“Glad to hear it,” the pilot said. “You’ve had your look. Pull back as ordered.”

Thrawn pursed his lips thoughtfully. Then, very deliberately, he eased the ship back from the ring they’d moved up to examine. “May I ask what brings a Republic envoy to this part of space?” he asked.

“May I ask what business it is of yours?” the pilot countered. “You can be on your way at any time.”

“On my way?”

“To continue your travels. To go wherever you were going before you stopped to look at my hyperdrive ring.”

Again, Thrawn touched MUTE. “Opinion?”

Che’ri blinked. He was asking her opinion on this? Her opinion? “I don’t know anything about things like this.”

“You’re a Chiss,” Thrawn reminded her. “As such, you have instincts and judgment, perhaps more than you know. Do you think he’ll make a good ally?”

Che’ri crinkled her nose. She’d never met this person. She’d barely even heard him speak.

Yet she could sense confidence in him, and strength, and commitment. “Yes,” she said. “I do.”

Thrawn nodded and unmuted the comm. “Yes, I could continue on my way,” he said. “But it might be more useful for me to assist you in your quest.”

“I already told you I was on a Republic mission. It’s not a quest.”

“Yes, I recall your words,” Thrawn said. “But I find it hard to believe that a Republic at war would send a lone man in a lone fighter craft on a mission. I find it more likely that you travel on a personal quest.”

“I’m on a mission,” the pilot insisted. “Directly ordered here by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself. And I don’t have time for this.”

“Agreed,” Thrawn said. “Perhaps it would be best if I were to simply show you the location of the ship you seek.”

There was a short pause. “Explain,” the pilot said quietly.

“I know where the Nubian ship landed,” Thrawn told him. “I know the pilot is missing.”

“So you intercepted a private transmission?”

“I have my own sources of information. Like you, I seek information, on that and other matters. Also like you I’m alone, without the resources to successfully investigate. Perhaps in alliance we may find the answers both of us seek.”

“Interesting offer. You say it’s just the two of us?”

“Yes,” Thrawn said. He glanced at Che’ri. “Plus my pilot and your droid, of course.”

“You didn’t mention your pilot.”

“Neither did you mention your droid. Since neither will be joining us in our investigation, I didn’t think they entered into the discussion.”

“Artoo usually comes with me on missions.”

“Indeed?” Thrawn said, cocking an eyebrow. “Interesting. I was unaware that navigational machines had other uses. Do we have an alliance?”

The pilot hesitated. Che’ri motioned, and Thrawn touched MUTE. “The pilot of the other ship is missing?”