Thalias turned. Syndic Thurfian was standing there, smiling the smile she’d seen on him way too many times. The look was never a genuinely friendly one, and it was nearly always the prelude to bad news. “Good afternoon, Syndic,” she replied. “What can I do for you?”

“I wonder if you’d be good enough to come to my office for a few minutes,” Thurfian said. “There’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you.”

Thalias felt her stomach tightening. No—not now. Of all the times he could have chosen. “I’m sorry, but my commander is on his way,” she said, keeping her tone neutral as she nodded back toward Thrawn. “I’m certain he has some official duty for us.”

“I’m quite certain he hasn’t,” Thurfian said, still smiling. “Apparently you’ve forgotten that your ship has gone into bluedock for some fairly extensive repairs. Unless General Ba’kif has dug up a spare ship, Senior Captain Thrawn can’t possibly need you.”

“You might be surprised at Captain Thrawn’s ingenuity,” Thalias said, feeling sweat gathering under her collar. It was now, all right. The worst possible time, and so of course he’d chosen it. “At any rate, I’m under his command, not yours.”

“Well, let’s ask him, then, shall we?” Thurfian shifted his gaze over Thalias’s shoulder. “Senior Captain Thrawn,” he said, his voice holding the same false cheer as his smile. “I need to borrow your caregiver for an hour or so. Surely you have no objection?”

“None at all,” Thrawn said, his eyes flicking briefly to Thalias. “I presume you won’t also need Che’ri?”

A hint of a frown touched Thurfian’s face. “No, I just need Thalias. Why would I need Che’ri?”

“I don’t know,” Thrawn said. “That’s why I asked. I’m glad you don’t need her, as she’s fallen slightly behind in her studies. I expect the Springhawk’s repair schedule will give her time to catch up.”

Thurfian’s frown disappeared. “Ah. Of course.”

“I should be there to help her,” Thalias said doggedly, trying to think. If she couldn’t find a way out of this—

“This won’t take long,” Thurfian promised. “Until later, Captain Thrawn.”

“Until later,” Thrawn answered.

The Syndicure complex was about a hundred kilometers from fleet headquarters, a short twenty-minute trip by tunnel car. Neither Thalias nor Thurfian spoke during the journey, mindful of the half dozen other officers and Aristocra in the car who might overhear any conversation.

They were nearly to the end of their journey when Thalias finally came up with a plan.

Not a good plan. Probably even a desperate one. But it was all she had.