for_everyone | (no subject)

Hera had only traveled to Batuu a handful of times, and had never particularly liked it. Tucked just beyond the edge of the Outer Rim, it was far from anything else of interest. The outpost itself had its uses, especially as a launch point farther into the Unknown Regions, but there was nothing more interesting about it than any of the hundreds, maybe thousands of outposts and waystations she'd passed through in her life.

The planet itself had its charms, especially the petrified forests, and the towering stone spires that burst up among the trees. It wasn't enough to make the trip worth it.

But having Jacen along this time was also improving things.

They'd left Chopper with the ship, hidden among the trees not far from the spot along a wide river where they've chosen to settle for the moment. They'll head along to Black Spire soon, but there was no rush. They'd brought food – a few meeilooruns, cured and spiced nerf strips, kibla greens and fried walda blossoms. All a better meal than what they could get at the local cantina, Hera's sure.

Hera had helped Jacen through the challenging landing among the trees and high stone spires. In a way, she hopes, was helpful, and not irritating. Since he'd starting joining her in the cockpit, Hera had felt Jacen had some of her instincts for flight, her same curiosity and yearning toward the ship's controls. But this was a landing even most well-experienced pilots couldn't have made, one Hera chose in part because it was so unlikely anyone would bother scanning for ships in such a difficult spot.

And as long as she had known him, Jacen had been quiet, and resistant to telling her when, maybe, she was being irritating.

They'd made it through the landing. He'd helped her pack the food. But when they reached the river, he'd pulled off his shirt, and dived straight into the water.

It's a wide, black river, with a fast current that ripples the water's surface, speeds along the stones at the river's edge. But Hera doesn't call out to him, doesn't pester him to be careful. She just smiles, and starts setting out the food they'd brought.

She knows well enough that, out here, he can take care of himself.

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"It is the only truly safe way to make it through, as at least one former Jedi had cause to discover. I'm sure I cannot speak for anyone else."

He is still smiling, though it remains faint.

For the first time, some of Hera's anger and frustration slips.

"To make it through the Unknown Regions?"

"Into and then through, yes," Thrawn agrees, inclining his head in the faintest of nods.

"Should the need for such a journey ever arise."

"On-" Jacen begins again, but she glances back to him, and shakes her head very slightly.

To Thrawn, "Why are you here?"

"I am observing," Thrawn says mildly.

"Some might even say that I am assessing the situation in this corner of the galaxy. I doubt I shall be staying long."

"And then going where?" Hera asks.

"Home."

It's simple enough.

"If what you said is true," Hera says, slowly, "how are you going to do that?"

"A rendezvous," Thrawn says easily enough.

"With my own people."

He pauses, mouth quirking upward at one corner, more than a little.

"I'm hardly about to try to kidnap anyone currently standing here, if that was your concern."

"I wasn't concerned about it."

'Curious' might be a better word.

"So much the better."

He does not appear displeased with this answer, but there's no sign of smugness, either.

For Jacen, though, this doesn't present many answers.

"Where are you from?"

Thrawn merely raises one eyebrow, looking at Hera.

Would she prefer to tell the boy?

"The Unknown Regions."

That's all Hera feels the need to say, for now. "Which apparently he can't navigate without a Force user."

Whatever that may mean.

"Not inter-system, at any rate," Thrawn allows.

Because it's true.

And what General Syndulla does with that knowledge might end up being interesting.

Or not.

But Hera, finally, looks back to Jacen.

"Let's go."

"I doubt we'll meet again," Thrawn says, stepping back away from any hint of a path back to the ships.

"Though stranger things have doubtless happened."

See: these most recent moments, for one.

"Onni, we can't -"

"What do you want to do?" she asks the boy, ignoring Thrawn altogether. "Drag him back to the Republic?"

Jacen's eyes flash back to Thrawn after she says it, perhaps assuming the stranger will take it as a threat.

Thrawn's smile is thin, and he doesn't move any farther, not an inch.

"It would certainly be an interesting journey," he allows.

"But not a particularly enjoyable one."

Not for any of them.

"I could do it."

Jacen's eyes are still on Thrawn, the lightsaber ignited in his hands. Hera takes a step closer to him, reaching out to gently touch his shoulder.

And then, with a shrug -

"All right. I won't stop you."

"You could, certainly," Thrawn acknowledges. He still hasn't made a move toward his blaster pistol.

"But the true question is often whether you should. Wasted effort is often a shame."

And with that he slides back into the trees, planning on making a quick retreat to his shuttle.

And Jacen, then, may launch out after him.

Or at least, he makes some noise.