Report

Two, perhaps three hours later, Thrawn entered the med bay, his movements precise and deliberate. The stark white environment of the room, clinical and sterile, was sharply contrasted by Astra’s long, flowing red hair, which fanned out across the pillow like fire against ice. To the casual observer, she might have appeared to be peacefully asleep, but Thrawn’s keen eyes noted the faint tension in her features—the subtle signs of her body fighting to recover.

“Report,” he said, his glowing crimson gaze falling on Astra, then shifting to Dr. Varnic’ahri’nalor.

The doctor sighed heavily, his expression tight. “She will be the death of us all,” he muttered before taking a steadying breath. “She will recover, but not without cost. From what I can gather, she must have been fighting this spell since before the last jump. She was clearly pushing herself far beyond her limits.”

Thrawn studied the doctor in silence for a moment, his sharp gaze noting the tension in Varnic’s posture and the subtle frustration in his voice. “Calm yourself, Doctor,” he said, his tone even, though it carried an edge of authority. “This is not exactly unusual behavior for her.”

Varnic exhaled through his nose, his concern still evident. “Perhaps not, but I don’t need to remind you, Admiral, that she is one of only two navigators of her age. Unlike us, her abilities don’t wane—they only grow stronger with time. She’s invaluable to the Ascendancy, and that makes this recklessness all the more troubling.”

Thrawn’s expression remained inscrutable as he folded his hands behind his back. “I am aware of her value, Doctor. But do not underestimate her. Astra is still adjusting, yes, but she is not fragile. You forget, I’ve spent significant time among her kind. What you perceive as recklessness is not immaturity—it is exploration. She is learning the extent of her abilities, and with each challenge, she grows stronger.”

Varnic frowned, shaking his head, though his posture shifted slightly, as if conceding the point. “Perhaps,” he said reluctantly. “But what if we are wrong? What if these humans take longer to reach maturity than we anticipated? She may appear to be an adult by their standards, but what if she isn’t ready for this level of responsibility?”

Thrawn’s eyes narrowed, his tone sharpening. “No. She is an adult. Her resilience and determination prove that. This exhaustion is not weakness—it is the consequence of her dedication. Do not mistake her strength for recklessness, Doctor. Astra will rise to the challenge, as she always does. We must give her the space to grow.”

For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the soft hum of the medical equipment monitoring Astra’s condition. Varnic finally nodded, though his doubt lingered in his furrowed brow. “Very well, Admiral. I only hope you’re right—for her sake, and for the Ascendancy’s.”

Thrawn’s gaze returned to Astra, his expression unreadable as ever. “I am,” he said simply.