One (Sequel to Blackbird)

Captivity

Lothal once more... I didn't plan my return to this planet to be like this.

I have to be translated from the Star Destroyer to the Imperial complex, apparently, so I'm being escorted down there by a squadron of troopers. Everything seems to be going okay, until I find out Thrawn is here too...

With him around, getting out is going to be much, much harder.

I'm taken to the brig and forced into a cell. Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever been inside an imperial cell as such. I know Ezra has, but not me. I've always managed to shake out of the problem.

Boy, I wish that was possible right now!

"Lock it," a trooper says.

"Not yet."

Oh, come on! When did he get here?!

"As you say," the trooper replies. All of them leave the cell, whereas Grand Admiral Thrawn enters with me.

The cell is closed leaving only us two inside. I sit down at the back defensively without saying a word.

"So when can I go?" I finally break the silence.

"I will begin to consider it after you have answered some things," he says. 

"Really?" I say sarcastically. "Is that the only condition?"

"Who is Fulcrum?"

I sigh. "They're the rebellion's secret contact-"

"Do not play with me, I know that you are well aware of their identity."

I look at him without response. No freaking way I'm talking.

Thrawn approaches me, and he holds my chin up with his hand. I close my eyes to avoid having to look at him, but having him this close is already bad enough.

"Endearing as your attitude may be," he gets closer and speaks in nearly a whisper, "you will have to put it aside now."

He comes even closer. Oh please no...

"Now be a good girl and answer the question."

I slap his arm away and stand defensively away from him.

"You are not getting anything out of me."

He smirks. "I believe otherwise, Miss Schuylar."

I look back at him, this time with fear of what he could do to me.

"I expect to see you here later today," he says as he walks away, and then, he exits the cell.

I sigh when he's gone. "I sure as hell don't. I gotta get out of here."

I look around the cell. There's gotta be something!

Then, I see it. My entire world lights up. Right there, my biggest ally, the one that has helped Ezra and I get from one place to another without a problem!

"A vent!"

I stand directly underneath it, and using the Force I pull the door open. If I jump up from the bench at the back, then I'll be able to reach it. I go to the other side of the cell and charge running. I jump up and take impulse from the wall, and my hands land at the edge of the vent. I pull myself up and find that luckily I fit perfectly in the vent.

"Alright."

First thing I have to do is find my lightsabers. I could always track down the energy of the kyber crystals, that way I'd know where they are.

I could probably just steal a stormtrooper's armor to find my way around the place. Hah, breaking out an imperial prison is actually easy.

"So where am I?"