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| - Lirah Norn adjusted her shirt. It was the first time since she was a baby that she had worn normal clothing and it was strangely uncomfortable. It was as if she had lost part of her identity. Zhed seemed to be having no such problems. He looked as if he relished the challenge of acting like a fugitive. That was their plan, after all: to act as fugitives, meet the Black Knights, infiltrate them, and kill the Black Emperor. There were seven other Knights on the mission, most of whom Lirah had never met. "Lirah," came Zhed's deep voice. "You okay?" "Well, yeah," the big guy responded. "You never do."
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| - Lirah Norn adjusted her shirt. It was the first time since she was a baby that she had worn normal clothing and it was strangely uncomfortable. It was as if she had lost part of her identity. Zhed seemed to be having no such problems. He looked as if he relished the challenge of acting like a fugitive. That was their plan, after all: to act as fugitives, meet the Black Knights, infiltrate them, and kill the Black Emperor. There were seven other Knights on the mission, most of whom Lirah had never met. It had been a month since the Trio was called into the High Council room and yet no news had come from Nou'torn. To everyone else, it was as if he had never existed. But to Lirah, there was a hole in her mind and her heart that throwing herself into planning for the infiltration just couldn't fix. "Lirah," came Zhed's deep voice. "You okay?" She turned and smiled for his sake. "Yes, Zhed, I'm fine." "We're almost to the station, you know. You should slouch a bit." It was almost comical, him giving her directions and pointers. Since their time as Younglings, she and Nou'torn had helped Zhed with his work and given him tips on everything from lightsaber combat to what year Sythen Kurak was appointed to the Triumvirate. She hunched her shoulders, though, and acted downcast. There were thousands of refugees and fugitives from planets under de facto Black Knight rule. It was not strange for there to be ten more. The biggest difference was that instead of running from the Black Knights, they were running to them. Suddenly something caught her eye in the diner across the way. "Zhed, you want something to eat?" she asked, trying to act casual. "Well, yeah," the big guy responded. "What do you want? I'm going over to that diner to get myself a caf." Zhed thought for a second. "I'll take a swen cake. If they have them." "I'll meet you at the shuttle." Zhed frowned but said nothing. Lirah walked quickly, afraid that Zhed would question her or even follow. But when she glanced back as she walked into the diner, Zhed was on his way to the shuttle, same as before. She breathed a sigh of relief. The sigh of relief caught in her throat as she saw the real reason she'd entered the diner stand and begin to walk towards her. "What a coincidence," Nou'torn said with a smile. His tone made it clear that he had foreseen her arrival. "You knew I was coming?" Nou'torn's expression was impossible to read. "Sooner or later." He turned and gestured toward a table near the back. "You want to sit down?" "I don't have much time." "You never do." They sat. Nou'torn got the waitress's attention with a short wave of his hand. "What can I get for you, hun?" she asked, looking only at Nou'torn. The waitress was a short, pretty Twi'lek. She had a typical Coruscanti accent. Nou'torn looked at Lirah. "Two cafs, please. One chilled." "Anything else?" Nou'torn raised his eyes and smiled. "No, thank you." This was yet another side of the Iktochi that Lirah had never seen. Since when was he so casual and flirtatious with a Twi'lek he'd never met? "She likes you," Lirah blurted. Why did I say that? Nou'torn's grinning face turned serious. "I know." "I don't know why." Nou'torn's serious face broke into a wide smile. "You don't?" Lirah felt herself blushing. She'd never thought of Nou'torn before--most Jedi never married, though it was by no means forbidden--but now... "To business. I came to tell you we're going to leave soon." "On the shuttle?" "Yes." Nou'torn stroked one horn thoughtfully. "You should watch out for a man named Batemus. He will try to hurt you." Lirah blinked. "Hurt me how?" Nou'torn seemed to ignore her question. "No matter what, do not use the Force, or your lightsaber on him." Lirah nodded. Now that the subject was changed she felt much more confident. This was the Nou'torn she had known, giving obscure advice. "Whatever you say." "Who else is with you?" "Zhed, those twins. Five others who I've never met." "That's just as well." Nou'torn pulled out a small holocomm and handed it to her. "This is totally secure. If you need to get a message out or even if you just feel like talking, press the button. I should pick up." The caf was set down by the waitress, who once again smiled at Nou'torn a little too widely for Lirah's taste. "You should go," Nou'torn whispered. "Remember. Don't use the Force on Batemus." They stood simultaneously. Lirah picked up her caf cup and gave a half-hearted smile. "Good-bye, Nou. I sure hope you're wrong about the mission." Nou'torn's face looked like he couldn't make up his mind, but then he suddenly leaned forward. His lips brushed her cheek for a millisecond. "Good-bye, Lirah." When Lirah got to the shuttle, everyone else was already there. Zhed looked at her. "Did they have swen cakes?" Lirah shook her head. "Sorry, Zhed. No swen cakes. But the caf was good."
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