"Thank you for the offer," Hera spoke calmly, "but I don't drink."

Admiral Thrawn frowned slightly, but suddenly, his thin lips formed into a smile.

"Oh, captain," he pressed without any trace of emotion, "how could you refuse? It's Blossom Wine all the way from Naboo."

Hera wasn't falling for that. There was something else in that drink that he wasn't telling her. Truth serum she supposed.

"No, I couldn't really-"

"You'll drink with us captain," Pryce demanded, stepping forward with her blaster, "it's a celebration-"

"Easy governor," Thrawn spoke, now joining her, "if she refuses to drink with us, then she will pay the consequences."

Hera watched as Thrawn reached out, releasing her hands from the shackles. Hera collapsed to the floor, once again able to move her now sore arms around.

"Stun her," Thrawn spoke to Pryce, who reset her blaster. She then shot Hera, who felt the numbness attack her body all over. She lay crumpled on the floor, motionless yet still functioning.

Thrawn moved quickly, grabbing a syringe from a nearby table that was hidden in the shadows. He stepped above her in one stride, bending down and injecting the fluid into her neck.

"Your intelligence impresses me, Captain Syndulla," he spoke as her world began to grow darker and his words began to fade, "however, you're vulnerable and weak."

Thrawn smiled evilly as Hera's head began to pulse and spin.

"Let's be honest with each other. We are friends after all."

                             ~

"Kanan," Ezra spoke as he and his Master stood along the border of the makeshift rebel base, "I'm so sorry."

Kanan said nothing as he tried reaching out through the force. He knew he was entering the privacy of Hera's mind, but he had no other choice. This was his only way to find out the truth: if she was still alive.

He was deep in thought, still searching. Ezra reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. He knew what he was doing and thought he had every right to do so.

"I know you'll find her," he spoke before leaving, "I'm sure she's still alive."

Ezra was right. Kanan's eyes widened as he felt her presence. She was still out there, alive. But Kanan sensed fear and pain.

She was alive, yet something was wrong.