#lieutenant eli'van'to

[netmors]

"Firewolf and the Voiceless Bird" - mini-comic about Eli and Karyn.

+ bonus:

[panaceatthedisco]

Ar'alani: Order Lieutenant Eli'van'to to join us

Me:

[vibratingskull]

Hello! I was wondering if you could do a f!reader x yandere Ar’alani? If not then just a f!reader x ar’alani is fine!

I was thinking the background story for reader was she was one of the humans Thrawn sent to the Ascendancy? And they don’t know why, not even reader. Ar’alani is suspicious of her at first because there isn’t a reason reader was sent there. Ar’alani starts to fall in love with the reader and her over kindness, maybe the reader is a people pleaser?

Please have a good day, drink lots of water!

Yandere Ar'alani? May this not wake up any lesbian tendencies in me!

Thrawn is also some kind of Yandere in this one.

You stand to attention, your whole body tense under her hard gaze.

So much of her mannerism is similar to your Grand Admiral, you wonder who influenced who. And her gaze is as sharp and shines the same cold intelligence deep into her shiny rubies. You hoped to find the same paternalist gentleness Thrawn bestowed upon you under his mentorship but she looks like she could kill you any second.

“So… Another one.” Ar’alani finally says after fixing you in complete silence for several minutes.

You purse your lips, not uttering a word, standing still.

“Why you?” She asks.

“Why… Am I here?” You mutter, you’d hoped Thrawn would have told her why because he sure didn’t tell you. “I do not know Ma’am.”

She looks at you up and down and sighs. She’s not happy.

“Please tell me no more of you will follow.”

“I do not think so.” You try to ease her mind.

“Good. I do not run an orphanage or a daycare and Thrawn keeps sending me lost puppies. He better lose that habit quickly.”

“Someone else was sent to you?” You ask surprised.

“Yes. You must know him well, you used to work alongside each other. Eli'van'to joined us three years ago.”

“Eli’s here?!” You exclaim.

She looks at you black for daring to raise your voice in her presence. On your end you were persuaded Eli died three years ago, he vanished so suddenly and left no traces. All his friends back at the Empire mourned him and you know Thrawn sent flowers to his parents. You mourned him too as an esteemed colleague, you were not close enough to call each other friends but knowing a familiar face here will help you tremendously.

“Remember me your name.” she demands, a questis in her hand.

You tell her again, trying to enunciate it clearly for her foreign ears.

“It is bound to change here, do not be surprised. What was your position in the Empire?”

“I was a Captain.” 

“You will be a Lieutenant Commander.”

“Oh…” Your shoulders lower, disappointed.

“Is that a problem for you?” She taunts.

“No, no! It’s perfect, Ma’am!” You get a grip of yourself.

“I am not in the obligation to give you a job, even less in the Navy.”

“I know Ma’am, thank you Ma’am.” You bow lightly.

She really is pissed, you think.

On her end she looks at you intently, dissecting you to atoms under her shiny gaze. She knows the fixing and silence makes you uncomfortable but she will observe you as she please. She knows why Ivant was sent, but you? No intel, no info from Thrawn, you simply appeared at the border of the Ascendancy one day with a message to deliver personally to the Supreme Admiral on behalf of her great friend. But it was clear Thrawn intended for you to remain in the Ascendancy after that. But why? What perks could you bring to the Ascendancy?

You don’t look like much. Average as so many other warriors.

But Thrawn saw something in you, something worthy of the Ascendancy. And it is her duty and honor to discover what it is.

She tuts and takes out a flash drive of her questis.

“Take this, any info you'll need is in it. We will start by intense sessions of Cheuhn to get you up to speed.”

“Alright, ma'am.”

“Any questions ?”

“No ma'am.” You quickly assure. 

“Good. You're dismissed.”

You stand to attention again and exit her office. 

Her gaze remains where you were standing. You seemed to have a good accent for Cheuhn, she could hear it in your voice. Your face wasn't as displeasing to look out for a human too, which is quite rare for a species lacking ridges. 

She shakes her head, what is she thinking ? She buries herself back into work and promptly forgot about your existence. 

---------------------

You cross paths again one day in the mess hall for officers of the Vigilant, she came to speak to Eli, or Ivant here, about the current mission. You were laughing together, a cup of caccoleaf in hand when you felt a breath on the back of your neck and an imposing presence looming over you. 

“Ivant, I need your report.” She spoke in Cheuhn.

“I’m currently writing it. You will receive it in less than two hours, Admiral.” He responds in the same language, excluding you.

“Those maneuvers were out of the ordinary and I never encountered them in the Archives. We shall prepare accordingly.” 

“Oh!” You exclaim “I did! They remind me of a certain species in the Empire.” You announce in Cheuhn.

They both look at you like you just started screaming in their face. You are not supposed to speak and understand Cheuhn this well already. But you spoke flawlessly, with minute errors and one of the best accents that she ever heard for a beginner. 

As she predicted.

“Did… Did I say something wrong?” You start worrying, facing their expressions.

She recovers her mask of sterness in less than a second once the initial shock passes. She didn’t plan for you to already speak that well, she counted on several other months of confidentiality with her Chiss officers on the bridge but you already reached that level.

She doesn’t show it but she’s quite impressed. Even Ivant, with his advanced knowledge of Si Bisty took more time to learn the language.

“No, you spoke well.” She ceremoniously admits, “You said those strategies were familiar to you?”

“I encountered something similar in my early years at the Empire.”

“Do you think they could be members of the same species?” She investigates.

“No, surely not. But their thinking mechanics are strikingly similar.” You inform.

She takes a minute to think, her chin between two fingers. Eli takes a sip of his drink, his gaze traveling between you two.

“You will come to my office after your shift and teach me all you know about them.” She finally orders, “I want to crush that problem before they become a real threat to the Ascendancy.”

“Ma’am yes Ma’am.” You confirm.

“So, is everything well for you two?” She inquires.

Is she trying to small talk? She surprises herself. The question just escaped her when she laid eyes on you again. The black uniform suits you way better than this atrocious green.

“Oh, yes, I think?” You chuckle a bit embarrassed, “The rest of the crew have not adopted me yet but they slowly relax in my presence, I suppose.” 

“I’m good.” Eli placidly responds, finishing his cup.

“Very well.” She responds and turns her heels.

Why did she ask that? What’s it with her? That’s not her problem. You don’t need her hovering over your shoulder to assimilate to the crew, you’re an adult.

Because Thrawn wouldn’t let it go if he ever realized you both weren’t welcomed while you were clearly an important addition to the Chiss arsenal.

That’s why.

Obviously.

No other possible reason.

And she’s clearly eager to learn what you have to teach her to better protect her people.

That’s why her heart fluttered for a semi-second when she ordered you to come see her tonight.

No other possibilities.

Of course! Why else?

------------------------

Ar’alani raises an eyebrow at you.

You’re standing with two cups in hand and a nice, but tensed, smile on your face as she gauges you.

“I thought… You would need it considering the advanced hour?” You try to explain.

That’s not what tickles her.

What she wants to know is how you learned it was her favorite drink.

When did you notice it?

“I shouldn’t have?” you ask, gulping wondering if you made an error.

“No.” She finally says. “It is a nice attention.”

She takes the cup and drinks a sip to ease your tension. Exactly how she likes it, how did you know?

You sigh of relief.

“I thought I offended you for a second.”

“Well it is not quite standard for a Lieutenant Commander to bring her Admiral a drink when they are about to discuss planning strategies.” She notes.

“Oh…” Your shoulders lower, “I used to bring Grand Admiral Thrawn his favorite when he invited me to strategize.”

She frowns for a second. Why do you feel the need to speak about your former superior? You are with the Chiss now! This is where your allegiance should go, not your former Empire. You better remember it, or she…

She shakes her head. You’re nostalgic, of course. 

“He must have appreciated the gesture.” She slowly nods, remembering her friend in the cafe when she celebrated her promotion.

“I hope so.” Your cheeks heat up suddenly.

She didn’t miss that.

And, somehow, she doesn’t like that.

“What can you tell me about them?” She refocuses the conversation on your present problem.

The black suits you so much better she notices again!

She listens to you explaining the strategies but she can’t help her gaze going back to your profile, your features illuminated by the blue light of the holographic map. Your face really isn’t displeasing to look at…

For an alien, of course!

You could never compare to Chiss beauty standards, she’s just trying to be nice.

She’s just trying to find a good aspect to you, you’re bound to live close to her now, she better find some perks in the situation.

No possible other explanations.

“Admiral?” You ask, bringing her back to reality. “Are you listening?”

“My excuses.” She berates herself, “I was deeply thinking.”

“About what?” you ask, curious.

If you were offended to talk in the void you don’t show it, nice little you.

“About why Thrawn felt the need to send you to us.”

“Oh, well! If you find out why, please tell me!” You chuckle.

Oh that is such a sweet sound…

She quite likes it.

Quite a lot in fact, could you laugh again?

Just one more time.

Just for her…

----------------------------------------------

Ar’alani is frozen in place. On the other side of the room she observes you hugging Ivant tight. 

For some reason it ties her stomach in knots and angers her tremendously.

She excuses herself to Wuttrow and walks towards you with a death stare.

“Fraternization is forbidden on my ship!” She exclaims with her commending voice, resonating in the entire room.

That’s an outrageous lie, she couldn’t care less if her warriors entered relationships. She takes pleasure at seeing you two jumps and separate hurriedly, squirming under her burning gaze. She likes making you feel little and submit to her, and that display of obedience is… quite pleasant.

“Are you two animals to behave like this?!” She insists.

Again, lies. People hug everyday on her ship, but she doesn’t like you getting close to Ivant.

Granted, he’s the only other human here and you might want to feel close to the only other individual of your kind, but you’re in the Ascendancy now, under her cares and rules.

And she just ruled that she doesn’t like you hugging him.

“Ivant, I expected intel on the advancement of your mission an hour ago!” She orders.

She did not, and never asked that of him. He tenses up, ready to ask something but swallows up his next words when they lock eyes.

Now is not the time to argue with Admiral Ar’alani.

So he bows his head lightly.

“I’m on it Admiral.” And he walks away, hurriedly.

You’re alone in front of the dragon now.

She turns back to you, head low, awaiting your sentence for “breaking the rules”. She can see how embarrassed you are, she reads bodies like a pro, and nothing escapes her sharp gaze.

You are mortified.

You do look cute like that…

“Do you have any excuses for your behavior?” She demands. 

“We were not fraternizing.” You try, “Eli… Ivant is just a good friend. I needed a little comfort.”

“We have therapists for that.” She cruelly hammers home.

“I… I did not know.” You admit.

“You should have. What good can you do if you don't even know the most basic rules here?”

“I am sorry Admiral. It won’t happen again.” You lower your head deeper.

“Do you think it is enough for me to pardon such an infringement?”

You raise your head hesitantly, looking up to her, towering over you with her grand stature.

She is absolutely terrifying when angry.

She sees fear in your shaky figure.

Good.

You look good like that.

It looks appropriate to her, her ordering and you obeying without a second guess.

“No…?” You respond softly, trying to ease her anger.

“Do you have an idea of how to repair your error?”

“A sentence?” 

“Yes… Or we could arrange things together.” She proposes with a thin layer of venom sugarcoating her words.

“How?” You ask with tremors in your voice.

Is it how you act when you are flustered? That’s interesting.

Do you moan in the same fashion?

Well she will have to discover for herself.

She places one hand beside your head against the wall, forcing you to take a step back, blocking you against the wall.

“... Ma’am?” You ask, completely lost and terrified.

Your heat signals are all over the place. Your face heats up like a fuming pot, as well as your body locked in a fight or flight response. You clearly don’t know how to react.

She slowly gets closer to you, devouring you with her shiny rubies. She’s that close to licking her lips, but she has more self-control than that.

She authorizes her gaze to lower on your lips however.

“Ma’am?” You squeal.

Your lips are mere centimeters away. You can feel her breath on yours, and you gasp, your heart skipping a beat. 

What she's doing goes completely against what she just told you, but she is the Admiral, she has privileges ! 

She seizes your chin between her fingers to tilt your head and when she's about to savor your lips for the first time-

“Admiral ? We ‘re receiving communication from the ship Chimaera.”

---------------

“Good day, Lieutenant Commander Vanto.” Thrawn salutes politely

Ar’alani feels Ivant tensing up next to her.

Thrawn and sociability… Always have been and always will be a piece!

Thank the Warrior for him he saluted her better than that, his gaze then travels to you, a little behind her shoulder.

“Good Day to you too, Lieutenant Commander (F/n)”

“Welcome, Grand Admiral.”

She starts.

She felt the warmth and the smile in your voice.

You never spoke to her like that. She never heard such a tone coming from you.

She turns her head ever so slightly to observe you from the side.

You are radiant, smiling with your eyes fixed on him.

Are you…

No.

No, you couldn’t!

Your Empire is xenophobic, surely you couldn’t….

But you look at him with so much… Love.

Her stomach sinks instantly. You never looked at her the same.

And somehow it pains her immensely. Even though she’s not sure why…

“I need to speak to you urgently, Admiral.” Thrawn calls back to her.

“Indeed, we do, Grand Admiral. Of a lot of things and in depth.” She responds, her burning gaze going back on her long lost friend.

They have a lot of things to talk about.

Urgently.

“How are they doing?” Thrawn asks suddenly after at least two hours of strategizing.

They are both alone in Thrawn’s office, his gaze didn’t leave the holomap, deeply focused. In fact they were right in the middle of another discussion, prompting her to raise her head to him when he changed subject so suddenly.

“They are doing well.” She coldly respond.

“Vanto?” 

“He mastered Cheuhn without too much difficulty, he is a good officer, giving and receiving orders with a sharp mind. Quick and effective. I do not have a complaint about him.”

“(F/n)?”

Did he just snigger? 

She frowns at him, but his gaze is fixated on the map, with a still and serious expression. She relaxes a little.

“Well, to be absolutely honest she questions orders and is terribly clumsy. We needed to allocate her several different roommates because she couldn’t keep one more than one week. She is shy and let people walk over too easily, I always have to watch over her to not let her get eaten up. She still isn’t accepted by the rest of the crew and needs to be oriented constantly, the only thing she has for her is that she tries so hard to please others that she is pitiful. I do not know how she could lead forces back then and don’t know how she will now if I constantly have to watch her, I do not know why you embarrass me with her but she’s more of a burden than anything else for now.”

She goes harder than she needs to, but she also needed to get it off her chest!

“I knew you would be crazy about her.”

Okay, she clearly heard a snigger this time!

She shoots him with her gaze only to see him looking at her with sparkly eyes.

“I take it that I choose her well.”

“You… What?!” She demands, incredulous.

“You heard me well. I see you are plenty entertained and occupied as you like to be.”

“I do not need to be occupied by a child.”

“She is no child. And you know it, you would have destituted her of her rank by now otherwise.”

True.

But still, why does he mock her?

“Am I to understand you chose her for me and not for the good of the Ascendancy?”

“Those two goals are intertwined. I just thought my dearest friend would love a pet for herself to entertain her during her long campaigns.”

She gauges him up and down, almost like a curious cat.

“... As she entertained me.”

They lock eyes and she realizes, maybe for the first time, that they are one and the same. Sharing a mutual understanding, the discussion ends and they refocus on the topics at hand.

-------------------------------

You look at the Chimaera in silence, hands clasped in your back like he does. And so does she.

“Do you miss him?” she asks out of the blue, placing herself next to you.

“Yes…” You confess.

“We will see him again.” She comforts you.

“May you be right, Ma’am.”

“He will not die. Not him.”

“True, he is not the type to be killed off without a fight.” You admit.

She looks at the Chimaera too, imagining Thrawn giving his orders, leading his troops to battle. Did you obey him as eagerly as you did her? Did you follow him blindly with those big eyes full of love and admiration? Did you hope to be discreet?

Because he clearly caught you.

Unbeknownst to you he sent you as a present for her. For her to hug and kiss, maybe to break you ultimately…

The Chimaera shudders and disappears suddenly, passing in hyperspace.

“Now, we have work to do.” She proclaims.

“Yes, Ma’am.” You respond and follow her obediently.

She smiles to herself, hiding from you.

She will have you. In one way or another she will take you attention off Thrawn and refocus it on herself.

In one way or another you will look up to her with those big eyes full of love as you did to him.

She promises herself that.

And she cannot wait…

@bluechiss @thrawnalani @justanothersadperson93 @al-astakbar@thrawnspetgoose @readinglistfics @elise2174 @debonaire-princess @twilekchiss @pencil-urchin @ineedazeezee @mssbridgerton @dance-like-russia-isnt-watching @Cortisolcosplay

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[contentment-of-cats]

WIP bit #3

Eli Vanto thinks that there are far too many admirals in his life. He's developing an allergy.  

Grand Admiral Thrawn - missing, but very much in his life.

Supreme Admiral Ar'alani - admirable, brilliant, he's still missing his rank despite worknig like a nerf herder.

Fleet Admiral Mak'ro - seems to regard him as some sort of trained growser.

Fleet Admiral In'daro - tried to separate him from Un'hee, which did not work well.

Fleet Admiral Tro'owmis - who the fuck knows?

He and Bun'hee take the ramp down from his trusty old Delta and come to attention for the senior captain awaiting them there. The Valiant is Tro'owmis' flagship and Th'ori'av is her Flag Captain or equivalent. It makes him think of Albus Marinith - that trusty, crusty old sailor. Un'hee takes and squeezes his hand, chasing away his darkness. He squeezes back.

Not your job, nor should it be.

I know.

Th'ori'av leads them not to the admiral's office, but to her quarters where she herself awaits them in her private office. After thanking and dismissing her captain, Tro'owmis looks at them over steepled fingers.

"Commander Eli'van'to, Navigator Un'hee - you must be hungry and tired, so join me for tea and then I'll show you to your quarters."

Eli blinks. He's a lieutenant commander, but that was a sop - or so he reckoned - to salve the sting of his demotion to lieutenant. "Admiral, we'd be honored."

Un'hee murmurs this along with him, so she might actually like this one. When asked, she will only say that she does not like people who treat him poorly, and she is as much an outsider as him. They want her to be fixed and operate just like the other navigators when she isn't like them at all. One of his last flaming fights with In'daro was over how expecting Un'hee to 'be normal' was like expecting her to walk on broken legs by pretending they weren't broken.

He and Un'hee were transferred again three days later.

They take seats on a comfortable couch, and Eli picks a plate for Un'hee from all the dishes set there. The admiral pours the dark, aromatic tea from a silver pot into thick glass cups. There's no formality here. Tro'owmis asks Un'hee about her trip, and the shuttle. Did she navigate? Yes, it looks like a bird - very pretty. What was it like for her on the other ships?

And, bless the little hunbun, that's what she does. No filter on her, and Eli means for it to stay that way. She holds her stuffie and says to the Fleet Admiral exactly what she thinks and Tro'owmis doesn't interrupt or justify. When Un'hee winds down, it's as if she's slap out of fuel. She sags against him, unable to keep her eyes open another second.

"I'd like to continue the conversation, Commander Eli'van'to. Do you want to put her down in my quarters or in yours?"

"Yours would be fine, but little kits have big ears." Eli adds, "And it's Lieutenant Commander."

"Ar'alani runs her ship and I run mine Commander. I have a noise generator - she won't hear anything she shouldn't, and nothing will disturb her."

Maybe, just maybe, things will be different here.

[ishowerwithsocks]

It's Deafening

How does Eli react to the news of Thrawn being (presumed) dead? its a thing i wrote and its also on AO3 From the perspective of an OC

This hallway never looked so big. These lights were never so bright. The sound of my footsteps has never echoed so much.

Why did it have to be me to tell Eli'van'to? Out of everyone on this ship, they chose me. How am I supposed to tell him this? What words do I say? 'Mitth'raw'nuruodo was attacked by space whales and presumed dead'? How would he even take it if I managed to find what to say? I can't do this. It's too hard. How do they expect me to tell him that his... associate, I'm sure, is dead. Now come to think of it, he always was quite attached to Mitth'raw'nuruodo. I have my own suspicions about their relationship, but however romantic it may or may not be, this will devastate him. I don't want to do this, but I have to. It would be even more cruel to let him find out himself.

The door is open.

He's sitting at his desk.

I'm about to jump into a lake. There's no way this can end well.

"Lieutenant?"

"Capitan. We've received news about Mitth'raw'nuruodo."

He perks up. His heat signature gets more prominent.

"Yes?"

He doesn't know. This hurts to do. I can see the excitement radiating off of his face. Why must I have to be the one to crush it?

I take a breath. I need to do this. It's better for everything.

"He was caught in an unexpected Purgill attack and pulled into hyperspace. He is currently MIA and presumed dead."

He doesn't make a sound.

His infrared signature goes cold.

This silence. This damn silence. There's nothing here. It's total silence. I try to listen for white noise, but there is absolutely nothing. Not even any breathing. Not a heartbeat or a shudder, not the sound of the air in the vents, nothing. It hurts my ears. It's all so incredibly loud. All I can do is watch him break.

It's so loud.

"I'm... sorry, sir. I know how much you cared about him-"

"Please, just leave."

He's quiet. He doesn't want his voice to fall apart.

It's better to go.

That silence. I'll never forget it. The burden of carrying the news and the weight of unloading it are all the same.

It's something that none of us can avoid.

It's deafening.

[silent-bard]

Savit: *wakes from a drug-induced coma on Csilla* Hmm. One does not generally wake after an execution. *sees Thrass* You look like that annoying Grand Admiral that ruined all my plans *glares*

Thrass: *face palms* Tell Lieutenant Commander Eli'van'to my brother sent another one

[thedistantstorm]

Project Compass 21

Read along on AO3 Here

<< Previous Chapter <<     >> Next Chapter >>

This time:  Admiral Ar'alani watches. Ezra worries. Vah'nya recalls a memory.

Next time: Ezra demands answers from Eli. 

-/

The first time Admiral Ar’alani came face to face with the man known as Lieutenant Commander Eli Vanto of the Galactic Empire, she was unimpressed. This was the man that Mitth’raw’nuruodo had identified as being useful to the Ascendancy?

The human had looked like a child to her, bright eyed and barely out of his second decade.

It had not been easy for him, either. Acclimation had taken time and effort. He had not been given any special treatment or leeway. His name had been recognized, his rank adjusted with some consideration for the length of his military service, and he had been dropped into his new environment without delay. She had not been kind to him. Nor had she instructed her crew to be. Whatever he was given would be earned on his own merit.

Mitth’raw’nuruodo had seen something in him, and likewise, Ar’alani wished to see it. Naturally. He would either prove his worth, or he would not. If he did, it was in the Ascendancy’s interest. If he did not, she wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him swiftly in any way she felt appropriate.

He had difficulty waiting. A temper - usually well hidden, save for the warmth of his face - lingered beneath the surface. He’d learned to rein it in over the time since she’d gotten to know him, yet she knew old habits die hard and no one, not even a Chiss, was without flaws.

His transition from Eli’van’to to Ivant was something of an anomaly. She’d known what she was giving up, and she’d been willing to sacrifice him for someone she felt was of greater importance to the Ascendancy. The human understood her reasoning, and with the revelation of Vah’nya’s visions about what possibilities awaited them if they did not intervene, they agreed it was far better to lead the Grysks away. Mitth’raw’nuruodo had valuable secrets about the Chiss and the Empire. Eli’van’to’s work had not bore fruit. Whatever the Grysks inevitably got from him would be of little value. And, though it was more important to Ivant than it had been to Ar'alani, he would hopefully be able to save the lives of his former comrades.

She had never promised him rescue. He had never asked for it, either. He’d gone into it knowing that best case looked like finding a way to take his own life. She appreciated his bravery.

And then, Vah’nya happened.

Sweet, concerned, protective Vah’nya who stowed herself away on his transport, who abandoned her post aboard the Steadfast with only a scribbled note. Vah’nya, a true miracle of the Ascendancy, the oldest Navigator in centuries, and the crown jewel of Ar'alani's fleet.

How she had cursed the girl, Ar'alani remembered, fear and fury, having burned bright in her loins for months. She could not deviate from their course. Such a specimen would warrant research and hopefully guarantee her survival amongst the Grysks, and it was the only comfort she had, though she knew the Grysks would tear her apart from the inside out. She did not prepare herself for a happy ending.

And then, when they survived - when they escaped, together and on their own - it was too much to hope for. Too good to be true. She’d dispatched watchers, ensured that Thrawn was, in fact, making his way home and away from the wrecked hull of his once glorious Star Destroyer, and jumped to intercept.

She was not sure what she had been expecting to find, but what she had defied all logic and sense.

It was very much the same now. She watched as Un’hee bowed her head almost to the pristine white sheets beside a dying Thrawn and pressed her hands gently against his wounds, entering a sort of trance.

Before, Vah’nya hadn’t been unaware, vulnerable and in trance like Un’hee was now. She’d been clutching tightly to Ivant, cradling him to her chest as if she was all that was holding him together. Perhaps, Ar’alani thought, considering that moment and all she had come to know since, perhaps she had. Van'nya had refused to be parted from him because she said she was needed, to the point of restraints and sedation.

It had been the only thing the recovered Navigator had been willing to say in those first few days. It had taken Vah’nya weeks to open up to Ar'alani once more, to tell her admiral what had led to abandon her duties and offer herself up to the Grysks, a blatant violation of all she'd stood for before. When she had, Ar’alani believed her to be crazy. Her treasured, precious Navigator manipulated and broken, her mind shattered and fragmented by their vile manipulation and advances.

But Ar’alani hadn’t known what Vah’nya was doing when she’d found them in the husk of that hijacked Grysk ship. She hadn’t known until much later, when Vah’nya had taken her aside, and, to prove her very much in-tact sanity, had shown her. She was to light the way for her sisters, she’d told Ar’alani. She would be the first. And she had, in confidence, revealed why: Eli'van'to, an inferior, but tolerated human, a man who had meant to be a sacrificial lamb when he'd failed at being a tool, had reminded her of what it truly meant to be a Chiss warrior.

There was a shudder, a start from the bedridden Chiss. Un’hee’s eyelashes fluttered, then went still again as she continued focusing. Ivant stood at Ar’alani’s shoulder.

“He’s breathing on his own,” Ivant said softly. His words were more relieved than clinical. “See it?”

Ar’alani shook her head in disbelief. It was true. Mitth’raw’nuruodo’s chest rose and fell evenly, synced to Un’hee’s own breathing. “And now,” She whispered, a touch of awe coloring her tone, “There are two.” More seriously, she added, “Just how much will our people owe you, I wonder.”

The human shook his head. “They don’t owe me anything.” He motioned to Un’hee. “This is all her.” He looked down at Ar’alani, his brown eyes hard and haunted. “There is no formula to make this happen, Admiral.”

“And yet you are the common denominator.”

“I’m hardly anything important, Admiral.” He said. “I might appear to be the catalyst, but all I’m doing is simply giving them the tools.”

Ar’alani hummed, looking back at Thrawn. His pain seemed eased far more naturally now. “Perhaps.”

“There are limits to what their abilities can do,” He said. “She may heal his wounds, but she cannot counteract the rest of the poison’s metabolic effects. He will need to be monitored.”

“We are sailing for Csilla,” She said. “Senior Captain Khresh is taking over command of the Compass.” Her eyes flared brightly. “I will not allow the Grysks to destroy us from within,” She said. “Once Mitth'raw'nuruodo is recovered, we must figure out everything he knows. I have no doubt he can confirm his assailant, but we must find out what other patterns he can see.”

“We can’t afford to keep him in the dark, Admiral.”

“The project must stay a secret,” She insisted harshly. “I realize it is not ideal, but it must be done.”

“Even now?”

“We can tell him about everything else-” She tried to compromise, but Ivant interrupted.

“Ma’am, with all due respect-”

“You must listen to me, Eli’van’to.” She stole a glance at Un'hee, and relaxed slightly when the girl had not heard her sharper tone. “We are compromised. Our enemies have infiltrated our ranks. He will be in even more danger now than he was before once we make this known.”

“And we’re making this known?”

“Yes.” Ar’alani’s face was stiff, her shoulders tense. “We must make it known. You killed a man, Ivant. On the bridge, no less. Some will call for your demotion. Others, your life.”

Ivant tipped his head back and looked up at the ceiling. He had made the call without fully thinking it through. He’d done what he had to, to protect his crew. “There was more poison,” He said. “Commander Wes’lash’andi was a threat-”

“I am not doubting you, nor am I opposing your methods,” Ar’alani said tersely. “A kill shot was the only thing that would have stopped him from harming anyone else, including a Navigator. If the Grysks have truly infiltrated our ranks as we believe ,” She reasoned, “No one is truly safe anymore.”

-/

Ezra drummed on the arm of his chair, trying to make sense of it all. Or at least, that's what he knew he should have been doing: it was what Admiral Ar'alani had told him to do when she left him here, in her office. He didn't know what to think, other than that he wanted to talk to Un'hee, who seemed to know what was going on, but she had asked to accompany Ivant and the Admiral for questioning.

And no one would let them see Thrawn. Thrawn, who, Un'hee had led him to believe was dying. The poison was called "Blue Death" for Force's sake. Nobody had said anything about antidotes or how to fix it, they only spoke of keeping him comfortable. Ezra knew Thrawn would hate that. If Thrawn were dying, he'd want to go out fighting. It seemed to do him a disservice to let him slip away easily.

He fixed a glance at the Admiral's memory wall. Apparently this was a very Chiss statement, and could be found on most command ships. The commander would have a wall representative of their personal triumphs and goals, and it would be used like a focus, to remind the Commander of what drove them in moments when they felt they'd lost their way.

Ezra found it to be too personal. It wasn't just pictures or medals, wasn't just military accolades. He felt like he was able to see her entire life here, on this wall, and he felt like he was intruding. Though, it did make him curious. Ivant didn't have a memory wall, and he'd been in Thrawn's office aboard the Chimaera. He collected artwork, but nothing like this. All of Thrawn's pieces meant something to him, but they were not as blatantly understandable as this overt telling of Ar'alani's life that stretched out before him. If an enemy saw this…

"If an enemy saw this, the Admiral would already be dead," Vah'nya said from behind him. Ezra jumped. He hadn't noticed her coming in, nor had he realized that he'd spoken the last bit aloud. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Ezra insisted, standing. "How's Thrawn? Have you heard anything?"

"They are working on him now," She said. "The Admiral and Ivant are watching over him."

"Yeah, because that clearly helped him earlier, right?" Ezra winced as the words left his mouth, but straightened up anyway. He had meant them. They might not be entirely fair, but he meant them.

Vah’nya swallowed hard, “I understand,” She said slowly. “I do not want Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo to die.” Her lips pulled to the right when she pursed them. She eyed the memory wall, then let her gaze trail over Ezra. “Did he ever tell you about the time he let me order the Chimaera to fire upon the Grysks?”

“The Chimaera?” Ezra’s brows pulled together as the confusion fell over him. “Really?” His words were darkened by disbelief. It was enough to distract him momentarily. “And the Empire just let you-”

“He inspires loyalty in those who serve with him. He has yours, after all,” Vah’nya reminded Ezra, speaking over him until she regained his attention. “And you were bitter enemies. You nearly killed him.”

Ezra’s shoulders slumped. “No,” He finally said. “He didn’t tell me.”

“I wished for a memory for Un’hee,” She said, her voice and gaze making her look far away. “I was afraid, but more than that, I wanted to be able to give something to Un’hee, who’d spent so long in servitude to the Grysks. I wanted her to know that we could defeat them. I wanted to know that we could defeat them.” She blinked back to herself, turning her head to Ezra. “He gave me more than that. He gave me - and through me, Un’hee as well - the opportunity to participate. The Admiral was displeased. Thrawn seemed to constantly step on her toes, but it was his ship, and he is…” She smiled sadly. “He is a complicated man. But I believe he is good.”

When Vah’nya nudged Ezra’s shoulders, he hummed something in the affirmative. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”

“Well,” She began, “Un’hee identified the poison immediately. If she hadn’t been through what she had, we wouldn’t know what it was.”

“But we don’t have an antidote. And the damage, they said-”

Vah’nya linked their fingers. “I choose to believe, Ezra,” She said, as cool and calm, as serene in the Force as he’d ever felt her. She squeezed their combined hands. “Will you?”

-/

Ar’alani had retrieved them both hours later, finding them both in the middle of her office. Kneeling on the floor, shoulder to shoulder, they had been deep in meditation when she’d arrived. By then, Ezra had gotten his tumultuous emotions under control, though Vah’nya didn’t stray from his side, citing that he needed a friend in this.

“He will live,” Ar’alani said.

Exhaling a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, Ezra nodded, trying to hold himself in some semblance of professionalism. “Thank you, Admiral.”

“Do not thank me,” She snapped, then relented immediately, her voice going smooth in an attempt to be soothing. It was weird coming from such a high-ranking Chiss officer. “We were able to synthesize an antidote. He will be sick until the chemicals are purged from his system, but his life is no longer in danger.” She inclined her head. “It was also to our benefit that his assailant was not able to administer a full dose.”

“And the damage to his lungs?” Ezra questioned. “Un’hee had said-”

“There was damage, but the medics are confident they will be able to reverse it.” She cast a look at Vah’nya, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly before gesturing to the door. “I believe you wished to see him, did you not?”

“Oh! Yes, Admiral,” Ezra snapped to attention immediately.

The Admiral’s voice grew cautious, “Be on your guard, Jedi. This danger may have passed, but I do not doubt there will be others. Until he is fully recovered, you will need to act as his eyes and ears.” She fixed him with her intense gaze. “Even if he does not believe so himself. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ezra said. His lips were drawn in a firm, determined line. “I understand.”

“Good.” She sounded satisfied enough. “You will not be alone. There are others,” She looked to Vah’nya, “Who will be assisting you.”

“You’ve contacted her?” The Navigator questioned.

“Yes,” Admiral Ar’alani confirmed. “She will be joining us en route to our destination.” Ar’alani took a brief pause, dropping into her reflection chair heavily, with the airs of someone who was, surprisingly enough, exhausted. Ezra tried not to act too surprised, though he’d never seen her show something so close to weakness. “We need allies we can trust.” She met Ezra’s eyes one final time. “I ask that you not allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgement.”

Ezra sighed. “Let me guess: She’s Imperial, isn’t she?”

“She was,” Vah’nya corrected. She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. “But remember what I said about loyalty.”

[lieutenantivant]

Lieutenant Eli'van'to', y'all!

Eli's core Chiss name would be IVANT and I'm now obsessed with the idea of him getting repeatedly propositioned under cover of just calling him by his name and Eli adorably not getting it at first.

Random Chiss: May we speak? Ivant...you.

Eli: yeah, that is me, I guess? I'm Ivant.

Random Chiss: No, Ivant, I Want. You.

Eli: .....oh, oh, I...yeah no sorry, I already, I uh -

(He laughingly tells Thrawn about this later when they meet again. Thrawn...does not find it quite so amusing.)