silent, weapons ready, watching the corridor entrances in case one of the roaming creatures decided to investigate.
For a long minute neither Jedi spoke. Their faces tightened with concentration. Then Lop’s eyes fluttered.
“Master… do you feel it?”
“Yes,” Kota answered quietly. “The blockade is thinning. I can sense the ship around us.”
Frall opened his mouth. “You see anyth-” Brad and Drasha both shot him sharp looks. He subsided with a mutter. “Oh, sorry.”
The two Force-users continued their shared meditation a while longer. Finally, they both exhaled and opened their eyes.
Brad leaned forward. “Well?” TD-4 beeped as well.
Lop’s expression lit with relief. “He’s alive. We felt him.”
“But he’s no longer in this section,” Kota added. “He left… and he did not leave alone.”
“Someone was with him?” Brad asked.
Drasha’s eyes widened. “An inhabitant?”
Frall stared. “You’re telling me something actually lives in this nightmare?”
“Apparently,” Brad said. “At least we know the professor isn’t still wandering these tunnels.”
“Which way did they go?” Frall asked. “Back the way we came, or deeper in?”
Lop rose to her feet. “Toward the exit we were heading for. Let’s move.”
They set off again, moving carefully through the winding corridors and giving the strange creatures as wide a berth as possible. In time the tunnels opened onto open air.
The landscape that greeted them was nothing like the dense forest they had left behind. Rolling moorland stretched away under a pale, diffuse light, mixed with patches of tall grass and low scrub. The air smelled different, cleaner, almost earthy.
Frall let out a low whistle. “Completely different biome. This ship keeps getting stranger.”
Brad scanned the horizon. “Another distinct environment entirely.”
Lop dropped to one knee and brushed her fingers across the ground while the small droid scanned it. Kota moved up beside her.
“What is it?”
“Wheel tracks,” she said. “A vehicle was here recently. It headed off that way.”
Frall pointed a short distance ahead. “Footprints too, two sets. They came out of the tunnels and stopped right where the tracks begin.”
Drasha’s voice was grim. “So whoever lives here took the professor.”
“Question is, where?” Frall asked.
Lop stood, dusting off her hands. “Only one way to find out.”
Without another word, the group set off, following the twin ruts left by the vehicle across the strange moorland.
At the same time, the Imperial party emerged from the tunnels into a vast meadow bathed in the warm light of an artificial sun. Governor Prar led the way, with Ochô, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Senator Organa, C-3PO, and R2-D2 close behind. Two full companies of stormtroopers and Black Knights fanned out around them, blasters and weapons ready.
Progress was slower than Prar would have liked. Strange creatures, some scaled, some furred, all aggressive, periodically lunged from the tall grass. None of them lasted more than a few seconds against disciplined Imperial fire and the occasional electrified vibro-blade of a Black Knight.
R2-D2 rolled along beside C-3PO, emitting a series of thoughtful beeps.
“Indeed,” the protocol droid agreed. “Were it not for these rather aggressive creatures, I would find this place quite remarkable. Who would have imagined an entire ecosystem contained within a single vessel?”
Thrawn’s red eyes scanned the horizon. “Judging by the fauna, one might reasonably conclude they are native to whatever world this ship originally came from.”
“We’ll discuss theories once we find someone to talk to,” Prar said without looking back.
Organa kept pace beside him. “Do you truly expect to locate the inhabitants by simply marching through every tunnel and opening every door until someone appears? The other companies are already spread thin.”
Prar glanced at him. “Senator, if we never find anyone, how exactly do you plan to negotiate? So far all we’ve encountered are animals and the occasional maintenance droid. I need proof that intelligent life is still aboard this ship before I start talking.”
“He does have a point, Senator,” C-3PO offered helpfully.
Organa sighed. “Just… never mind.”
They continued across the meadow for some time. Then, in the far distance, the outline of a large city became visible against the artificial sky.
C-3PO’s photoreceptors brightened. “Oh, look, gentlemen! A city! With any luck, we shall find someone there!”
Ochô said nothing, but her gaze remained fixed on the distant structures as the column altered course toward them.
When they finally reached the outskirts, the city proved as silent as the docking bay had been. Broad avenues, elegant buildings of unknown design, and carefully maintained parks stretched before them, yet not a single living inhabitant appeared. Only small maintenance droids moved about, silently repairing walkways, trimming vegetation, and keeping the place in perfect order. Without them, the city would have felt completely abandoned.
Prar stopped at the edge of a wide plaza and slowly turned in a full circle, taking in the emptiness.
“Ghost town,” he muttered. “Of course it is.”
Thrawn stepped up beside him, studying the architecture with quiet intensity. “Not abandoned in the usual sense. The systems are still fully functional. The maintenance droids continue their routines without interruption. This place was not deserted in haste… it was simply left.”
Organa looked troubled. “Left by whom? And why?”
Before anyone could answer, R2-D2 suddenly emitted a sharp series of urgent beeps and rolled forward several meters, stopping in front of what appeared to be a public information terminal set into a low wall.
C-3PO hurried after him. “Artoo, what have you found now?”
The astromech extended his interface arm. A moment later a soft chime sounded, and a holographic map of the city flickered into existence above the terminal, complete with glowing pathways and several marked locations that pulsed with a steady light.
Thrawn’s expression sharpened with interest.
“It seems,” he said quietly, “that someone, or something, still wants us to find our way.”
Prar looked at the soldiers. “Half of you, spread around. Inform me if you find the rebels here.”
At his order, a large detachment of stormtroopers and Black Knights dispersed into the silent streets. Unseen by any of them, a tall figure watched from the shadowed edge of a rooftop far above, remaining perfectly still until the soldiers had moved on. Its glowing red eyes tracked their movement for several long seconds before it slipped back into the darkness between the towers.
Following one of the glowing routes on the map, the remaining group reached what appeared to be a central data center. R2-D2 was directed to a primary terminal. After several minutes of interfacing, streams of information began to cascade across the surrounding screens.
Thrawn studied the data closely.
“This is a population census for the city,” he said. “At its height, more than a million inhabitants lived here. The numbers remained stable for a long period… until one year, without warning, the recorded population fell to zero.”
“Oh dear,” C-3PO murmured.
Ochô frowned. “You’re saying something wiped out the entire population at once?”
“That would explain the emptiness,” Prar said. “Does the record give any cause?”
Thrawn’s eyes narrowed as he read further. “The event is logged under a single designation: Dark Force.”
“Dark Force?” Ochô repeated.
Organa looked sharply at the screen. “Are you suggesting the dark side of the Force was responsible?”
“I doubt it,” Thrawn answered. “The name may be coincidental. Whatever this ‘Dark Force’ was, the computer treats it as an external phenomenon, not a mystical one.”
“So we truly are aboard a ghost ship,” C-3PO said, only for R2-D2 to beep indignantly. “Yes, yes, I am aware the creatures are still present, Artoo. That is not the point.”
“Enough, both of you,” Prar snapped.
A sudden burst of blaster fire echoed from outside the building. Every head turned. The shooting lasted only a few seconds before falling silent.
Prar’s hand went to his sidearm. “Report.”
No answer came.
Thrawn’s voice was calm but firm. “Senator Organa, remain here.”
The main group moved quickly to the exit, leaving Organa, the two droids, and a small security detail inside. The moment they stepped outside, they found the bodies of several stormtroopers and Black Knights scattered across the plaza. The wounds were unmistakable, deep, rending gashes that could only have been made by enormous claws.
Prar stared at the nearest corpse. “What kind of creature could do this?”
“I do not know,” Thrawn replied, scanning the surrounding rooftops and alleyways.
Ochô’s hands rested on her weapons, eyes sharp. “We are not alone.”
Inside the data center, R2-D2 suddenly began rolling in tight, agitated circles, his dome swiveling as he emitted a rapid series of alarmed beeps.
“What is it now?” one of the remaining stormtroopers demanded.
C-3PO’s voice rose in panic. “He says an unknown life form is approaching at high speed!”
“Senator, stay back,” another trooper ordered.
“You needn’t tell me twice,” Organa answered, already moving behind a console.
The air inside the chamber grew tense. Then, without warning, the ceiling above them exploded inward in a shower of metal and debris.
A massive figure dropped through the breach and landed in a low crouch directly in front of the Imperials, the impact cracking the floor plates beneath its feet.
The creature straightened slowly to its full height, between six and a half and seven feet tall. Its body, apparently female, was a seamless fusion of glossy black exoskeleton and lean, powerful muscle, the surface gleaming like polished obsidian under the artificial lights. A thick collar of pure white fur framed its shoulders and upper chest, flowing down into long streamers that draped along its arms. Matching white fur covered the outer surfaces of its heavily armored limbs, contrasting sharply with the deep crimson that lined the inner joints, the undersides of its massive clawed hands, and a short ceremonial-like sash at its waist.
Its head was sleek and predatory, covered by a smooth black carapace that rose into twin horn-like crests. Glowing red eyes burned within the shadowed sockets of the helmet-like face. From each forearm extended three enormous, blade-like claws the color of fresh blood, while similar crimson talons tipped its digitigrade feet. A long, white-furred tail with a red tip curled behind it, moving with slow, deliberate menace.
For a moment the creature simply stood there, regarding the Imperials in silence; the only sound was the soft scrape of its claws against the floor as it shifted its weight.
Then those burning red eyes locked onto them… and narrowed.
“What’s that thing!?” One of the Stormtroopers exclaimed, aiming his weapon at it.
Some of them fired at the large creature, but the monster was insanely fast to evade the blasters and rushed at an insane speed against the Imperials. With a simple swipe of its claws, the monster killed two of the Stormtroopers that were sent flying against the computers.
“Oh, dear!” The golden droid exclaimed. “Let's get out of here!”
The Senator and R2-D2 followed C-3PO’s idea and began to run away to a side door in the room, while the blue droid pushed the golden droid to make it run faster. Before the creature could chase them, the main doors opened with more Stormtroopers and a few Black Knights entering, beginning to attack the monster and getting its attention.
The Senator and the droid left the building through a side exit, running through the city streets, not looking back.
“If I may offer my opinion, I think we never should have come to this dreadful place!” C-3PO exclaimed as he ran while being pushed by the blue droid.
“I’m starting to think you might be right, Threepio,” Organa said as he ran forward.
After crossing several streets, the three of them hid in a small alley. The senator was leaning over, with his hands on his knees, catching his breath after having run such a long distance.
“I just hope we don’t run into that thing again,” C-3PO commented, looking behind them.
R2-D2 made some beeps at the droid’s comment.
“What do you mean by that, Artoo?” The golden droid turned around, its arms raising when it saw what was in front of it. “Oh, no! Another one!”
Organa turned his head to see what was scaring C-3PO, finding another figure standing in front of them.
Back at the central data center, Prar and the others observed the disaster that was the computer room, staring at the damaged room and the dead soldiers everywhere.
“Where is the Senator?” Thrawn asked one of the Imperials that was still alive but severely wounded.
“I don’t know, sir… he escaped with the droids when that… monster… attacked us.” The wounded Stormtrooper said.
“What did it look like?” Ochô asked him.
“Sir, I have the images here…” Said a wounded Black Knight, presenting a portable recorder to them.
Prar took the recorder and turned it on, presenting the hologram of what happened in the room, witnessing the large creature that caused all that chaos there.
“What’s that thing?” Ochô asked in shock, seeing the hologram.
“I don’t know. But if this thing was created artificially…” Thrawn commented.
“Governor!” A voice came from the communicator.
“What the matter?” Prar asked.
“I just saw a crewed vehicle leaving the city! For some reason, the Senator and the droids were riding in it!” The voice informed.
“When it rains, it pours.” Prar groaned with a hand on his face.
“Sir, we have found a warehouse with weapons and vehicles!” Another voice informed.
“Well, at least now we can track whoever took the Senator,” Thrawn said.
“Very well. But everyone, stay alert! We have a hunter on the prowl!” Prar ordered.
Ochô looked down with a worried face.
“Are you worried about the creature? Or are you worried that your sister is in this place with that monster lurking about?” Thrawn asked at Ochô.
“Is it that obvious?” Ochô asked, narrowing her eyes.
“She is still your sister, after all.” The Admiral said. “Even if we were on opposing sides, if someone of my kind were here, I would be concerned too. And more with that thing.”
Ochô turned her face toward the hologram with the image of the creature with a worried face. For the first time since boarding the ark-ship, the carefully controlled mask she usually wore slipped, just for a moment.
In the ark-ship’s central biosphere, the rebels had been walking for a long time through the narrow terrain, following the wheel tracks on the ground. At the same time, the group sought to avoid encountering the strange creatures that inhabited the place. They did not know how long they had been walking through that place, stopping every so often behind various rocks to rest and catch their breath.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, they saw, on the horizon, in the direction the tire tracks led, a massive structure that looked like a scientific station, or something of the sort. It rose from the landscape like a metal island, its surface covered in unfamiliar angular patterns that caught the light in odd ways.
“It seems we have finally reached our destination. I only hope the professor is alright.” Drasha asked, panting hard.
“Come on, let’s get to that place and go inside,” Brad said.
After walking several more meters, the group finally reached the enormous metal building that seemed to rise up in the very center of the biosphere. Near what appeared to be the entrance to the center, they saw something that looked like a sort of wheeled motorbike, which, judging by the tire tracks, had been used several times.
“So, this is the vehicle we have been following,” Frall said.
“I hope there are more vehicles in there. I wouldn't be too happy about having to walk all the way back to the ship.” Brad said.
Lop did not respond or say anything about it. She simply entered the building along with the others. As soon as they entered the building, the structure took them all by surprise, for the level of technology present there was far beyond the technology they possessed in the galaxy. Soft blue lights activated along the walls as they passed, responding to their presence with quiet precision. The air inside was cooler, cleaner, and carried a faint ozone tang.
Despite their initial surprise, the group began to move through the station’s corridors, descending via various elevators that took them far below ground level. Even despite how advanced the entire place was, the building and its interiors appeared to be infested with more of the strange monsters that inhabited the ship, some even resembling fearsome manticore and bat-men.
Eventually, after wandering around the vast complex for quite some time, the group finally reached what appeared to be the lowest level of the base.
“It looks like this place seems to be the last floor here,” Brad commented.
“Well, we’d better find the professor as soon as possible. I wouldn’t want to run into something much worse than what we’ve encountered around here before.” Frall said.
Drasha looked at Lop and Rahm Kota. “Can you feel the professor?”
“Yes, we are close enough to sense their presence, despite the dark essence.” The old Jedi said.
The rebels began to walk through the underground corridors, seeing that the place looked like a labyrinth with dozens of corridors and intersections. But some monitors in certain walls and closed doors seemed to show that somehow these tunnels seemed to be connected directly to the ship’s other biospheres surrounding the central one. This made it clear that this building was the central hub for the entire ark-ship.
As the group began to approach the corner of one of the tunnels, Lop raised his hand, his brow furrowed. Everyone nodded, then began to move toward the corner, where they started to hear voices.
“Indeed, this ship goes beyond what we could have imagined!”
“Yes, though I’d prefer it if there weren’t so many threats out there.”
When Brad gave the signal, everyone turned the corner, aiming their blasters and lightsabers forward, but to their surprise, one of the people in front of them was Professor Thaddeus Zant.
The professor turned to them. “Oh, it’s you! I’m glad to see that you are doing well.”
“We?” Frall asked, raising his weapon. “What about you? We’ve been going crazy looking for you ever since you took off running down that hallway!”
“But I’m glad you’re doing well, Professor,” Lop said with a smile.
“Thanks for your concern, but I’m fine. I was just talking to an acquaintance of mine.” The Professor said, presenting the man at his side.
“Senator Organa?!” Brad exclaimed in shock as he, Frall, and Drasha recognized the Senator at the Professor’s side.
Organa looked at the rebels with a warm smile. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Yokai Team.”
“Who’s he?” Lop asked.
“He’s Bail Organa from Alderaan. Senator of the Imperial Senate.” Drasha said.
“An Imperial Senator?!” Lop asked, looking at the Senator.
“Take it easy. Believe it or not, he’s on our side. In fact, he’s been secretly helping the various rebel cells.” Brad said to her.
“He’s right.” Rahm Kota said as he walked toward the Senator.
“Master Rahm Kota. It’s good to see that there are still Jedi alive after that day.” The Senator said.
“I assume as much. But I would like to know why you are here, on this ship.” The old Jedi asked.
“Well, that’s amusing. I was initially on an official visit to Tao, though, in secret, I intended to help evacuate Professor Zant before they could try to eliminate him. But you beat me to it. And, as it happens, I had just arrived on the Star Destroyer when the Governor began pursuing you.” Organa explained.
“Well... sorry we got you into this predicament,” Lop said, rubbing the back of her head.
“And how did the two of you manage to get here safe and sound, with all those monsters roaming about?” Frall asked.
“You are right. It is not a safe place for either a scientist or a senator.” Drasha said.
“Well, you see, we have this person to thank for that,” Organa said, waving his hand behind him and the professor.
“Who?” Lop asked.
Just a few meters away from them, emerging from the shadows of the hallway, appeared a woman of striking appearance.
Her long, vibrant pink hair cascading down her back swayed gently with her movement. Pointed ears rose from either side of her head, marking her as something other than human. Her bright blue eyes regarded the group with calm assessment, neither hostile nor overly welcoming.
She wore a form-fitting dark bodysuit that clung to her athletic yet curvaceous figure, accented with a black-and-white armored chestplate covering her lower breasts. Heavy black-and-white shoulder armor framed her upper body, each pauldron set with a glowing turquoise gem. A high collar rose around her neck, and a long, pale cape flowed from her shoulders, shifting softly behind her. Long black gloves covered her arms, and matching thigh-high boots with sturdy heels completed the ensemble.
“Welcome, everybody.” Said the woman in front of them. “I’m glad to have you here.”
“What?” Lop asked, surprised at the female’s appearance.
“Who are you?” Brad asked.
“My name is Sira. Pleased to meet you.” The woman said with a small nod.
“Those ears clearly tell me that you aren’t human. Might I ask what you are?” Brad asked. “Besides, what is this place?!”
“This is the command center of the Luveno II. An ark-ship created by a thousand-year-old civilization.”
Everyone was in shock when they heard her words.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa… This ship was made by an ancient advanced civilization?!” Frall asked in shock. “And is it still operational?”
“Yes, it is,” Sira replied. “It was part of a much larger fleet.”
“And is there still anyone alive in this place?” Drasha asked.
“Unfortunately, no.” She replied.
“So this is clearly a ghost ship,” Lop said.
“Then could you tell us what this ship is doing in the Unknown Regions?” Rahm Kota asked.
“If you want to know more, you must talk to Noah. He’s over here.” Sira began to walk through the corridor.
“Noah?” Lop asked, while Brad simply shrugged.
Everyone began to follow Sira through the corridor.
“By the way, I still find it hard to believe that your droid could have a long conversation with my father,” Sira said as she walked forward.
“Trust me, once Threepio starts talking, he just won’t shut up,” Organa said with a smile.
They continued until the corridor opened into a vast chamber. A metal walkway extended toward a massive central computer core, with additional walkways branching in from the sides. Standing near the console were C-3PO and R2-D2. TD-4 floated over at once and began exchanging rapid beeps with the blue astromech.
C-3PO was still speaking animatedly to the computer. “Honestly, this entire situation has taken me completely by surprise. I never imagined something of this scale was even possible-”
R2-D2 beeped sharply, and the golden droid turned.
“Okay, where is this ‘Noah’ you spoke of?” Frall asked after looking around.
“He’s right in front of you,” Sira replied.
“What? Where?” Rahm Kota asked, confused. “I don’t feel anyone else here besides us.”
“Oh, gentlemen, allow me to present you to Noah,” C-3PO said, raising its arms toward the computer.
A calm, resonant voice issued from the core.
“I am Noah, the primary control intelligence of the ark-ship Luveno II.”
Most of the group stared in open astonishment. Only Organa and Professor Zant appeared unsurprised.
“It can talk?” Drasha said. “Yavis would lose his mind over this.”
“I understand your reaction,” Noah replied. “In your culture, vocal synthesis is typically reserved for droids. Computers of your design rarely possess conversational capability.”
“Whoa.” Lop stared, surprised at the large computer.
“Yokai 5 to Yokai 1. You reading me?”
“Yokai 1 here,” Brad answered. “Status?”
“Repairs are finished. We’re ready whenever you are. Everything all right down there? You sound busy.”
“I'll tell you later,” Brad said.
Frall turned back to the computer. “So what exactly is this ship?”
“The Luveno II was one of a fleet of ark-ships that departed our homeworld approximately one thousand years ago,” Noah explained. “It was constructed by the Parma civilization.”
“Parma?” Lop asked.
“Fascinating.”
Everyone turned.
Governor Prar, Ochô, and Grand Admiral Thrawn stood on the elevated walkway, flanked by stormtroopers and Black Knights. Their weapons were already raised and trained on the rebel group. Additional Imperial troops appeared on the opposite walkway and at the entrance behind them, sealing every exit.
C-3PO made a distressed sound. “Oh, dear.”
“Ochô!” Lop called out before she could stop herself.
Frall muttered a curse under his breath as he checked their rear. “Perfect. Just what we needed.”
Prar’s voice carried easily across the chamber, coldly satisfied. “You’ve caused me no end of trouble. This time, you will not slip away.”
Thrawn’s red eyes moved calmly across the assembled group. His posture remained relaxed, almost academic.
Brad’s gaze settled on the Chiss. “You must be Admiral Thrawn.”
Kota’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly.
“General Rahm Kota,” Thrawn said with quiet courtesy. “It is a rare opportunity to meet you in person. Your reputation precedes you.”
Kota offered no reply.
Thrawn’s attention shifted to the senator and the professor. “Senator Organa. Professor Zant. I trust you are unharmed.”
“Thank you for your concern, Admiral,” Organa replied evenly.
Only then did Thrawn turn toward the central computer. His interest was immediate and unmistakable.
“I must say,” he continued, “the history you were beginning to recount is of considerable interest. I would like to hear more of the Parma and the purpose of this vessel.”
Prar turned his helmeted head sharply. “You’re going to stand here and listen to a machine while we have the rebels at blaster-point?”
Thrawn did not raise his voice. “This intelligence is currently our only source of information regarding a civilization capable of constructing a vessel of this magnitude. Such knowledge is rare. I intend to acquire it.”
Prar exhaled heavily, then reached up and removed his helmet. His expression was one of open irritation as he gestured curtly for the troops to hold their fire.
Thrawn inclined his head slightly toward the computer core.
“Please continue, Noah,” he said. “I am listening.”
“This ship originates from the planet Palma, located in the Algol System,” Noah began.
Rahm Kota frowned. “Algol? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Nor have I,” Thrawn said quietly. “Because it is not a system within our galaxy.”
Ochô’s eyes widened slightly. “You’re saying this ship came from another galaxy?”
“That is correct,” Noah confirmed. “The Palmans were the most advanced race in the Algol System. They colonized their two neighboring worlds, Motavia and Dezoris, and built a civilization of remarkable sophistication.”
Lop tilted her head. “Then how did this ship end up here?”
Frall leaned closer to Brad and muttered under his breath, “Don’t tell me you’re actually joining this conversation. We should be looking for a way out.”
“With a full company of bucketheads behind us?” Brad whispered back. “Not likely.”
Noah continued, its voice steady and measured. “Unfortunately, Palma was destroyed when the artificial satellite Gaira crashed into the planet. The population managed to evacuate aboard a fleet of ark-ships before the Great Collapse.”
Lop lowered her gaze. “Their entire world… gone.”
Brad looked up at the towering computer core. “And this particular ship? How did it end up drifting in the Unknown Regions?”
“Several years ago, the Luveno II passed through a wormhole that deposited it in this region of your galaxy,” Noah explained. “I was able to establish limited contact with passing probes and, through them, learned a great deal about your cultures, your history… and your wars.”
Professor Zant stepped forward. “But if the survivors escaped, what killed the people here?”
Organa’s voice was quiet. “Dark Force…”
Brad turned to him. “What?”
“That is the designation we found in the city’s data archives,” Thrawn said.
Lop looked between them. “What is Dark Force?”
Noah’s tone grew heavier. “Dark Force is a demon native to the Algol System—an entity whose sole purpose is the destruction of all life. While it hunted the remaining ark-ships, this vessel attempted to flee. Dark Force sent a fragment of itself after us. The crew managed to seal it within a contained section of the ship… but its curse still claimed every living Palman on board. Within a year, none remained.”
Ochô shivered. “You had things like that in your system?”
Prar folded his arms. “Then explain the monsters. Why is this ship crawling with them?”
“The biomonsters and other creatures you have encountered were products of the bioengineering laboratories located in each biosphere,” Noah replied. “Without Palman oversight, their populations grew unchecked.”
Drasha pointed toward Sira. “All right. Then who is she? If no one survived…”
“She is… my child,” Noah answered.
Prar and Ochô exchanged a glance.
“Child?” Prar repeated.
Professor Zant’s eyes sharpened with scientific interest. “Are you saying she is an artificial life form?”
“Yes and no,” Noah said. “She is fully organic, yet not born of natural means. She is the product of the Numan Project. An initiative more than a thousand years old. Its purpose was to combine the ingenuity and emotional capacity of a Palman with the resilience and physical power of a biomonster.”
Thrawn’s red eyes studied Sira with quiet fascination. “Fascinating.”
C-3PO tilted his head. “I’m afraid I don’t entirely follow.”
Frall shrugged. “In other words, they stuck a Twi’lek’s mind into a Gundark’s body.” He paused, then grimaced. “Actually… that example got weird fast.”
A few stormtroopers and Black Knights chuckled before Prar silenced them with a sharp gesture.
“I have also provided her with a comprehensive education,” Noah continued, “covering both Palman history and the cultures of your galaxy.”
Prar’s gaze narrowed. “And the other one?”
Lop blinked. “Other one?”
“Not long ago we were attacked by an enormous creature that cut through several of my men with alarming ease,” Prar said.
Sira’s expression tightened. “There is only one who matches that description.”
A sudden burst of blaster fire erupted from the far platform. Everyone turned. The Imperial soldiers stationed there were being torn apart by the same black-and-white predator that had attacked earlier. In moments, the platform fell silent except for the soft scrape of massive claws against metal.
C-3PO’s voice rose in panic. “Oh no! It’s here!”
Lop stared. “What is that?”
“The same creature that attacked us before,” Organa said grimly.
The creature straightened on the platform, glowing red eyes fixed on the gathered group.
“Karis!” Noah’s voice rang out, sharper than before. “I ordered you not to establish contact with outsiders, nor to leave the central biosphere!”
Drasha’s eyebrows rose. “Karis? That’s its name?”
The creature’s voice was low and hostile. “Why should I remain hidden? These people do not belong on this ship. They are intruders.”
Prar snorted. “Tell that to the rebels. They’re the ones who boarded first.”
“Not the point right now, Prar,” Brad said tightly.
Sira stepped forward. “Karis, that is enough! Stop this before you make things worse.”
“Silence, Sira!” Karis snarled. “This is my home. I will eliminate anyone who enters it. And if you stand in my way, I will eliminate you as well.”
Sira’s expression hardened. With a soft metallic click, a pair of retractable steel claws extended from her gauntlets.
The Imperials raised their weapons in unison.
Karis’s red eyes burned hotter. “I will never understand why Father favors you over me. I was created first!”
Frall muttered, “I’m guessing she’s the one that turned out… wrong.”
Organa gave a small, grim nod. “I believe you’re correct.”
Karis crouched, muscles coiling to spring…
“Sira,” Noah said calmly.
Sira immediately covered her ears. A moment later, a piercing ultrasonic shriek filled the chamber. Everyone present staggered, clamping hands over their ears as the sound bored into their skulls. Karis suffered worst of all; she thrashed, clawing at her own head, until she finally collapsed, unconscious.
The sound cut off as abruptly as it had begun. Several people groaned, shaking their heads to clear the residual ringing.
Prar straightened with a scowl. “What in the blazes was that?”
Yavis’s voice crackled over Brad’s still-open comm. “Seriously, what’s going on down there? That noise nearly fried my headset!”
Byte’s voice followed. “My auditory sensors are still rebooting!”
Brad cursed under his breath and finally closed the channel.
“That was an ultrasonic frequency designed to neutralize certain biomonsters,” Noah explained. “It is particularly effective against Karis when she loses control.”
“Ultrasonic, my rear!” Frall exclaimed with his hands on his ears.
Organa looked from the unconscious form of Karis to the computer core. “I must admit… for all its dangers, the science aboard this ship is extraordinary. Our galaxy could learn a great deal from it.”
“Perhaps,” Noah replied. “But this legacy is doomed.”
Sira’s shoulders slumped.
Kota’s voice was quiet. “What do you mean?”
One of the large screens shifted, displaying a galactic chart. A bright marker indicated their current position, with a clear trajectory leading toward a dark, spiraling void.
Thrawn’s eyes narrowed at once. “I recognize that sector. If the chart is accurate… this ship is on a collision course with a black hole.”
Lop and Ochô spoke at the same time. “What?!”
“Correct,” Noah confirmed. “At current velocity, the Luveno II will reach the event horizon in a matter of months.”
Drasha stared at the screen. “Haven’t you tried to change course?”
“The wormhole transit irreparably damaged the main engines. Repair is impossible.”
Professor Zant’s voice was heavy. “A doomed ship… and all this knowledge condemned to oblivion.”
“Which is why I make this request,” Noah said. “Take Sira away from this vessel. Allow a part of us to survive.”
The chamber fell silent.
Frall was the first to recover. “Wait, you seriously expect us to take someone we barely know?”
“We’ll do it.”
Every head turned toward Lop. She stood straight, eyes fixed on the computer core with quiet determination. Even Sira looked at her in surprise.
“We’ll take Sira with us,” Lop repeated firmly. “As you asked.”
Frall threw up his hands. “Oh, come on!”
Drasha gave him a sideways look. “She’s spoken.”
Brad stepped forward and placed a hand on Sira’s shoulder with a small smile. “In that case… welcome to the crew.”
Sira’s expression softened into a genuine, if hesitant, smile.
“Hold it.”
Prar’s voice cut through the moment. He raised one hand, helmet still tucked under his arm.
“We have just discovered the remnant of an incredibly advanced civilization, with technology that surpasses anything the Empire currently possesses, and you all intend to simply walk away?” His eyes narrowed. “Not a chance. We are not abandoning this ship.”
Brad turned on him. “You heard Noah. There’s nothing we can do to stop it from reaching that black hole.”
“It won’t arrive for months,” Prar shot back. “Our Star Destroyers can ferry every scrap of data and technology this vessel contains. Now that we know its location and trajectory, we can return with a full salvage fleet.”
Thrawn inclined his head slightly. “A pragmatic assessment, Governor.”
“I cannot allow that,” Noah said.
Prar’s gaze snapped back to the core. “And why not?”
“Through the probes that have passed near this ship, I have studied the history of your galaxy. The Republic. The Clone Wars. The rise of the Galactic Empire. I have concluded that your civilization is not prepared for Palman science. In the hands of your Emperor, the consequences would be catastrophic.”
Frall grinned. “He’s got you figured out.”
Thrawn’s voice remained mild. “Do you truly believe you can stand against the full power of the Empire?”
“Do not underestimate this ship,” Noah replied. “I possess the means to defend myself if necessary. Do not test me.”
Weapons on both sides shifted. The air grew taut.
Then an alarm began to blare.
Kota’s head turned. “What now?”
Noah’s voice dropped. “The worst has occurred. Your men have released what should never have been released.”
Prar stiffened. “What?”
One of the screens switched to a security feed. A squad of stormtroopers and Black Knights was firing at something off-camera. A wave of black energy washed over them. They collapsed without a sound.
C-3PO cried out. “Oh, dear! They’re all dead!”
R2-D2 warbled in panic.
Then the camera captured the source: a massive, bipedal abomination of twisted limbs and shifting darkness. The moment it noticed the lens, it formed a blade from its own arm and drove it into the camera. The feed went black.
Lop was the only one who managed to speak. “What… was that?”
“Dark Force,” Noah said. “The demon that wiped out this ship’s population. It has been sealed until now.”
Ochô stared at Prar. “Our men released that?”
Brad’s voice was cold. “Congratulations, Governor. You’ve just unleashed the devil himself.”
“It is worse than you realize,” Noah continued. “If Dark Force escapes this vessel, your entire galaxy will be at risk. Nothing in your arsenal is prepared to face it.”
Prar turned sharply to Thrawn. “We deploy everything we have. We hunt it down before it reaches the hangars.”
Thrawn shook his head once. “You saw what it did to a full squad in seconds. I doubt the entire Imperial military could contain it. Even the Jedi Order, at its height, would have struggled.”
Prar’s fists clenched. “Then what do you suggest?”
“There is one option remaining,” Noah said. “If I overload every critical system aboard this ship, the resulting cascade will destroy the Luveno II entirely.”
Sira’s voice broke. “Noah, no!”
“Now that Dark Force is free, it is the only way to ensure the galaxy’s safety.”
Frall looked skeptical. “You’re sure an exploding ship will be enough?”
“The detonation will produce an energy release comparable to a supernova,” Noah replied. “Nothing will survive.”
Brad exhaled. “That should do it.”
Prar stood rigid for several long seconds. Then he let out a harsh, frustrated growl and jammed his helmet back onto his head.
“Dank farrik,” he muttered. “Full evacuation. Everyone off this ship, now.”
Ochô looked at him. “Governor, we’re nowhere near the hangar!”
“I will open every transit tunnel connecting this command center to the rest of the vessel,” Noah said.
Prar’s voice rang out across the chamber. “Move! Abandon this place!”
The Imperial forces turned and began to withdraw at a run. Thrawn was the last to leave the walkway, casting one final, unreadable glance at the computer core before following.
Brad didn’t hesitate. “You heard him, go!”
The rebels, along with Organa and Professor Zant, sprinted for the exits. R2-D2 forced C-3PO onto his chassis and accelerated after them.
“Good heavens! A little warning next time, Artoo!” the protocol droid cried.
Sira lingered for a heartbeat, staring at the core that had been her only parent. Then Lop’s hand closed firmly around hers and pulled her into motion.
“Be well… my child,” Noah said, soon beginning the process.
At that moment, Karis began to open her eyes.
Everyone began running through the corridors. At one point, the rebel group happened to run into Prar, Thrawn, and Ochô, who appeared from one of the intersections. For a moment, everyone was taken by surprise, but then they began looking around to figure out where to go.
“Over here!” Sira called, running forward.
Without a second thought, everyone began to follow Sira through the corridors, while more Imperials, running aimlessly, joined them in their flight.
“You just had to set that thing free, didn't you? Believe me, if we don't manage to get out of here, I'm going to kill you!” Brad exclaimed at Prar.
“Oh, shut up!” Prar groaned.
Suddenly, their escape route was interrupted by one of the strange manticores that roamed the area, blocking their path.
“Are you serious?” Frall groaned, preparing his weapon.
Immediately, both Lop and Ochô dashed toward the creature, their weapons at the ready. At the same time, Sira raced alongside them, her metal claws poised. In a flash, the three of them attacked the manticore simultaneously, finishing it off in a single move.
“They don't do a bad job at all,” Thrawn mentioned.
“Come on, we can't stop!” Sira said.
For a moment, Lop and Ochô looked at each other before following Sira again with the others.
As they ran, they soon reached an intersection. But when they arrived there, the blast doors closed without warning. As a result, Sira, Lop, the rebels, and Professor Zant ended up on one side, while Organa, the droids, Prar, Ochô, Thrawn, and the rest of the Imperials remained on the other.
“Are you okay?!” Lop asked.
“Yes, we’re okay!” Organa replied.
“Follow that path! It will take you to a section with vehicles! Use them to reach the Biosphere 5 hangar!” Sira called.
“Will we also have transport to get to our ship?” Drasha asked, with Sira nodding at her.
“Alright. Let’s get out of here as soon as possible!” Brad ordered, and everyone began to run to their path.
“You’ve heard it, gentlemen! Let’s get out of here as soon as possible!” Organa said to the imperials before beginning to run, being followed by them.
Just as Sira had said, the group arrived at a small warehouse containing what appeared to be land transport vehicles designed to move along the corridors. Without a second thought, the group climbed onto them and piloted them through the long corridors that led them all across the ship.
After a long yet swift journey, the group arrived at the biosphere where their ship was located. Even so, they still needed to reach it. When they were no longer able to continue using the vehicles, the group began to run as fast as they could through the corridors. But just as they were passing one of the doors, it was forced open.
Dark Force entered the room, and it did not take long for him to detect the presence of the group that was fleeing.
“Oh, are you kidding me?!” Frall exclaimed, seeing the large monster.
The terrifying demon confronted the group, but Lop and Rahm Kota immediately used the Force to shove Dark Force against the wall. They promptly did the same with various objects in the area, attempting to trap him, if only for a moment.
“That won't hold for long. Run!” Brad exclaimed.
After running through the corridors, the group finally managed to reach the hangar where the ship was docked, where they saw Yavis outside the ship.
“Where were you? What is happening here?” Yavis asked when he saw the group coming, before looking at Sira. “And who is she?”
“Not now! We need you to get us out of here as soon as possible!” Brad exclaimed.
“But we have a Star Destroyer out there!” Yavis exclaimed.
“They won’t mind! They also want to leave this place as soon as possible!” Rahm Kota exclaimed.
“Okay, okay!” Yavis said when he suddenly jolted. “What the?!”
They turned around, seeing how Dark Force had followed them, breaking abruptly into the hangar. Immediately, the hangar’s security droids began attacking the demon, drawing its attention.
“Everyone on the ship, now!” Brad ordered.
Everyone boarded the ship. In the cockpit, Yavis and Byte began to start up the vessel, which then started to move. But they saw that the droids were being destroyed by Dark Force.
“This isn't good. Yavis, fire!” Lop exclaimed.
“You don't have to tell me!” Yavis said.
Yavis prepared the ship’s weapons, and when ready, he fired them against Dark Force, pinning it against the walls with the ship’s blasters. Once they were certain that nothing more could be done, the Tengu II took off completely and exited the hangar.
Once the craft had cleared the exterior of the massive vessel, it quickly entered hyperspace, departing the area. Shortly thereafter, the Star Destroyer jumped into hyperspace.
As soon as both ships left the sector, the Luveno II exploded with the violence of a supernova, obliterating everything that might have been there and leaving no trace whatsoever.
In the Tengu II, the sudden quiet of hyperspace felt almost unreal after the chaos they had just escaped.
For several long seconds, no one spoke. The only sounds were the low hum of the engines and the soft beeps of the nav computer confirming their jump. Yavis finally leaned back in the copilot’s seat and exhaled hard.
“Okay… someone wants to explain what the hell just happened back there?”
Brad was still catching his breath near the cockpit doorway. “Short version: ancient alien ark-ship, a sealed demon that the Imperials accidentally released, and the ship’s own AI deciding the only way to stop it was to blow the entire thing up.”
Byte turned its photoreceptors toward Sira, who stood quietly near the bulkhead, still holding her cape close around herself. “And the pink-haired individual is…?”
“Sira,” Lop said quickly. “She… helped us. She’s coming with us.”
Yavis glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised. “Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Brad confirmed. “We’ll fill you in properly once everyone’s settled. Right now I just want to know we actually made it out.”
Rahm Kota had already moved to one of the side consoles. “The Star Destroyer jumped as well. They escaped the blast radius.”
Frall dropped into a seat with a groan. “Of course they did. Prar’s too stubborn to die that easily.”
Frall turned to the professor. “Well, Professor, what might we do with you? Many Imperials want you dead for sure.”
“I think that Maz Kanata might have an idea of where to hide you,” Drasha said.
The professor crossed his arms. “Katodana? I have always wanted to visit that planet. I wonder what the ecosystem is like on a planet controlled by criminals.”
“That depends on what you consider 'criminals',” Drasha commented.
Sira remained silent, her blue eyes fixed on the swirling blue tunnel of hyperspace beyond the viewport. Her expression was carefully composed, but the slight tension in her shoulders betrayed how much she was holding back.
Lop noticed. She stepped closer, voice softer. “Sira… are you all right?”
The Numan was quiet for a moment before answering. “I have lived my entire life aboard the Luveno II. Every corridor. Every biosphere. It was… home.” She paused. “Noah made the only choice he could. I understand that. But understanding does not make the silence any easier.”
Professor Zant, who had been leaning against the wall, spoke gently. “Your father, Noah, gave you a chance to continue. That is no small thing.”
Sira gave a small, grateful nod, though her gaze remained distant while keeping her eyes on the hyperspace tunnel.
Meanwhile, aboard the Star Destroyer, the hangar was filled with the sounds of stormtroopers and Black Knights disembarking from the shuttles while the ship remained in hyperspace.
Governor Prar pulled off his helmet the moment his boots hit the deck, his expression dark.
“All right. Someone explain this to me,” he said. “We lost the rebels. We lost the professor. We lost a ship carrying technology far beyond anything the Empire currently possesses. How exactly do we classify this disaster?”
Thrawn stepped down from the shuttle with measured calm. “At the very least, we should be grateful that Senator Organa survived the experience.”
Organa followed, adjusting his cloak. “Thank you, Admiral. I must admit it was… memorable. I haven’t felt that particular mix of terror and awe since the Clone Wars.”
C-3PO trudged down the ramp beside R2-D2, still visibly shaken. “Seriously, Artoo, if we never encounter anything remotely like that again, I will be more than satisfied. I am looking forward to a full power-down and proper maintenance.”
R2-D2 beeped in what might have been agreement.
Ochô, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “I don’t believe it was a complete failure.”
Prar turned to her. “Explain, Lady Ochô.”
“Not everything was destroyed in the explosion,” she said. “The woman, Sira, left with Lop and the rebels. If they escaped the blast…”
“Then she may have survived as well,” Thrawn finished. His red eyes narrowed slightly in thought. “If we were to recover her, Imperial biologists could study the Numan Project’s methods. Replicating such enhancements could prove… valuable.”
Prar crossed his arms. “Assuming she’s worth the effort. We still have no clear idea what physical advantages she actually possesses compared to a baseline human.”
“That assessment can wait,” Thrawn replied. “For the moment, she remains with the rebels. Tracking them will be necessary in any case.”
Prar scowled. “As if that group wasn’t already enough of a headache, I’ll have to add one more to the equation.”
A sudden commotion erupted near one of the shuttles. Shouts of alarm rose as the black-and-white form of Karis leapt down from the upper hull of a landing craft. Frost still clung to parts of her armored body, clear evidence that she had ridden the exterior of the shuttle through the vacuum of space.
“Oh no! Not again!” C-3PO cried, already backing away at speed.
Prar took an involuntary step back. “That thing again?!”
Every stormtrooper and Black Knight in the hangar raised their weapons, forming a wide, cautious circle around the creature.
Thrawn, however, did not reach for a weapon. Instead, he raised one hand, signaling the troops to hold fire, and walked forward with deliberate calm.
“Karis, is it not?” he said, stopping at a respectful distance. “I should inform you that we recorded the entire exchange with your father, Noah, including the ultrasonic frequency that neutralized you earlier.”
Vice-Admiral Betrayus’s voice barked over the hangar comm. “If anyone so much as thinks about playing that sound again, I will have them court-martialed! It nearly left me deaf!”
Thrawn gave a small, almost disappointed shake of his head before returning his attention to Karis.
“Fortunately, I do not believe such measures will be necessary,” he continued. “Perhaps we can reach an understanding. One that concerns the sister who also escaped the destruction of your ship.”
Karis’s glowing red eyes narrowed. A low growl rumbled in her throat. “She’s alive?”
“Yes,” Thrawn answered evenly. “And I believe we may be able to help one another. But first… there is someone I would like you to meet.”
Prar and Ochô exchanged a wary glance, both clearly wondering what the Grand Admiral had in mind.
C-3PO edged closer to Organa, voice lowered. “Senator…?”
Organa watched the tense standoff with a troubled expression. “Yes, Threepio. I wonder whether the galaxy is truly prepared for either of them.”
