Leaving, the droid passed another Jedi learner waiting beside the door. She must have entered while Ben was in the midst of the last exercise, and he recognized with a little flash of embarrassment that he hadn’t detected her-he had been too focused on his task.
She was several centimeters taller than he was, three or four years older, and redheaded, her long hair a shade more coppery than his mother’s. She came forward as the balls continued to roll out of the hall. “Hello.”
“Hello.” Ben returned his lightsaber to its belt hook.
She extended a hand. “I’m Seha. Seha Dorvald.”
“I know.” He took her hand to shake it. “I’ve…”
There was something in her hand, something small and rectangular, a card of some sort. But her expression didn’t change; she didn’t acknowledge that she’d just handed him anything.
A little thrill shot through Ben. He knew why. First, she was really good looking, and she was talking to him. Second, she’d just done something covert. He wondered what was on the card-instructions to meet her somewhere? A communication from the government of Corellia, begging his help to resolve the military crisis? An offer of a bribe? He’d just been kicked out of a practice session straight into a holodrama, and he keenly felt the transition.
“I’ve seen you around,” he finished, trying not to stammer. “I’m Ben Skywalker.”
“I know.” She retrieved her hand, leaving the card in his grip. “I just wanted to say…”
Pocket the card now? No, if anyone is watching, that might call attention to the fact that she gave me something. And if she’s giving me something this way, she thinks somebody is watching. Ben let his hand drop to his side and hoped his posture was natural looking.
“…I thought the thing with flattening the ball was very imaginative, and I was wondering…”
He had to get to his quarters and find out what was on the card. Though he’d also like to just stay here and look at her for a couple of days. It was very hard for him to concentrate on Seha’s words.
“…if you’d mind if I, you know, sort of stole your technique for my next session.”
About forty different answers roared in to clog up Ben’s brain. Sure. You’re really cute. If you’re still doing these exercises, are you a late starter like me? Your accent is very undercity, but you talk like you’ve been educated.
How would Jacen answer her question?
That last thought allowed Ben to clear his mind. He’d analyze her question, instantly figure out the consequences, and be very cool about it.
“I’d be, um…” What was the word? “…flattered.” But before the last word left his lips, a possible consequence occurred to me. “But you probably don’t want to do that.”
“Why not?” She didn’t seem offended, just curious.
Ben gestured at the doorway. “The droid has a learning program. He’ll be coming up with or requesting new programming to counteract a ball-flattening tactic. So if you do that, you also need to figure out what he’ll do then, and be prepared for that, too.”
“Good point. I’ll do that. You’re smart, too.”
Too? In addition to what?
“I was wondering about your braid.” She pointed to the narrow braid of hair that dangled from his scalp, especially obvious when contrasted with his buzz cut. It was now draped across his shoulder. “That’s kind of old-fashioned, isn’t it? Does the order still do that somewhere?”
Ben shook his head. “No, just me.” He wasn’t even sure why he’d grown it out-just to have something that was his alone, perhaps, something to set him apart from his famous parents. He wasn’t sure how to say that in a way that wouldn’t sound juvenile or egotistical. “It’s my custom.”
“I think it’s astral. Anyway, I need to get to my next lesson. It was nice meeting you.”
“Nice meeting you.” He watched her leave, feeling as though he had to be flushing as red as her hair, and finally tucked the card she’d given him into his belt, hoping that the action would not be obvious to unseen eyes.
In addition to what?
On the walk back to his quarters, he thought about what to do.
The fact that Seha seemed to think she, or he, or both of them, would be under observation bothered him. Are Dad and Mom having me watched? That question left a sour taste in his mind. Or is someone watching Seha? But if I’m the one being watched, how do I find out what’s on the card?
Not a Temple computer. That could be monitored. Come to think of it, so could any datapad capable of transmitting and receiving. But a datapad without a comlink would be safe, if he could find one.