Chapter 80: 80. Chapter: Old friend (19. Shared universe)

From the perspective of Nizzal.

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I was led into a building and immediately sensed that the air around me had become warmer. Kate had turned surprisingly silent after she realized that I likely didn't have anyone to call over at the moment. Or at any moment, but I couldn't know how much she was exactly thinking into this.

Eventually Kate began to speak once more, she seemed to like speaking, or perhaps she thought that I was some miserable kid who either ran away from home or was chased away... She most likely wanted to cheer me up, it was unnecessary, but I couldn't exactly tell her that... So instead I played along as I did most of the times. 

One thing never changed over the centuries that I have seen through my master's eyes. Most people in life, will look at you, and only see half of you, while the other half will be what they expect to see in you. There are only a rare few, who are able to look at a person without the misguidance of their earlier experiences, and are willing to see truly. I am not one of those. 

They look at me and see a lost child who needs to be sheltered and guided, then they realize that I am blind and start pitying me even more. Some might think, that I could tell them, how wrong they are, but are they truly wrong? 

From their perspective, I am mostly what they think of me, and they have every right to think of me as such. Why should I disturb their expectations? People, whose expectations are not met, always feel confronted on some level.

If they want a blind girl, who is lost and needs someone to lean on, I will happily fulfill that role for them for a while. Did that sound silly? Probably, but you see, in a sense I am still just a regular twi'lek. I also judge other people, based on my previous experiences. And those experiences tell me, to play along with the delusion as revealing the truth, would sound more ridiculous then most delusions could ever create. 

It is also ridiculously boring to answer and explain the endless wave of questions which have been already asked hundreds of times in the past, and also it doesn't build up to anything worthwhile at this time. 

My thoughts were interrupted by a slight pull on my hand as Kate continued to speak.

-We will go behind the counter here, there is a table for the workers. You can sit down there, and I will give you something to eat, okay? 

Based on the voice of Kate, she must be pretty young too. 

-How old are you Kate?

I asked, as I became somewhat curious. 

-Eh, I am nineteen, and you? 

-Almost fourteen. 

-That means, that you are still thirteen. You could be my little sister, I always wanted one, but I only got little brothers. 

-Brothers? More then one that is? 

-Uh, yeah two. They are a bit annoying at times, but I guess they are still sweet in their own way. 

-I see. Is this your family's restaurant? 

The answer was a halfway stifled snort. Then she coughed lightly and explained. 

-No, that isn't the case, we couldn't afford to run such a nice place as this. The taxes were always high on Coruscant, but now with the war and all that... the circumstances have driven most smaller businesses to ruin already. This restaurant however is quite a hot place around this level and area. It will not close for sure, and the boss is not that bad either, so I like to work here. 

Ah, the typical signs of a stretched out war, have been already showing up even in the capital. Things are probably much worse in places further from the centrum. 

-But, what am I talking about. 

Said Kate with new momentum. 

-You are probably already full of the adults constant blabbering of raising prices, and worries of that sort... This big sister will not bore you any further, you can sit down here.

She pushed me lightly towards a softly cushioned seat next to a roundish table. I didn't oppose her since I had enough from standing around stupidly for one day. 

-Now, wait here, I will be back in a minute. 

-Okay. 

I listened to her steps get farther away, and after I couldn't hear her anymore I released a heavy sigh. 

This day could not have started much worse. Thanks to Kate I won't have to wait outside in the cold anymore. I sensed my surroundings with the force and smiled. This place feels nice, the atmosphere is warm and relaxed. 

I decided, that I will stay here and wait for Anakin... I could leave, if I stole some money from a random fool and buy a ticket for a more familiar planet, where there are portals I can use to go back and stuff.

Unfortunately I can't really do that with a good conscience. Something was going on with Anakin's wife, she was clearly in danger, if he reacted so fiercely to drag me over here. I asked Eqomu to bring her over to Unity as Anakin was increasingly worried about her. I needed to calm him down in a way that would not be traceable to us by outsiders. Eqomu agreed to my request and said that he would borrow a few agents and some credits from the order, I nodded and didn't see him since then. 

I can only hope that the fool didn't make some ridiculously stupid mistake. No, that couldn't be, I probably only overthink the matter. 

I relaxed my somewhat tense body and cleared my mind. It would be nice if I could learn to activate and deactivate my new eye technique at will. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be such an easy thing to do. I mean, it already happened multiple times, but I could not understand what was the cause that prompted it to change. I did nothing special to make it happen... it seemed completely random, but it could not be so. 

I could not think on the matter anymore, as I heard two pairs of steps heading towards me.

I didn't have to wait for long as the two people arrived, based on the sounds emitted by their steps one of them had to be an unusually large fellow. The moment they entered the room, the excited voice of Kate was heard. 

-So I asked her if she needed any help, and allowed her inside the restaurant as I was worried about her standing there all alone... 

The larger person stopped all of a sudden, when he or she entered the room. It seemed that Kate also realized that something was wrong, and stopped talking for a moment. 

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I waited for the reaction, and was slightly startled when the large person who had just entered the room almost jumped on me. My right hand went for my lightsaber hilt immediately, but I found no malicious intention coming from the stranger and couldn't bring myself to ignite my blade. 

The only emotion I felt, in the air, was surprise and abashed joy. The presence of the stranger also felt somewhat familiar, but I could not place it, where did I meet with this person, I could not figure it out. 

While I was trying to remember who this person could be, I felt two large... unusually large arms grab me under my armpits and lift me up into the air, while being surprisingly gentle. However, the ease with which the arms were raised me, were telling me more then enough about the power behind them. Luckily there were no malicious intentions, I reminded myself as I could no longer feel the ground under my feet, which were dangling in the air freely.

I could feel my body tense up unconsciously facing the current situation. 

Then the familiar scent reached my nostrils, it was the mixture of many different foods, which lingered around the person like a tasty aroma, a reminder of recently cooked dishes of the highest order. 

I sniffed the air a few more times, then my body relaxed and a gentle smile appeared on my face. I knew who this person was, with absolute certainty. 

-It's you Hava! You survived!

I felt the large arms tighten around my body, as I was pressed into a four armed hug, but I didn't mind. After all, Hava, was the basilisk cook I became friends with back in the palace of the Zygerrian Queen. She was a kind natured person, who helped me out, when the other servants pulled ridiculous pranks on me. She put some extra ingredients into the culprits food... I will let your imagination fill in the specific details. 

-I should be the one, that asks that question from you, little twi'lek! I have heard that the droids were searching the whole place for you and some jedi who supposedly planned to assassinate the queen. A load of bullshit if you ask me, they would never be so straightforward, or this whole galaxy would be a much better place now... Oh my god... your eyes? Did those bastards do this to you... I swear that I will...

-No... no need to worry Ava. My eyes are perfectly fine. 

I felt the strong muscles in Ava's arms shake a bit as she no doubt misunderstood my explanation. I raised my much smaller hand and placed it on her arms that were still lifting me into the air, I sent out a wave of soothing energy. 

-It's not what you think... think of it as evolution, a blessing from the force, a momentary inconvenience, nothing more... nothing less. I am fine.

I felt the tension leave Ava's arms, and I was quickly lowered down, soon feeling the familiar sensation of ground under me. Ava sighed heavily, as she said.

-I have already forgotten how mature you are compared to your age...  I think I deserved that, but, please don't be ridiculous, calling blindness a blessing is nothing but a bad joke. 

I laughed lightly, and said.

-I couldn't agree more, Ava. Thankfully I am not blind. 

There was a moment of silence, I could imagine her form, standing in front of me with four arms placed on her hipps while staring me down.

-Explain.

-It's quite a long story... 

-You and your mysterious stories... Just spit out the important part already! 

-Well... they changed. 

I was immediately poked in the middle of my forehead by Ava, the momentum pushed me backwards into the seat I was originally sitting on. 

-Bah, I can see that you don't want to talk about it... In that case put down your arse and I will bring something for you two to eat. 

-Eh, me too? 

Asked the voice of Kate, who seemed to be forgotten in all of this excitement. She was in a state of shock that it turned out that we were some sort of old friends. I could almost imagine the stars in her eyes, that are craving to know more about our relationship. It probably didn't help my situation that I spoke of things like the force.

I could sense her stare on my skin, it was coming... Uhoh... 

I heard Ava step heading away, as she shouted. 

-Yes, wait here with her. Don't allow her to sneak away, I have a series of questions for her, that she will have to answer. Either that, or she won't get a second helping.

I could only shook my head, in amusement. She didn't change at all, even in the worst of her mood, she would never forbid anyone to eat, it was just against her nature. In the worst case scenary you won't get any seconds, but only if you really managed to get under her skin, which was rare. 

With that thought, I smiled at myself helplessly, as I began to brace myself for the oncoming flood of questions.

I felt that some weight had been added to the seat next to me and turned in the direction slightly. My left hand was clasped in two slightly larger palms, and I heard the excited voice of Kate speak to me. 

-So... Are you a Jedi? Yes? You know there is this guy who didn't pay for the food last time and ran away while the bastard sent me to bring him a glass of fresh water. Can you imagine? If it were you, it wouldn't be that much of a bother to send him flying right? 

-...

-Tehe... Of course I was just joking around... So how is it like? To use the force I mean.

Uhh... I knew that this would happen.

 

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